Terrorism or Patriotism: A Primer on Understanding Conflict in the Middle East

Dr. Hensley J. Hunter, longtime observer of the Middle East scene, analyzes terrorism, that widespread phenomenon of our times, and discusses its relationship to the many unsolved problems in that important region of the world. He begins by isolating terrorism from the slogans and the spin that have become attached to it, like barnacles on a ship. He discourages the lumping together of all insurgent and liberation movements found in diverse areas of the globe into a catch-all word-a word that is used to also include al-Qaida, that truly terrorist group, advocating pure violence and anarchy. The author explains why the undifferentiating which accompanies such a loaded term as "terrorism" has caused costly delays in solving the paramount problem in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. It has also caused confusion in the public's mind concerning the patriotic aspirations and motives of distinctly separate groups in the Third World who are fighting against great odds, and ferociously at times, to survive economically and physically under extreme conditions of occupation, persecution, usurpation, or even genocide. Dr. Hunter believes that al-Qaida, with its pernicious aims and methods, is quite different from the other groups which are inappropriately lumped with it. He feels that Al-Qaida itself must be confronted and eradicated from all its areas of operation. The book includes sections on Iran, South America and Africa, areas that are in turmoil, yet having problems that would be amenable to a change of direction in our foreign policy. The book is a primer for the uninformed, with its easy-to-read story-like descriptive style. Yet it contains a wealth of rarely presented information for the reader who is better acquainted with the subject.