The author, who has spent over 20 years working in the U.S. intelligence community (including a stint as head of the Osama bin Ladin unit within the CIA), suggests that America not only is losing the war on terror, but will continue to do so until it realizes that its specific policies toward Islamic states (rather than general American values or culture) are the motivating factor driving terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda. He also provides a critique of U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Critic Reviews
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Favorable
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Atlantic Monthly Benjamin Schwarz
Although he's repetitive and often intemperate, Anonymous presents overwhelmingly persuasive evidence to buttress a host of significant and controversial arguments.
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Favorable
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Christian Science Monitor Faye Bowers
Because of the author's role in the intelligence community and the politicized atmosphere in which this book is released, his views will get close attention. As they should.
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Favorable
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The New York Times Michiko Kakutani
Readers will doubtless contest some or many of the things Anonymous has to say, but he pulls few punches in this book and gives us a fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda.
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Favorable
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Washington Post Richard A. Clarke
An important contribution to a necessary debate.
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Mixed
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Los Angeles Times Andrew J. Bacevich
One concludes the book grateful for the author's insights and grateful too that as an intelligence analyst he has no direct role in actual policy formulation.
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Mixed
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Salon Mark Follman
Provocative, careening and at times downright sloppy.
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Unfavorable
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The Guardian Jason Burke
Anonymous consistently talks about "Muslims" as if the actions and judgments of all 1.3 billion worldwide were determined by a profound religiosity.
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