Voices of Terror: Manifestos, Writings and Manuals of Al Qaeda, Hamas, and other Terrorists from around the World and Throughout the Ages

This is a wonderful compendium of original sources which I'm using in a graduate level social science course on terrorism. Readings run the gamut, from Lenin and Bakunin, to Marighella and Che Guevera, to today's modern terrorists. There's a little introductory essay at the beginning of each section and the readings are short enough that you can assign several during each week, and pick and choose snippets to augment your regular textbook. I was pleased to find this resource since I had been hunting for something similar for awhile.

Anyone who studies history is familiar with the all-too-often single-mindedness of many historical accounts. Terrorists have motivation for their acts, and we have an opportunity to see the motivation in the historical figures' own words. Manifestos, procedures, doctrines,... some insight into the minds of the "other side." Reading these excerpts, one can begin to gain a handle on understanding the minds of some of history's least understood characters.

I like and respect Walter Laqueur's work but this is a waste of money. The excerpts are generally too short to assign to students, and there NO background info, not even proper footnotes about where to find the full texts. P..484 ff "Jihad in the Caucasus" contains random pieces by experts, like Emil Pain - but this is recognizable only from the URL and to another expert - they are presented as if primary sources. Where was the editor on this one????

As always, Lacquer captures the essence of terrorism with this material. A must for those researching terrorism along with all the other favourites.

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"Voices of Terror" is an important book. It does not have a narrative, simply some introductory and explanatory text to tie things together as it is simply a reference for those who wish to study the history, present state and future of terrorism. Assembled by Walter Laquer, who has a long background as a security and foreign policy, an expert with a deep knowledge of the Middle East, it is a well researched and selective compendium of written texts and manifestos that have justified and advanced the cause of political assassination and terrorism. First of all, Laquer correctly criticizes the use of the phrase "War on Terror" as he like others reminds us that terror is a means, a strategy that different groups with different agendas use, but it is not an ideology. Perhaps the Bush Administration is hesitant about declaring war on "Islamic Radicalism" or "Islamic Terror." The series of documents begin in the classical era with the justifications for tyrannicide and then move into the Enlightenment and era of the early political revolutions with writings from France and then 19th century radical tracts from Russia, there is then a section on 20th century terror with manifestoes from the Irish Republican movement, the Palestinian terrorists, our home grown Weather Underground and Europe's Red Army Faction, both of whom resorted to terror. Laquer includes interpretations of terrorism from Goldman, Marx, Lenin and Trotsky. Part Two is a series of four sections devoted to guerrilla war from the 19th century to the present day. The final component of the book, Part Three, is devoted to the "Origins of 21st Century Terrorism" and it includes the religious justifications from many of the major Islamic intellectuals who have written in an effort to normalize the use of terrorism. Unfortunately, they have succeeded all too well. The final section of Part Three is another series of manifestoes from groups as disparate as the Tamil Tigers, The Red Brigade and Jemaah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia. This book is truly vital reading as it is important to realize that there is an ideology behind those who stalk innocent men, women and children in New York, in Spain or Iraq. There has to be elaborate justifications to convince so many to commit he most heinous murders - and there are. To know what type of threat we face, we must understand what motivates those who threaten us and "Voices of Terror" is a stark look into the heart of the terrorist movements.Jeffrey Morseburg

It took a while to get to me in Australia, but it was in perfect condition.

Powerful book. A collection of short essays straight from the mouths of numerous terrorists. Highly recommended.