Interesting to read about views on Afghanistan in a book written in 2011, especially knowing know how we abruptly pulled out of Afghanistan. Rick Cheeseman203

Read this when it first came out, decided to read it again as a sort of status check. We still have much work to do in the world.

Nice collection of essays, by the way. Kyle101 5

The advent of online publishing and eReaders has certainly changed how and when books come available. Even a few years ago, this book would not have been possible so soon after the event it concerns. However, the technical ability to produce and distribute a book quickly does not necessarily lend to, and may even detract from, it's overall quality.
This is a collection of several essays by important thinkers in the defense and foreign policy communities. Overall, they do a good job puttin al Qaeda in perspective and generally focus on the continued need for engagement in the Muslim world, but also on opportunities for a change in long term priorites in Afghanistan. Several of the articles are quite good. Hoverer, others are much less academic and perhaps a little too much based on peresonal accomplishments for my taste. Overall, there is no clear organizing principle or theme.
If you keep up with the sites and articles in the milblog community and places Foreign Policy, not much here will be anything new. If on the other hand, you have not been following Afghanistan and al Qaeda for several years, this will be a good primer, though I imagine it will be fairly perishable. At $1.99, I'd say it's a good value, but it will by no means be last word on the subject. Frank Kelly440 24

A timely collection of focused and highly illuminationg essays on the future of terror now that Osama Bin Laden has become fish food. In particular, the essay by Andrew Exum is superb as is the closing essay by former Secretary of State James Baker.

The essential question here is what is will terror as we know it simply fade away as the Al Queda movement has been largely discredited in most of the Arab world or will we see a new, more malevolent movement emerge? Quickly following this are a number of critical secondary questions such as what will the so-called Arab Spring bring for the Middle East (and the rest of the world)? And what is to happen in Afghanistan and Pakiston? As to the question about the Arab Spring, The assumption that democracy will take root simply because the people want it a naive one, I believe, and several of the essays here debate this point.

I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by the thoughfulness and insightfulness of these essays in such a short time after OBL's death. Well worth the read.2011 afghanistan central-asia ...more Owen289 5

This was a quick and easy read with a ton of important information. There is even a former Bush staffer quoting Shakespeare (correctly, don't worry) Plus, anytime Bing West shows up I'm in. However, apart from Mr. West's contribution and the entertaining section on assassinations, the book somehow managed to keep from gripping me. It's never bad, just failed to live up to expectations. It closes well, though. (I won't spoil the two end selections. They feel too good back-to-back). In all of the analysis, no one ever seems to point out that the borders of Afghanistan were drawn by the British to prevent it from being a functional country. (Mission accomplished, it would seem). I know that wasn't the main focus of the book, but I don't know how we dance around that particular elephant in the room as we talk about 'little faith' in the 'weak' Afghan central government. Anyway, again, an easy, quick and informative read written by a bunch of smart folks.

- Owen Gardner Finnegan Rose26 2

I thought this was a very interesting bipartisan look at the relationship between the US and the Middle East. It was written immediately after Bin Laden was killed, so some of the information is already out of date, but it's still worth the read. It's a short collection of essays from experts on various aspects of the Arab world and / or the war on terror. I d getting some perspective about what the Bush administration was thinking when they decided to invade Iraq. My favorite part of the book was at the end when the editor put the speech that Bush gave on 9/11 and then the one that Obama gave when Bin Laden was killed. I remember watching them both when they were first given, and I was surprisingly choked up when I read them again. politics Brian Arnone1 review2

Worth reading. Not a lot of new information....but, some of the essays are well thought out and include opinions on what should be next for the USA in Afghanistan and in our war against Al Qaeda. It includes President Bush's speech on 9/11/01 and President Obama's speech on 5/1/11. I enjoyed reading them, realizing the very different emotions I experienced on those 2 days. Connie138 3

The best part about this one is the text of two speeches at the end one after the other: George W. Bush's speech on 9/11, and Barack Obama's speech on May 11, 2011 after Bin Laden was killed. It's kind of cool to read those in that context; other than that this was a bunch of analysis papers by a bunch of people who really shouldn't be writing papers. Agatha NolenAuthor 5 books5

This is a compilation of different essays from different writers. It may have been more pertinent when originally written, but seems somewhat disjointed as history has not born out the predictions. I enjoy Jon Meacham more when he is writing his autobiographies. Didn't realize that he just edited this volume, rather than being the author. Ed68 2

Very short book. A set of essays on the aftermath of the death of Bin Laden. Inspiring talking points, but most didn't add too much to the projections of where things will go or anything not already known.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full reviewmilitary-read Lena Denman111 7

This book has some dated material since OBL was killed in 2011. Yet the tone of this book and the detailed perspectives of the contributing authors provide great insight into our current political circumstances in the USA. David Anthony SamAuthor 11 books23

Thoughtful essays from several viewpoints. Neal35 3

A through study of Bin Laden - who he was and what he did. Lee1,920 6

A series of essay’s about how the Arab world might be affected after the death of Osama Bin Laden. Detailing how Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Al Qaeda might be changed. non-fiction-spy-crime-terrorism Don421

The essays about the meaning of Bin Laden's death run about half and half--half are well-reasoned and insightful and the rest are either re-hashes or collapse under political slant. 2012 Elliot15 1 follower

A collection of essays, so quality can be hit or miss. Ron74 5

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