Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror (Brassey's, 2004; ) is a book by American author Michael Scheuer, a Central Intelligence Agency veteran. The book was originally published anonymously. Scheur worked 22 years with the CIA, and ran the Counterterrorist Center's bin Laden station from 1996 to 1999.
In the book, Scheuer criticized assumptions which were widespread among US civilian, military and intelligence officials regarding Islamist insurgencies and particularly Osama bin Laden. Scheuer contends that Al-Qaeda is following a martial strategy that is more rational than it is given credit for among Western politicians and media.
In his video of September 7th 2007, bin Laden says that "if you would like to get to know some of the reasons for your losing of your war against us, then read the book of Michael Scheuer in this regard."
Reviews Reviews, ranging from high praise to scathing criticism, are presented here in chronological order. Richard A. Clarke, Finally the CIA gets it right, The Washington Post, June 27, 2004 Michiko Kakutani, A Dark View of U.S. Strategy, The New York Times, July 9, 2004 Mark Follman, A spook speaks out, Salon Magazine, July 13, 2004 Faye Bowers, We have met the enemy and he is us, The Christian Science Monitor, July 13, 2004 Benjamin Schwarz, A Review, The Atlantic, August 10, 2004 James. H. Joyner, Jr., Book Review, Strategic Insights, vol. 3, no. 9, September 2004 Jason Burke, Why do they hate us?, The Guardian, September 4, 2004 Eric Margolis, Why West is losing, Toronto Sun, September 12, 2004 Jeff Helmreich, Empirical Hubris, Jerusalem Issue Brief, vol. 4, no. 4, September 13, 2004 David Frum, Uncertain Trumpet, National Review, November 16, 2004 Michael Scheuer, An author reviews the reviews of his book, lewrockwell.com, February 7, 2005 Thomas Joscelyn, CIA Conspiracy Theorist, The Weekly Standard, February 16, 2005 Charles Glass, Cyber-Jihad, London Review of Books, vol. 28, no. 5, March 9, 2006
References
External links Slate Advance excerpts. Boston Phoenix article. CNN article Washington Journal interview with Scheuer on Imperial Hubris, November 24, 2004, C-SPAN