Preview
  • Crush the Cell

  • How to Defeat Terrorism Without Terrorizing Ourselves
  • By: Michael A. Sheehan
  • Narrated by: David Drummond
  • Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

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Crush the Cell

By: Michael A. Sheehan
Narrated by: David Drummond
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Publisher's summary

Written by a man who is arguably the country's most authoritative voice on counterterrorism, Crush the Cell demolishes, with simple logic, the edifice of false "terror punditry" that has been laid, brick by brick, since 9/11. A veteran of special ops, international diplomacy, and bruising clashes with federal law enforcement agencies, Michael A. Sheehan delivers in this book a two-part message: First, that we've wasted---and are continuing to waste---billions of dollars on the wrong protective measures; and second, that knowing the bad guys' next move is paramount.

Somewhere in America, Sheehan maintains, are a number of terrorist cells, their members' heads filled with schemes of mayhem and destruction. Motivated not, as some believe, by feelings of disenfranchisement, disdain for freedom, or economic envy but by a compelling ideological hatred, these individuals plot not just terror but paralyzing terror---the kind that can shut down a country.

Unwittingly aiding and abetting them are many (but not all) "terror experts" and members of the media who, for reasons that are partly self-serving, rate the bad guys' capabilities far higher than they are, playing into terrorists' hands with their hype. Spurred by the pundits' inflated assessments, legislation follows that drains billions from taxpayers' pockets and pours money into a bloated Washington bureaucracy championing needless programs.

Here, Sheehan shows why defensive fortresses don't work whereas offensive operational intelligence does. He also peels back the mystery surrounding terrorist cells, portraying them as typically a group of bumblers searching for a charismatic leader who has what it takes to conduct a complex symphony of violence. Sharing time in the narrative spotlight are not just agents of al Qaeda but also frighteningly destructive lone wolves, cults, and radical movements.

©2008 Michael A. Sheehan (P)2008 Tantor
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Editorial reviews

More than 20 years of counterterrorism work underlies Crush the Cell, America's foremost expert on terrorism Michael Sheehan's startling audiobook uncovering the myths and realities surrounding keeping dangerous terrorists at bay within the U.S. An intense and authoritative narration from David Drummer infuses the text with an urgency that will snap listeners to attention: as it turns out, America is making key mistakes when it comes to battling terrorism. Money is being wasted and media attention is giving terrorists what they crave, while the only truly effective way to ensure we're free from attacks is to identify and eliminate strategic cells. Crush the Cell is a clear and compelling listen that will change listeners' perspectives on the specter of terror.

Critic reviews

"Filled with startling insights, Crush the Cell is a dispatch from the front lines of our confrontation with Al Qaeda. Like its author, the book is smart, tough, brave and relentlessly honest." (Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State)
"Michael Sheehan has long been one of the most creative, original thinkers on the subject of terrorism...I can't think of anyone else who brings such a fresh perspective to this vital field." (Lawrence Wright, author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning The Looming Tower)

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Overall Good

Started off great and ended great in between was good. It laid down out some policy concerns and problems with the Intelligence Community (IC). I would recommend to someone who was Looking into how terror groups work and operate. Also check out THE WAY OF THE STRANGERS. Great book also.

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