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‘[A] masterpiece of reportorial thoroughness, painstaking research, and serious reflection.’ Edward W. Said ‘Cooley’s important and timely book examines a strange love affair that went disastrously wrong, the alliance between America and some of the most conservative and fanatical followers of Islam.’ Los Angeles Times Book Review ‘The devil of John Cooley’s unsettling book is in the detail . . . A persuasive argument against one-night stands in international alliances and makes clear that there will be an intolerable price to pay if Islam replaces communism as the next ‘Satanic foe”‘. Independent on Sunday This completely revised edition examines the events of September 11th 2001, Osama bin Laden’s role and the complex working of the Al Qa’ida terror network. This is the classic book on the history of the USA’s involvement with Afghanistan that explains the devastating consequences of the alliance between the US government and radical Islam. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the roots of the current international crisis. Cooley marshals a wealth of evidence – from the assassination of Sadat, the destabilisation of Algeria and Chechnya and the emergence of the Taliban, to the bombings of the World Trade Center and the US embassies in Africa. He examines the crucial role of Pakistan’s military intelligence organisation; uncovers China’s involvement and its aftermath; the extent of Saudi financial support; the role of ‘America’s most wanted man’ Osama bin Laden; the BCCI connection; the CIA’s cynical promotion of drug traffic in the Golden Crescent; the events in Pakistan since the military coup of October 1999; and, finally, the events of September 11th 2001 and their continuing impact on world affairs.

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