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Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America's Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda Audiobook
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(3.02) - 83 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In the years following the 9/11 attacks, the United States waged a "war on terror" that sought to defeat Al Qaeda through brute force. But it soon became clear that this strategy was not working, and by 2005 the Pentagon began looking for a new way.
In Counterstrike, Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker of the New York Times tell the story of how a group of analysts within the military, at spy agencies, and in law enforcement has fashioned an innovative and effective new strategy to fight terrorism, unbeknownst to most Americans and in sharp contrast to the cowboy slogans that characterized the U.S. government's public posture. Adapting themes from classic Cold War deterrence theory, these strategists have expanded the field of battle in order to disrupt jihadist networks in ever more creative ways.
Schmitt and Shanker take listeners deep into this theater of war, as ground troops, intelligence operatives, and top executive branch officials have worked together to redefine and restrict the geography available for Al Qaeda to operate in. They also show how these new counterterrorism strategies, adopted under George W. Bush and expanded under Barack Obama, were successfully employed in planning and carrying out the dramatic May 2011 raid in which Osama bin Laden was killed.
Filled with startling revelations about how our national security is being managed, Counterstrike will change the way Americans think about the ongoing struggle with violent radical extremism.
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"A worthwhile read for those looking at the war against al Qaeda in layman's terms. I would not plan on reading this twice."
— Katie (4 out of 5 stars)
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Should appeal to anyone who wants to understand the parameters of the ongoing fight against terrorism.
— Publishers Weekly -
“Insightful…Counterstrike…is not just another book about Sept. 11, Iraq or Afghanistan. Rather, it focuses on the various military and civilian agency responses to terrorism [with a] strong portrayal of the many unheralded United States victories…Americans should take comfort in this book’s reminder that their government can adapt to meet threats as they change, keeping them safer—if not necessarily safe—from terrorism.”
— New York Times -
"Counterstrike’ provides a detailed look at the changes that have occurred and the personalities behind those decisions, as well as the complicated global chessboard of terror networks and sympathetic governments that made adaptation so vital.”
— Boston Globe -
“This eye-opening account of how the US government has vastly upgraded its counterterrorism efforts since Sept. 11 reminds readers that while the threat from al-Qaeda and its affiliates persists, so does the American will to strike back.”
— Washington Times -
“In Counterstrike, Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker, reporters for the New York Times, warn that another catastrophic terrorist event is inevitable, but their behind-the-scenes account of the evolution of US counterterrorism strategy gives officials the highest marks…Counterstrike is a glowing portrayal of the American intelligence community.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“A remarkable detective story by two of the nation’s best reporters. With meticulous research and fine storytelling, Counterstrike reveals who, what, when, where, and why in describing the long campaign by the United States government to demolish al-Qaeda and ultimately to kill Osama bin Laden.”
— Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of An Army at Dawn -
"Counterstrike lays bare the provocative new ideas that are driving the war on terrorism. Generals often talk about changing the hearts and minds of people in faraway lands, but Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker reveal the importance of changing the hearts and minds of America’s defense strategists. This is a groundbreaking intellectual history that is also a great read.”
— Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill -
"New York Times correspondents Schmitt and Shanker review events after 9/11, focusing on government and military counterterrorism experts who convinced administration ideologues to switch gears…[A] reassuring argument that, after an expensive and massive effort, terrorism seems on the decline.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Counterstrike Listener Reviews
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" Easy read, enjoyable. Good look at the non-kinetic efforts behind fighting terrorism. "
— Rick, 6/7/2013 -
" Encouraging in that it documents an improving coordination among our terrorist-fighting agencies. The account of Bin Laden's take-down interesting especially in the amount of preparation made. Good reporting but not an engaging read. "
— John, 2/13/2013 -
" One of 5 finalists for the NYPL Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism. "
— Jennifer, 4/23/2012
About the Authors
Eric Schmitt is a terrorism correspondent for the New York Times and has embedded with troops in Iraq, Somalia, and Pakistan. Schmitt has twice been a member of Times reporting teams that were awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
Thom Shanker, a Pentagon correspondent for the New York Times, routinely spends time embedded with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shanker was formerly a foreign editor and correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, based in Moscow, Berlin, and Sarajevo.
About George K. Wilson
George K. Wilson is a working actor in stage, film, television, and commercials with almost one hundred audiobook narrations to his credit. He began in broadcast journalism with American Forces Radio and Television and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had a lead role in the cult film classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and appeared on television’s One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, and The Doctors and has been heard on voice-overs for The Guiding Light and The Cosby Show, as well as many television and radio commercials.