Reviews

Ian Lustick's excellent book presents in an engaging and most intelligent manner a point of view that should be far more widely considered. It brings the problem of terrorism, such as it is, back down to earth and deftly skewers the large political, economic, and media industry that has an interest in exaggerating terrorism's effect and in scaring people unnecessarily. I recommend the book highly.

—JOHN MUELLER, Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University

With the "war" generating more harsh rhetoric and more flying spittle by the day, here's the first book that dares to tell the truth: the metaphor doesn't fit. The prosecution of the war on terror makes about as much sense as trying to fight the war on poverty by sending tanks into West Virginia. Lustick gets past the distortions of the day and gets to the heart of the matter. -MARK SUMNER, (Amazon Reviewer: "The first sensible book on the subject")

Trapped in the War on Terror is a refreshing break from the shrill emotionalism that usually attaches itself to the topic. The author not only deconstructs the terror threat like a microsurgeon with a laser, but also shows that the high price of the deception could be with us for generations to come unless we resolve to free ourselves from the trap. -DON GROFF, journalist

"Well put together case, I was especially struck by the author's parallels between today's "terrorist" cells and those of 1950's Communists (equally far-fetched). Also appreciated his coverage of the Administration's mixed messages of "there are plotters everywhere" and "don't panic". My only disappointment was that he never touches on the overblown airport security situation (Kabuki as its often called); one could infer that he agrees with that policy, although logically he wouldn't." -John Speer (Amazon Reviewer, December 2006)

Review of Trapped in the War on Terror by Bea Lloyd, The Williamsport Guardian 

Review of Trapped in the War on Terror by Christopher Bellavita, in Homeland Security Affairs,  February 2007

Review of Trapped in the War on Terror by Charles Peña, Middle East Policy, Summer 2007