The last six words in the Pledge of Allegiance, “With liberty and justice for all,” continue to ring hollow for many Americans and will continue to do so until it becomes clear to all Americans that it is as difficult for the African American community to see justice in the continued murders of unarmed black men at the hands of men and women in blue as it was for white America to see justice in the acquittal of O. J. Simpson in the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson twenty-plus years ago. Silent Terrorism, A Look at American Racism and Hypocrisy was written in hopes of opening dialogue and stimulating conversation about race in America. I have been blessed to travel to many countries outside the United States of America, giving me a very good understanding and appreciation of the benefits of being born a citizen of the greatest country in the world. As great as this nation is as a whole, as honorable as its ideals are, the founding fathers left huge holes in its foundation related to race and racism which continue to divide our nation today. The tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by racist men in our society today differ from those of their forefathers. Their TTPs continue to evolve, change and are embedded in every facet of our lives, our justice system and our government which, from its inception, has been a state sponsor of terrorism (racism) within its borders. One can argue that many of the atrocities committed by the founding fathers and other immigrants from Great Britain were necessary to establish and build this nation; that excuse cannot be used to explain the continued racism, voter disenfranchisement, repealing of the Voting Rights Act, many of today's laws, and a grand jury system that continues to allow for the murders of unarmed black Americans. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, said “most of the black scientists in this country do not come from the most advanced schools” and black students do better at “slower tracked schools.” Scalia continued to express his racist views from the bench when he said students of color are being “pushed into schools that are too advanced for them” due to race-conscious affirmative action policies.

‘Islamophobia’ is a term that has existed since the nineteenth century. But in recent decades, argues Pascal Bruckner in his controversial new book, it has become a weapon used to silence criticism of Islam. The term allows those who brandish it in the name of Islam to ‘freeze’ the latter, making reform difficult. Whereas Christianity and Judaism have been rejuvenated over the centuries by external criticism, Islam has been shielded from critical examination and has remained impervious to change. This tendency is exacerbated by the hypocrisy of those Western defenders of Islam who, in the name of the principles of the Enlightenment, seek to muzzle its critics while at the same time demanding the right to chastise and criticize other religions. These developments, argues Bruckner, are counter-productive for Western democracies as they struggle with the twin challenges of immigration and terrorism. The return of religion in those democracies must not be equated with the defence of fanaticism, and the right to religious freedom must go hand in hand with freedom of expression, an openness to criticism, and a rejection of all forms of extremism. There are already more than enough forms of racism; there is no need to imagine more. While all violence directed against Muslims is to be strongly condemned and punished, defining these acts as ‘Islamophobic’ rather than criminal does more to damage Islam and weaken the position of Muslims than to strengthen them.

The bestselling author pulls no punches on what America needs to defeat white supremacy National political commentator Steve Phillips’s “politically charged and thoughtfully reasoned” (Kirkus Reviews) How We Win the Civil War helped chart the way forward for progressives and people of color, arguing that Democrats must recognize the nature of the fight we’re in, which is a contest between democracy and white supremacy left unresolved after the Civil War. Combining a powerful grasp of history with Phillips’s trademark, no-nonsense political critique, this “spirited and persuasive . . . rousing call for change” (Publishers Weekly) argues that we will not overcome until we govern as though we are under attack—until we finally recognize that the time has come to finish the conquest of the Confederacy and all that it represents. With a new preface laying out what is at stake in the 2024 general election, Phillips delivers razor-sharp prescriptions for the new political season, including specific guidance for politicians, policymakers, and ordinary citizens alike. “A foundational contribution to the emerging field of multiracial democracy” (Spencer Overton), How We Win the Civil War is the essential political book for 2024 and beyond—showing us how to rid our politics of white supremacy, once and for all.

First published in English in 2007 under title: The history of terrorism: from antiquity to al Qaeda.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • A “heart-stopping account of the events leading up to 9/11” (The New York Times Book Review), this definitive history explains in gripping detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. In gripping narrative that spans five decades, Lawrence Wright re-creates firsthand the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He follows FBI counterterrorism chief John O’Neill as he uncovers the emerging danger from al-Qaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is a sweeping, unprecedented history of the long road to September 11.

The official report that has shaped the international debate about NSA surveillance "We cannot discount the risk, in light of the lessons of our own history, that at some point in the future, high-level government officials will decide that this massive database of extraordinarily sensitive private information is there for the plucking. Americans must never make the mistake of wholly 'trusting' our public officials."—The NSA Report This is the official report that is helping shape the international debate about the unprecedented surveillance activities of the National Security Agency. Commissioned by President Obama following disclosures by former NSA contractor Edward J. Snowden, and written by a preeminent group of intelligence and legal experts, the report examines the extent of NSA programs and calls for dozens of urgent and practical reforms. The result is a blueprint showing how the government can reaffirm its commitment to privacy and civil liberties—without compromising national security.