Catherine Herridge: The Next Wave; a book review

| June 15, 2011

I’m sure you all know who Catherine Herridge is if you’ve watched Fox News even once. She’s their Homeland Security reporter in DC, and a real cutie to boot. I remember that her reportage is some of the best on cable TV news. Every time she’s on, I have to stop what I’m doing and pay attention.

Well, she’s written a book entitled “The Next Wave: On the Hunt for Al Qaeda’s American Recruits” which is due out next week. I was lucky enough to be offered an advance copy last week and I just finished it after a two-day marathon of reading – it was that good, I couldn’t stop reading it.

Although most of the book is based on what she has reported over the last ten years, Catherine manages to pull all of that reportage together and makes it a ripping good tale. The reader sits in with her during interviews with US government officials, government agents and al Qaeda operatives while she paints a picture for the reader of the new domestic “lone wolf” terrorists and their al Qaeda master, Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born radical cleric and the vast network of connections to al-Awlaki from the US.

The press release for the book reads;

THE NEXT WAVE reveals the shocking story of how that blood-crazed American, Anwar al-Awlaki—now hiding in Yemen—was treated to Pentagon pomp as a “moderate Muslim,” and how our Justice Department hid his movements from the 9/11 Commission . . . even though al-Awlaki aided the 9/11 hijackers. It delves into how the terrorists next door turn our tech against us, exploiting Facebook, Skype, and our outdated laws. Online terror recruiters are one of the Web’s greatest success stories—yet our government refuses to stop them.

Through expert research, THE NEXT WAVE investigates the frightening question: Who are the recruits for the next wave? They live next door.

What the press release doesn’t say is that the book is really well-written and well-researched. Herridge pulls all of her reportage into a fascinating yarn. You absolutely MUST buy this book when it comes out if you’re at all curious about the subject of national security and lone wolf terrorists right here at home.

I must admit that there was one part of Catherine’s book that disappointed me…she’s married…to an Air Force pilot. So, I guess my own marriage will remain intact a while longer.

Category: Book Review

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NHSparky

One thing that will become a point of contention is that while MOST of the domestic/recruited terrorists are Muslim/Arabic, that doesn’t mean they all are–cases in point Adam Gahan, John Walker Lindh, and Jose Padilla, to name a few.

Also keep in mind that the Serb Muslims and Chechens don’t have the “swarthy Arab” look either.

The biggest damage is caused when you don’t see it coming.

Old Trooper

You’re right, Sparky, we have to be on the lookout for old ladies and 6 year old girls. We have to check the diapers of a toddler and have a MoH recipient drop his pants to show he had hip replacement surgery.

DaveO

I’m still a fan of behavioral profiling. Thinking of the mountain williams turned jihadis in North Carolina: NASCAR hats and Mohammed hearts.

NHSparky

OT, let’s not get TOTALLY out of joint. I know there’s a line to be drawn at some point, but it’s as much psychological/sociological as anything else. Believe me, I’m as aghast at the crap totally innocent civilians are put through in the name of security theater. Would that the TSA do some EFFECTIVE profiling, like the Israelis do.

Young, male, loner, few friends, no or few visible interests, easily manipulated…that’s not restricted to Muslim “yutes” you know.

But please don’t count out the possibility that AlQ or some variant thereof wouldn’t try to recruit women much like the Chechens have done. Do the names Jamie Paulin-Ramirez and Colleen R. LaRose ring a bell with you?

freebirdnavybrat

buying it!