How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq
Matthew Alexander, John Bruning
Language: English
Published by Free Press, 2008
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Library House Internet Sales, Grand Rapids, OH, U.S.A.Library House Internet Sales
AbeBooks seller since February 3, 2014
Condition: Used - Good
£ 6.18
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Add to basketItem description from seller
Finding Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, had long been the U.S. military's top priority -- trumping even the search for Osama bin Laden. No brutality was spared in trying to squeeze intelligence from Zarqawi's suspected associates. But these "force on force" techniques yielded exactly nothing, and, in the wake of the Abu Ghraib scandal, the military rushed a new breed of interrogator to Iraq. Matthew Alexander, a former criminal investigator and head of a handpicked interrogation team, gives us the first inside look at the U.S. military's attempt at more civilized interrogation techniques -- and their astounding success. The intelligence coup that enabled the June 7, 2006, air strike onZarqawi's rural safe house was the result of several keenly strategized interrogations, none of which involved torture or even "control" tactics. Matthew and his team decided instead to get to know their opponents. Who were these monsters? Who were they working for? What were they trying to protect? Every day the "'gators" matched wits with a rogues' gallery of suspects brought in by Special Forces ("door kickers"): egomaniacs, bloodthirsty adolescents, opportunistic stereo repairmen, Sunni clerics horrified by the sectarian bloodbath, Al Qaeda fanatics, and good people in the wrong place at the wrong time. With most prisoners, negotiation was possible and psychological manipulation stunningly effective. But Matthew's commitment to cracking the case with these methods sometimes isolated his superiors and put his own career at risk. This account is an unputdownable thriller -- more of a psychological suspense story than a war memoir. And indeed, the story reaches far past the current conflict in Iraq with a reminder that we don't have to become our enemy to defeat him. Matthew Alexander and his ilk, subtle enough and flexible enough to adapt to the challenges of modern, asymmetrical warfare, have proved to be our best weapons against terrorists all over the world. Former library book. Mylar protector included. Please note the image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item.…
Seller Inventory # 123522660
- Title
- How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq
- Author
- Matthew Alexander, John Bruning
- Publisher
- Free Press
- Publication year
- 2008
- Condition
- Good
- Dust jacket
- Good
- Book Type
- Ex-Library
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1416573151
- ISBN 13
- 9781416573159
The interrogator's job is simple: get the right information in a timely fashion. Finding Abu Musab Zarqawi had long been the US military's top priority--even trumping the search for Osama Bin Laden. No brutality was spared in trying to squeeze information from detainees. But when the Military brought in Matthew the exertions of Special Forces had yielded exactly nothing.
So Matthew and his team decided to sit down and get to know their opponents. Who were these monsters so impervious to violence? Who were they fighting for? What were they trying to protect? The intelligence coup that enabled the June 7, 2006 air strike on Zarqawi's rural safe house northeast of Baghdad was the result of a painstaking and dramatic manhunt, but it was not the result of what Matthew calls "force on force" interactions.
First featured in an Atlanticcover story by Mark Bowden, this is more of a true-crime or psychological suspense story than a war memoir.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
John R. Bruning is a prolific military and aviation historian who is the author and collaborator of many bestselling books.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Library House Internet Sales
Grand Rapids, OH, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since February 3, 2014
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