After Bin Laden: Al Qaeda, The Next Generation

In this dry account of the Al Qaeda movement, Atwan writes that Bin Laden's death simply enhanced the leader's legacy; the movement is now "stronger and more widespread" than ever. In fact, he adds, since Bin Laden's death the rise of "regional emirs" has made the worldwide movement "harder to target and destroy." Atwan shares the enormous advances Al Qaeda has made via social media since he completed his 2006 book, The Secret History of al-Qa'ida, though he primarily focuses on the extent to which the Al Qaeda movement has infiltrated countries from South Asia to North Africa. For instance, Atwan analyzes widespread media coverage about Somali pirates, noting how little of said publicity emphasizes the enormous contributions those pirates make from ransom payments to support jihad. He also provides specific examples of the Taliban leadership's innovation. Certainly Atwan's description of Al Qaeda's widespread influence in Libya and Algeria should send chills up readers' spines when they realize those countries' enormous shares of oil reserves and natural gas . It's likely that only extremely motivated readers will make it through this book, but those who do will be rewarded with fascinating and often horrifying tidbits along the way. (Mar.)