Prisoner of Zion

In the aftermath of 9/11, Carrier, a journalist and radio producer, sought to make sense of the terrorism that caused the great loss of American life and triggered the Afghan war. In a series of remarkable essays, Carrier, raised among Mormons, noted similarities in the beliefs and practices of the Taliban and the Utah church, stressing the fundamentalist pledge of obedience to authority, and revelations and visions from God to a "Chosen people." Carrier is alternately humorous and serious about the reports from Afghanistan, its people, its culture, and the heavy fighting. Journalists on the front lines fascinate us when they get this close: Carrier gathers opinions from some Afghans who believe that Osama bin Laden was a U.S. creation and that the real goal of the war was capturing oil reserves. Chatty but provocative, Carrier's critique of the true believers teaches us options for reconciliation. (Apr.)