PDF Agent Storm: My Life Inside al Qaeda and the CIA by Morten Storm; Paul Cruickshank; Tim Lister in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Likely not 100% accurate; but still an important book.By Lance B. HillsingerAgent Storm: My life inside Al Qaeda and the CIA is obviously an unusual book. The author; Morten Storm; is a Danish citizen. In his youth his was drawn to Islam and quickly radicalized. Years later he became disillusioned and became an informant for Western intelligence services; including the CIA.His story seems almost impossible; but there is substantial corroboration to many parts of life. There are also many footnotes which help the reader understand the context of the author's particular action. However; by his own admission; the author used cocaine repeatedly. With his use of illicit substances; it strains credulity to assume that he had a 100% perfect recollection of events.While the author's recollection of events; or his analysis of a situation; may not be perfectly correct there remains two viable themes: How he was drawn to militant radical Islam in the first place and later his perceived betrayal by the CIA (and the Danish intelligence service).In order to prevent others from become radicalized; it is important to understand why Storm and others are drawn to militant Islam. As to his perceived betrayal; he presents relevant; substantial evidence to justify these feelings on some points; but less compelling evidence on others.Because of the nature of the narrative; many proper; especially unfamiliar Arabic names; are used repeatedly throughout the text. There is a "dramatis personae" at the end of the book which can great help the reader better understand the narrative. It would have been even much more helpful to put the "dramatis personae" at the beginning of book. However; failure to do is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent and one-of-a-kind book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Frightening ReadBy Robert KingIf you read this expose of Islamic belief and pay any attention at all to what is happening in the world; in this country; you will not breathe easy again in your lifetime. Your future; the future of your children; your grandchildren; this country; is under greater threat than at anytime in the last century. Morten Storm's story of his conversion to Islam; his life as a principal provider to al Qaeda's top jahadist for years before suddenly realizing the lie he had been living under; and then how he managed to change sides when the slightest mistake could have caused the literal loss of his head; is the one of the most engrossing story; fiction or non-fiction; I have ever read. Thank you; Morten. Please; please; stay safe.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. and three different Intelligent Organizations in Europe and AmericaBy Terry S. CollinsThis book was very interesting. It provides an inside look at Militant Extremism in Europe prior to 9/11; Al Qaeda organizations in Yemen and Somalia; and three different Intelligent Organizations in Europe and America. The two questions that drove me on in reading this book were: 1) What factors impelled Morton Storm to embrace Militant Islam with it's murderous ideology and what caused him then to reject it enough to turn against "a band of brothers" and start risking his life to work for impersonal organizations that he; ultimately; could not trust; and 2) what would cause Aminah; a seemingly innocent young woman from a small village in Croatia; to embrace Wahabism and become enthralled by a militant cleric (Anwar al-Awlaki) and religious bigot of the worst kind; who made no secret about his murderous intentions toward the West. Her innocence in thinking that she could travel back and forth between the militant camps of Yemen and Europe makes me wonder if she even knew that Anwar al- Awlaki had declared war against the West. Yet; when she was told that she would not be able to go back to Europe to visit her family; she just couldn't back away from marrying Awlaki. I don't know if the book entirely answered those questions; but I liked the fact that it caused me to reflect deeply on them. For some people; there seems to be an appeal in embracing a simplistic ideology based on selected quotes from an authoritative source; which enables one to adhere unquestionably to a simplistic code of honor. It appears that Morton Storm saw that his life was going down a path to destruction and may have grasped onto this ideology in order to change course. But when he began to think more deeply about it; the house of cards collapsed. I certainly wonder what became of Aminah after Awlaki was vaporized.