This volume of Tabari's annals deals almost exclusively with the final stages of the Zanj revolt; the most serious external challenge faced by the central authorities in the last half of the third/ninth century. The rebellion; which began as an 'Alid uprising; but soon gave way to Kharijite influences; was a movement that attracted the disenfranchised elements of society in lower Iraq. Their battle against the tested armies of the Caliphate continued over three decades. And while the Zanj were never able to translate their localized successes into any decisive victory; they caused widespread chaos and great concern for those who had a vested interest in political and economic stability.In many respects; the Zanj resemble modern revolutionary movements that live off the countryside; and harass the authorities. They emerged occasionally for conventional battles; but; more often than not they resorted to unconventional warfare; taking advantage of the extremely difficult terrain in the marshy areas of the region that gave rise to them. To defeat them; the government armies had to improvise new tactics and a strategy based on the lessons of early defeats.
#3071197 in Books Carroll n Graf Pub 1993-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.75 x 5.75 x 1.50l; #File Name: 0881849944530 pages
Review
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. ONE OF THE EARLIEST ATTEMPTS TO EXONERATE JAMES EARL RAYBy Steven H ProppHarold Weisberg is "a newspaper reporter and former Senate investigator." He is also the author of Case Open: The Unanswered JFK Assassination Questions; Whitewash: The Report on the Warren Report; Post Mortem: JFK Assassination Cover-Up Smashed!; Photographic Whitewash: Suppressed Kennedy Assassination Pictures; etc.He writes in the Introduction; "I believe Ray did not do the shooting. More; I am convinced that that so-called 'evidence' said to prove his guilt; on this; that first analysis it has ever had; proves exactly the opposite---more than that he did not do the shooting; but that he could not have done it... Was Ray part of this conspiracy? I believe he was; as decoy." He later writes; "This work is a defense of James Earl Ray. If it is also the only defense he had; it is still intended as more than a defense of one man." (Pg. 446)Here are some quotations from the book:"(Judge Preston W.) Battle acknowledged he 'could have refused to accept' the defense-prosecution argument: It was entirely in my power to do so. But my conscience told me that it better served the ends of justice to accept the agreement. Had there been a trial; there could always have been the possibility; in such an emotionally-charged case; of a hung jury. Or; though it may appear far-fetched now; he could have been aquitted by a jury." (Pg. 90-91)"Now; (the judge) did NOT ask Ray; 'Did you kill Dr. King' or 'Did you alone kill Dr. King.' He hedged his question very carefully so that a response did not even mean Ray said he was; in fact; either THE killer or A killer... This could mean that Ray was guilty of murder in the technical charge by his part in the conspiracy; not because he fired the shot... the judge was NOT asking Ray if he was the killer and Ray was careful not to say that he was. At no point did he admit the killing. At no point was he ever asked!" (Pg. 102-103)"The fact is; great care was exercised at every point in the record to make it seem an intact and identifiable bullet was recovered. This is a lie; a gross; deliberate; malevolent lie." (Pg. 215)Author Truman Capote said; "The central factor of what happens is that; after the assassination; this assassin rushes out of the rooming house and what does he do? He does a very amazing thing. He takes a suitcase and very carefully drops it in front of a store." (Pg. 332)"Ray is alleged to have pawed his way around the flophouse bathroom and bedroom; to have moved furniture; then to have made that spectacular; all-night dash across the heart of the South in his white Mustang; later found with overflowing ashtrays (though he is a non-smoker)." (Pg. 432)
