Exploring the theme of divine prophecy, the book reveals how God's plan has been intentionally obscured until the end times. It discusses the transition from human governance to divine rule, emphasizing the promise of a restored relationship with God akin to the intimacy experienced in the Garden of Eden. The narrative invites readers to contemplate the significance of prophecy and the eventual fulfillment of God's intentions for humanity.
Focusing on the intricate propaganda war between the Syrian government and the opposition, this book delves into the narratives that shaped the conflict while excluding extremist groups. It examines how cognitive biases influenced perceptions and outcomes, arguing that the opposition succeeded internationally but faltered domestically. The analysis reveals that propaganda had limited effects, primarily reinforcing pre-existing attitudes rather than altering them. By challenging dominant discourses, it encourages readers to critically engage with various reporting on the war and understand its complex realities.
Concerns about CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear) weapons have featured prominently in both political debates and media reporting about the ongoing threat from al Qaeda since 9/11. This book provides a chronological account of al Qaeda's efforts to acquire a CBRN weapon capability, and the evolution of the al Qaeda leadership's approach to actually using CBRN weapons, set against the context of the politicisation of the threat of CBRN terrorism in US security debates. Ben Cole explores how the inherently political nature of terrorist CBRN threats has helped to shape al Qaeda's approach to CBRN weapons, and shows how the heightened political sensitivities surrounding the threat have enabled some governments to manipulate it in order to generate domestic and international support for controversial policies, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He assesses the relative success of the al Qaeda leadership's political approach to CBRN weapons, together with the relative success of efforts by the US, UK and Russian governments to exploit the al Qaeda CBRN threat for their wider political purposes. Shedding new light on al Qaeda's tactics and strategy, this book will be essential reading for scholars of terrorism and extremism studies.