Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Acknowledgements Part 3 How We Prevail Chapter 4 America's Dark Moments Chapter 5 Strategy for an Unconquerable Nation Chapter 6 Looking Back Chapter 7 The Growth of Terrorism Research Chapter 8 How Terrorism Has Changed Chapter 9 Basic Beliefs Chapter 10 Straight Talk Chapter 11 Organization of the Book Part 12 An Appreciation of the Situation Chapter 13 Early Progress Against al Qaeda Chapter 14 Subsequent Indicators of Progress Chapter 15 Failures in the Campaign Chapter 16 The Iraq Factor Chapter 17 Preparing for the Long Haul Part 18 Knowing Our Enemy Chapter 19 The Desire to See Terrorists as Mentally Disturbed Chapter 20 American Discomfort with Questioning Beliefs, Impatience with Debating Motives Chapter 21 The Jihadist Mindset Chapter 22 Listening to the Enemy Chapter 23 The Polemics of Osama bin Laden Chapter 24 The Jihadist Ideology Chapter 25 A Political Strategy or a Religious War? Chapter 26 Operations Are Imperative Chapter 27 Attacks Demonstrate Prowess Chapter 28 Building an Army of Believers Chapter 29 Jihadist Profiles Chapter 30 A Briefing in Waziristan Chapter 31 What Does bin Laden Really Fear? Chapter 32 Many Visions of the Future Part 33 A Sharper Sword: Strategic Principles for Defeating Today's Enemy Chapter 34 The Terminology: "Terrorism" or "Terror" Chapter 35 Too Much Under One Tent Chapter 36 Strategic Principles Chapter 37 Iraq: The Search for a Strategic Principle Part 38 A Durable Shield: Strategies for Strengthening Ourselves Chapter 39 An Age of Alarms Chapter 40 Facing the Foe Within Chapter 41 An Unconquerable Nation Part 42 Appendices Chapter 43 A. Chronology of Selected Jihadist Attacks Since September 11, 2001 Chapter 44 B. Failed Terrorist Plots: What Were They Thinking About Doing? Chapter 45 Combating Terrorism: A Reading List

About the Author

Brian Michael Jenkins is a Senior Adviser at RAND and a professor in the Pardee RAND graduate school. His previous publications include Three Years After (2005) and Countering al Qaeda (2002).

Reviews

In Unconquerable Nation, [Jenkins] has synthesized his shorter writings on terrorism from the past 6 years into a single volume that assesses the current situation, delves into the need for a deeper understanding of the terrorists and their motivations, prescribes a new set of strategic principles to guide our efforts in the Long War, and addresses how the Nation can strengthen itself... [T]hought-provoking reading. -- L. Yambrick Joint Force Quarterly Jenkins offers a number of interesting thoughts on terrorism, including terrorist motivation, successful anti- and counterterrorism tactics and specific analysis of jihadi terrorism... [W]ill serve to spur further research and challenge terrorism experts to reconsider long-held views. -- A. B. Lowther, Arkansas Tech University CHOICE The book's main contribution is Mr. Jenkins' formulation of a counterterrorism strategy to destroy what he terms the "jihadist enterprise." This enterprise is not a single organization (e.g., al Qaeda) but a worldwide "marketplace" of jihadists in which these groupings either spontaneously, or under the direction of al Qaeda's operatives, organize to achieve what they conceive to be their path of "glory." Thus, different measures are required to respond to each segment of the jihadi marketplace... Mr. Jenkins' sound advice is well articulated in this compelling book and enhances our understanding of what constitutes effective counterterrorism strategy. -- Joshua Sinai, The Analysis Corporation The Washington Times