Marketing Campaign Promotes Politically Incorrect Book On Anti-Terrorism

In a remarkable marketing campaign, a book classed as a "Politically incorrect book on antiterrorism" was suggested to me in an email.

May I point your attention to Obadiah Shoher's book and blog, Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict.

Shoher is a pen name for a veteran Israeli politician. He dealt with antiterrorism issues for most of his career. The Samson Blinded dissects honestly the problems accumulated since the Jews returned to Palestine. Advocating political rationalism, it deplores both Jewish and Muslim myths, and argues for efficiency and separating politics from moralism.

You are welcome to download a copy from SamsonBlinded. I would appreciate your review.

Grumpy Old Bookman commented on the unusual campaign back in Feb., 2006 so I won't go there. The email says that Yahoo and Google banned the website, promoting the book, in their ad programs (though not searches) for unacceptable content.

The part about Amazon is true. You are able to buy the book through Amazon for $18.95, $8.95 higher than available on the www.samsonblinded.org website. I checked in at Barnes & Noble and Powell's and they do not find the book.

So why is it considered "politically incorrect"?

First, it reminds us of "our" world history, the part we don't want to acknowledge.

The readiness of militant Jews to conquer a tiny plot of land to practice their religion in is not uncommon. On the contrary, the restraint the whole world urges upon them is without precedent in history. (page 10)

Second, past conduct of war is now considered inhumane.

Cruel measures are sometimes the kindest

The cruelty of the stronger increases suffering in the short run but decreases it over the long term by stopping wars sooner and crushing the will to fight. Low intensity perpetuates conflicts. Tolerating enemies is provocative. (page 11)

We dropped two atomic bombs on Japan and ended the fighting and saved 1,000,000 American boys' lives. And Shohar argues
When Truman shrunk from employing nuclear weapons in Korea, he opened the door to murderous regimes in China and North Korea which annihilated hundreds of times more people than would have died in nuclear attacks. (page 11)

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  • Samson Blinded:: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict Samson Blinded:: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict

    The Samson Blinded dissects honestly the problems which have accumulated since the Jews returned to Palestine. Espousing political rationalism, it deplores both Muslim and Jewish myths and advocates ...

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