THIS BOOK COULD not have been written without the help of numerous people over many years. First and foremost are those anonymous individuals who contributed their knowledge and who provided the unique source material on which this book is based. The nature and extent of their contribution is elaborated in the “Note on Sources and Methods.” Suffice it to say that this book could not have been written without them.
Of those who can be recognized by name, Vaughn S. Forrest comes first. A soul mate and a great friend for almost two decades, he implored and motivated me to write this book and was a pillar of support as I struggled with the research and typing.
Special thanks to the members of the Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare of the U.S. House of Representatives—the Hon. Jim Saxton, chairman; the Hon. Bill McCollum; the Hon. Duncan Hunter; the Hon. Tom DeLay; and the Hon. Bob Ehrlich—for their unfailing help and support and for their friendship.
As I embarked on this undertaking, I discovered just how much I’ve been blessed with good friends whose help made this book possible.
Gregory R. Copley, president of International Strategic Studies Association, editor of Defense & Foreign Affairs: Strategic Policy (D&FA:SP), and primarily a friend for more than fifteen years, shared his vast knowledge. Always ready to lend an ear to my doubts, his sound judgment concerning strategic affairs helped me a lot. Greg also readily permitted the use of material I had originally prepared for and published in D&FA:SP. Special thanks to Pamela von Gruber. Professor Murray Kahl was there with me and for me throughout the chaotic phase of writing. He helped with reading and commenting on early drafts as well as with locating data on the Internet; he “held my hand” as my computers kept crashing and helped by just being a good friend.
Other dear friends rallied as well. The indefatigable “Jacques” did what only he can. Guido Olimpio shared much material from his unique sources. Dr. Assad Homayoun shared his unique insight and knowledge of Iran. Rosanne Klass did not let me forget Afghanistan and kept my files bursting with clippings
Thanks to Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld for the “Shidukh.” Daniel Bial, my agent, took care of business as I kept typing. Steven Martin of Forum/Prima embarked on a crash program for publication and brought it to such a great completion. The project team at Prima—Jennifer Fox, Joan Pendelton, Karen Bentley, and David Richardson—has done a tremendous job under the adverse conditions of “crazy” material, time pressure, and me as the author.
Last but not least thanks to my mother, Siona, for helping with French sources and for the flow of clippings from Israel, and thanks to my wife, Lena, for translating and helping with the Russian sources. As well, hugs and kisses to Lena and Masha for enduring my hectic typing and the loud jazz playing into the wee small hours and for their love.