Countdown to Terror: The Top-Secret Information That Could Prevent the Next Terrorist Attack on America--And How the CIA Has Ignored It

by Curt Weldon

Book Overview

"Congressman Curt Weldon provides a rare--indeed unique--insight on what is going on in the war on terrorism through his 'Ali' missives. The book is a case study of an intelligence failure in the process of happening, with potentially catastophic consequences for the United States. Moreover, Curt accurately diagnoses the larger problems in the intelligence community that can result in intelligence failures. He offers a blueprint for solving these...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0895260050
• ISBN13: 9780895260055
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing
• Length: 245 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

This a.m. on CBS News: "Iranian-backed militias running death squads in Iraq."

Creepy...I finished the book last night and woke up to the aforementioned CBS News report, something that Rep. Weldon's insider "Ali" had been reporting all along. Unfortunately, for Weldon's critics and all Americans, this is just one more example "Ali's" warnings being proven true. I can only pray that our geniuses in Intelligence will quit their posturing long enough to thwart Al Qaeda and their planned arrival of the "12th Imam", a scenario that is Islam's equivalent to Christianity's Apocolypse. As for the rest of us, it may be time to start practicing how to "dive and take cover"...

Important

As a senior member of Congress, ten-term Congressman Curt Weldon has been contacted by many people who claim to have vital information for the United States government. And so, when Mr. Weldon met a Iranian exile in Paris who made a similar claim, he was convinced that the man was a fraud. However, as the man's "inside information" proved to be accurate, Congressman Weldon changed his opinion. Strangely enough, though, the CIA not only proved to be unwilling to listen to this informant, it even began to work against him. This is the story of what Congressman Weldon learned from his source. Each chapter begins with the Congressman's analysis of each report he received, and follows up with the man's report as he gave it. Along the way, you will learn a great deal about what is actually happening in the Middle East: that Iran is providing key support to Osama bin Laden and the terrorists in Iraq, that it is terrified of the United States and its own citizens, and what it is doing. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating book. Do I take all of the informant's information as Gospel truth? Really, I don't. But, a good deal of what he does say squares with what I have heard from other resources. So, I do think that this is an important book that will give the reader a clearer picture of what is actually happening in the Middle East, and why. I highly recommend this book.

It's the only way to be sure . . .

In this hard cover 2005 Regnery Publishing copy, Rep Curt Weldon notes, p 183: "The gross incompetence in the intelligence community over the last decade, combined with the current rebellion of intelligence community leaders, especially at the CIA, justifies a dismissal of present leaders in all agencies and across the entire intelligence community. The straightforward solution would be to fire everybody above the level of GS-15." The courageously outspoken Honorable Weldon is right. Leadership comes from the top -- and the senior mis-management of the intel agencies has given us 9-11 and whatever other Islamist horrors are bearing down upon us in the future. The fastest way to root out the treasonous incompetence and political correctness that Tenet and Freeh fostered in the senior levels of the intel agencies is a drastic purge of personnel. Weldon praises the CIA's Oehler and Deutch and Woolsey who tried to penetrate the Clintons' "flower child" fantasies with real world politics. Woolsey and company should be brought back to the Agency to help Porter Goss. Weldon is right to fear creating an intelligence czar -- it ties all the agencies into one big group and gives the end of the rope to one man. What if this one man is incompetent or evil? Better that intel agencies should compete with each other. The key to a defensive and effective US foreign policy is knowing "who hates whom" in the rest of the world and why. In the US, tolerance of all ethnic groups is a characteristic absolutely unique to America. Unfortunately, America's unique situation ill-equips even our spies to recognize and analyze in a street-wise way the deep ethnic and religious hatreds and deceptions that fuel alliances and policies in the rest of the world. Weldon proposes that these ethnic hatreds can be defused by exporting democracy -- this is the one area in the book where Weldon seems to indulge in wishful thinking. Can democracy take root in a 13th century area of the world where the populations are mostly illiterate and even the educated five percent declare allegiance to a religion that enslaves women, chops off hands and heads, and promises 76 virgins to those who fly planes into buildings? Weldon's proposal for the US to unite with Russia against this barbaric threat -- and put an end to the State Dept's nonsense about supporting Chechnya [or Kosovo] -- is a good one. It is time for Western and Eastern Christians to mend the 1000 year old schism to present a united front against the latest Muslim attacks on Europe.

Congressman Weldon's book has something for everyone - it is a must read!

Congressman Weldon's book has something for everyone - it is a must read! Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) has written an outstanding book, Countdown to Terror, which focuses on the threat posed by the Iranian Mullahs and their minions, and should be taken very, very seriously. Congressman Weldon is right on target when unmasking the prospect of an Iranian inspired and sponsored nuclear attack on the US, the completion or near completion of an Iranian nuclear device, and Iranian support for the insurgency in Iraq and international terrorism. One operation the Congressman lays bare is "Operation Mahdi" - codename for an Islamic apocalypse, where the faithful are rewarded, and infidels are punished, perhaps with nuclear weapons. Given the fact the Mullahs have a seventh century mindset, no doubt some of them relish the prospect of America in nuclear flames. (What they may have in mind this time makes the American flag going up in flames at the US Embassy in 1979 look like child's play.) Central to Congressman Weldon's book is his reliance on a source known as "Ali". Weldon, and his resourceful assistant, Dr. Peter Pry, base their assessment of threat primarily on information provided by Ali, a native of Iran, who is a former high level government official in the Shah's regime and has been and is active in seeking to overthrow the Mullah's regime. The book must be read to grasp the depth and breadth of intelligence provided by Ali. Congressman Weldon calls the CIA to account for canceling a meeting with he, Dr. Pry and Ali in Paris and trying to silence Ali. Further, the Congressman offers a substantial critique of the Agency on a number of fronts. All this taken together is why you must read this book. If you are even remotely concerned about the Mullah's trying to sneak a nuke in on the US, it's a must read. If you love conspiracy theories and think fact is often more interesting than fiction, pick it up. If you think the CIA is being unfairly maligned by Congressman Weldon, get the book, so you can see his side of the argument. If, alternatively, you figure the Congressman may just be right, or at least partially right, get the book - it's a treasure trove. Lastly, if you are one of the Mullah's reading this review and harboring nuclear or other ill will toward America, look out, Curt Weldon from Pennsylvania has your number. Oh, and one more point for the Mullahs, when you read Congressman Weldon's book (yes, you have to buy it, too), the "tempest in a teapot" you may think you are observing, with undoubted glee, between the Congressman, the CIA, the New York Times, and Washington Post is an intramural squabble, relatively speaking, a difference amongst friends. At the end of the day, you Mullahs and others who have ill designs on the US, need to know with crystal clarity the US has pulled together and is watching your every move. We're on to your game, and your dictatorial rule and support for terrorism is about over.

Astonishing book, don't disregard so quickly

I have now completed a majority of this book. However, I have also read the article at the American Prospect website which other reviewers and the magazine itself claim totally discredits Congressman Weldon on the subject of this book. After reading this article, I am far from prepared to dismiss the congressman's claims. The writers of the American Prospect claim that a man named Mahdavi is actually the intelligence source named Ali in Weldon's book. They give nothing to back this up except the claims of an elderly man from Iran who claims that Weldon stole the story from him. Also, the article says that the reporters spoke to the CIA official who Weldon says disregarded the information from Ali. It is well known that there exists a defensive and protective culture in the CIA. It is natural that a retired official of the CIA would desire retaliation after receiving such a scathing condemnation against himself as well as the CIA. I see no reason to believe these individuals over the word of Congressman Weldon. The American Prospect clearly seeks to give a sinister portrayal of a Republican congressman. Keep in mind that this is a liberal/progressive magazine. However, I would encourage you to take some initiative and read the article yourself at prospect.org. It is titled "Curt Weldon's Deep Throat." As far as the content of the book goes, I must say that if Congressman Weldon is right, we all have reason to be aware of a possible impending nuclear terrorist attack. If the book is true, we have all been disgustingly unaware of the danger facing our country. I would recommend atleast reading the book through once to judge its credibility for yourself.