Michael Scheuer (2011 event)
The death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011 marked a key moment in the history of the so-called War on Terror. But Michael Scheuer, formerly the chief of the CIA unit responsible for capturing the elusive Saudi, believes bin Laden’s death will make no difference. Incandescent at ‘pro-terrorist’ US foreign policies, he argues that while bin Laden was an icon and a strategic genius, al Qaeda’s next generation will be less visible and more violent. Scheuer’s hawkish views can be shocking: he believes militant Islamism is a violent enemy that the US must hold at bay. But his analysis of bin Laden’s power is unusual and intriguing. In this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he talks candidly to Ruth Wishart.
Loading the player... if your browser supports audio and video it
should appear in a few moments.
Book Festival News
Our response to today's statement from Fossil Free BooksWednesday 15 May
Listen to more
Margaret Atwood
Caitlin Moran (2011 event)
James Robertson reading The Future According to Luke
Mary Costello & Han Kang (2015 Event)
Caroline Criado Perez talks to Sally Magnusson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Omid Djalili (2014 event)
Arthur Smith
Simon Callow (2010 Event)
Billy Collins
Philippe Sands (2016 Event)