The enemy of the United States is much more than Al Qaeda, declares Pipes (director of the Middle East Forum, a conservative think tank) it is "militant Islam" (or Islamism) which is a "global affliction" that is "the country's most worrisome, long-term opponent." In 24 loosely connected and previously published essays, he explores the nature of Islamism and discusses Islam in the United States. Among the arguments he makes are the assertions that there is no such thing as moderate Islamism, that there is no correlation between poverty and "militant Islam," that American political attitudes towards Islamism echo the divides of the Cold War, that Islamists in the United States seek to impose Islamic law on the country, and that violence and intimidation is shutting down frank discussion of Islamism the United States. This is a paperback reprint of the 2002 edition. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less