This book does an excellent job of connecting 1400 years of dots concerning the clash of Islamic and Western civilizations. Phares explains in great and easy to understand detail what the real struggle is with Islamic terrorism and what its roots really are. The clear and objective message is that few in the West begin to understand the depth or intensity of this ages old struggle and without such an understanding we face a clear and present danger that threatens the very survival of free and democratic countries around the world. Walid reveals the pervasive and tragic disinformation abounding in American Universities perpetuated by massive infusions of Arab petro dollars; all in order subvert American academics into believing in a warm congenial form of moderate accepting Islam that he demonstrates has never existed. A powerful and very important text for everyone that would like a single book that explains the critical number one challenge of the world today.

Phares provides good background on the origin of the Muslim faith, its major sects, how it co-exists with the Saudi government (and their reason for working with the U.S.), and the meaning of and motivations behind "jihad." Phares also points out that the U.S. intellectual elite has failed to warn us of the seriousness of the threat (though I don't recall Phares warning anyone either), and discounted it also due to "political correctness."

On the other hand, I do not buy into his projections of future jihad perpetrators working their way unnoticed into high U.S. government positions - especially after 9/11, though the threat of undercover cells is realistic and scary enough. Also, his projections of "what might have happened absent 9/11" was confusing and pointless.