Questioning America's radically self-contradictory policy towards foreign leaders over the years, the insights offered by this invaluable book circle around the premise that the terrorist of yesterday is the hero of today, and vice versa. In part one, Eqbal Ahmad holds up the concepts of 'terrorist' and 'freedom fighter' to US foreign policy. What do these terms mean? Where do they apply? How can the roots of political violence be stemmed? In part two, David Barsamian interviews Ahmad upon his return from Afghanistan, where he met with and interviewed Osama bin Laden.

Questioning America's radically self-contradictory policy towards foreign leaders over the years, the insights offered by this invaluable book circle around the premise that the terrorist of yesterday is the hero of today, and vice versa. In part one, Eqbal Ahmad holds up the concepts of 'terrorist' and 'freedom fighter' to US foreign policy. What do these terms mean? Where do they apply? How can the roots of political violence be stemmed? In part two, David Barsamian interviews Ahmad upon his return from Afghanistan, where he met with and interviewed Osama bin Laden.

Questioning America's radically self-contradictory policy towards foreign leaders over the years, the insights offered by this invaluable book circle around the premise that the terrorist of yesterday is the hero of today, and vice versa. In part one, Eqbal Ahmad holds up the concepts of 'terrorist' and 'freedom fighter' to US foreign policy. What do these terms mean? Where do they apply? How can the roots of political violence be stemmed? In part two, David Barsamian interviews Ahmad upon his return from Afghanistan, where he met with and interviewed Osama bin Laden.