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Fascinating
Great insight into how military training breaks down the human element and why there is a need for re-humanizing returning veterans.
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Anonymous
Posted July 1, 2003
Another monument to the police state...
Instead of government-inspired fantasies which conveniently (and perpetually) shift the blame to New World Order puppets, how about a little truth for once? What about all the independent eyewitness reports regarding a Middle Eastern being with McVeigh? What about the TWO independent explosions recorded by seismographs? How about the damage to the Federal building, which couldn't possibly have been caused by an external truck bomb? And what about the 12 tapes the Feds are unwilling to release? C'mon people, wake up!!
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Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2003
a good book from start to finish
The authors of this book (obviously) looked very long and hard to odtain the information portrayed within its pages. They didn't only interview Tim's freinds, family and co-workers but actually had the oportunity to conduct more than a few interviews with Timothy McVeigh himself (some lasting several hours). The story shows a riveting portrail of Timothy McVeigh's life, from birth, up until the devastating disaster witch took place in Oklahoma city that April morning. The views in the book are never hypocritical and take time to tell both sides of the story, from the victims and their loved ones to Tim and his loved ones. I find it intrieging at how closely the authours depicted Timothy McVeigh's life story bit by bit, and in a sence capured his mindset on the pages. They are able to justify his views on the government and their unjustified ways while they show us the humane side to his inhumane actions. I wonder what Tim would have thought about 9/11, only months after his exicution. I was only 10 when the bombing acually happened, but this book helped me to better understand the incidents that took place and better understand the mentality behind such actions as these. Eventhough they are never truly justifiable the book shows that the men behind some of the terrorist actions were actually very knowledgable and inteligent people (ie. Ted Kaczynski was once being a college professor). I guess I'll conclude by saying that I found it very hard to put this book down, and that I even found the parts that draged on intruiging. even if you are not interested in events or topics such as this I think it will still be a very good read.
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Anonymous
Posted October 29, 2001
Was Justice Served?
Before I read American Terrorist, I thought Timothy McVeigh was a man who was just looking out for the American people, but if so, how could he blow up his own people? But wait, Doesn't are Government do the same thing every day? This is what Timothy McVeigh was trying to tell everyone. By bombing the Murrah Building he was showing people what are government does everyday. I don't agree with what he did, but I agree on why he did it. By reading this book, you begin to realize that the so-called monster, Timothy McVeigh is actually a person. Now you can get the whole picture of the bombing, and read about what really happened, and what kind of a person Tim really was, and not what the media portrayed him as.
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Anonymous
Posted September 9, 2001
You'll wish Timothy McVeigh didn't get the death penalty....
Through this book, you learn that McVeigh was a very sensitive and fragile minded person. It's interesting that McVeigh is always looking for someone to talk to, to have a common bond with someone. Many of us who are in our mid 20's could even identify with him, I did, to a certain point in the book. The book shows you the steps that lead McVeigh to become what he became. It's like the story of the Titanic sinking. AND..now that I've finished reading this book (which I borrowed from the library) I can tell you that Timothy McVeigh won. Justice wasn't done. He had a military mindset when he planned to bomb the Murrah Building. He didn't mind dying, if need be. You'll see that he wanted the death penalty- so now many people can read his story while he is dead, and look at him as some sort of legend. For the most part, this book is a quick read and the author spares you no details. There are parts of the book that drag, but don't worry, it won't last that long. *The letter from the Unabomber is interesting.
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Anonymous
Posted June 22, 2001
Lots unanswered
I read this book twice so far and I am about to start again tonight. Perhaps I am looking for clarity of mind or hidden meanings. A lot of what McVeigh said makes perfect logical sense, but why would Jones be so damn adamant that others were involved? I think that as years go by we will find that others were in fact involved. It is disturbing that we as a nation allow the death penalty. We needed him alive to come to a definitive conclusion of the OK bombing saga. The FBI screwed up. The reason I feel they came out, at the last minute,is because perhaps they were worried McVeigh would spill more of the beans thus get a re-trial. But by the FBI stepping forward they were able to instill damage control. Beat him to the punch so to speak. It is no secret that govt. officials were notified before the bombing, but chose at their disgression to do nothing. It has been said that most of the govt. officials stayed home the day of the bombing because they were warned that something could/would happen in light of the Waco anniversary thus only eight convictions on federal level. There was alot hidden in this book. I recommend reading a couple of times. I also wonder why McVeigh did not receive counseling before he separated from Army back out into civillian world. In my humble opinion, the Army should be held accountable as well.
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Anonymous
Posted July 4, 2001
Interesting Perspective-Well Written
Authors offer an interesting perspective that delves into the mind of one of the nation's most horrific murderers. McVeigh may not have been as crazy as the media portrayed; In fact his act was well calculated. The U.S. is involved in many military acts where innocent civilians are killed, and written off as causalties of a greater cause. The act may not be justified, but it still makes you ponder what was going on in this man's mind.
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Anonymous
Posted July 20, 2001
Confusion....
I am 22 years old and i read this book because at the time of execution, it caught my attention. I was only 16 when he bombed Federal Building so i don't recall hearing anything about it until recently and it caught my attention. As i read the book i agreed with many things Timothy Mc Veigh said of the goverment and i do not condone what he did in any way , shape or form. But i have to agree with many of the others in that he was a very likable guy, i can see myself holding a conversation with someone like him if i were to meet him on the street. I think this book touched on many points the the public were not aware of. He wasn't a monster he was a human being who made a choice (it being a very inhumane choice) and he was punished for it. I don't feel the goverment had the right to take the life of Timothy Mc Veigh its some what of a contradiction to me. But for anyone who sees him as the Oklahoma City Bomber pick up the book and learn about Timothy Mc Veigh... My heart goes out to all the victims and their family's.. Lou Michel And Dan Herbeck deserve imense amounts of congratulations for their hard work and deidcation.(I can't imagine what they went through in putting this together)
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Anonymous
Posted April 16, 2001
From the Heartland
I am from Oklahoma City. I lost 5 friends to the bombing, including a neighboorhood child. Many people are against this book. I read it, and it was very well written. Some say this book is 'not right'. Despite everything, it helped me understand Timothy McVeigh as a person. No words will ever change what he did, but this helped me to better understand. To the 168 lives he took and the countless number of lives he changed, I send my love and prayers. On May 16, 2001. The final chapter in his life will be over, and those of us effected by his horrible act will go on living our lives. God Bless!
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Anonymous
Posted June 5, 2001
Check out what his former lead attorney says.........
I very much agree with what everyone below has said about the book. It was very enlightening and sad because Tim McVeigh struck me as a very likable but lonely guy. I believed what he wrote (claming sole responsibility for the bombing) until I picked up the book his former attorney, Stephen Jones. I was shocked right from the beginning. In the preface, there was a letter that directly contradicted what Tim McVeigh had said in 'American Terrorist'. The letter was handwritten, signed and initialed by Tim (initials were next to every paragraph), authorizing Mr. Jones to leak info to the New York Times, which got me thinking about all the other claims Mr. McVeigh said -- if that one statement was a lie, how much else was too? Like, why would someone who is as smart as he is (he is just shy of genius level IQ) use a car that almost wouldn't start as a get away car? Why use your real name at all? In 'American Terroist', people characterized Tim and Terry¿s relationship as Tim idolizing Terry, so why would the ¿follower¿ then become the ¿boss¿? As I continued reading 'Others Unknown', it became very clear that Tim, for whatever reason, lied throughout the 'American Terrorist' book. Mr. Jones contends and uses many examples, to say, that while Tim may have been involved, he was but a bit player, more likely, just the fall guy. Mr. Jones even went so far with Tim as to ask him why no one has come forward to claim the $2 million dollars that was being offered for any info on the bombing. Surely, several people who had ¿seen¿ Tim would come clamoring for the money. No one did. Why? Because it wasn¿t (as Mr. Jones contends) Tim McVeigh whom they had seen ¿ he was not the bomber. I strongly recommend reading both books, but by far, Mr. Jones was much more convincing in his argument of whom really bombed the Murrah Building, while 'American Terroist' helps you understand the man Timothy McVeigh is.
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Anonymous
Posted June 6, 2001
Ahead of his time? Wake-up call?
As I read this book, I couldn't help but wonder if he is just about to become a martyr for the factions growing throughout the U.S. Is he the first and will his actions and this book be a wake-up call to both America and the factions? He did this because of the ban on assault rifles and the beginnings of the end of gun ownership in America. Read this book no matter your opinion of guns, WACO, or even Timothy McVeigh and understand some of why this happened. Much of the book is fiction but the general feel can be obtained from reading between the lines. Also be aware that he only did what the military helped show him how to be. He loved his guns and he loved his country. He hated taxes and hated government brutality. He pushed the bully at the expense of innocent children. There is no good reason for what he did and my heart goes out to all those families who have lost loved ones to this war.
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Anonymous
Posted May 20, 2001
McVeigh: Man or Monster?
Monster. Now, in America, the name McVeigh is almost synonymous with monster, evil, inhuman. But, upon reading this book, you will discover that is not necessarily so. It is an excellent book. Reading it will not make you condone this horrible thing. Nothing could ever do that. It will, however, help you understand the mind of the man called America's worst serial killer.
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Anonymous
Posted April 4, 2001
I read it straight through!
I couldn't put this book down. I was in the US Army infantry at the same time as Tim. This book really brought out who Tim McVeigh is and why he did what he did. The authors even had a letter from Ted Kaczynski about Tim! If you are interested in why and who attacked the Murrah building this book is a must read.
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Anonymous
Posted April 26, 2001
From Decorated Combat Veteran to Mass Murder
Don't let the publicity about this book prevent you from reading the account of the Oklahoma City Bomber. Straight from the mouth of the mass murder, you learn about the man and his perception of of the federal government leading to his truck bomb. McVeigh tells his purpose for the bombing in great detail, but just as with the illogical reasoning behind the Charles Manson murders, it is beyond all reason to think the bombing would result in the reaction McVeigh desired.
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Anonymous
Posted April 24, 2001
WOW....When Biographies come directly from the source.
This book was incredible. I hated having to go to bed, because I wanted to know what happened next. McVeigh didn't want a book just about the bombing, so he granted access to his life to the two authors to write a whole book about his life. Seeing his background, his parents, childhood friends, and a before-and-after view of everyone he knew was an education in itself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about McVeigh, or just want's to read an excellent non-fiction title. Very informative to say the least. I feel at a loss of words.
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Anonymous
Posted May 15, 2001
Tim McVeigh: Ideologue or Psychopath?
This book, an unbiased review of Tim McVeigh's life, is outstanding!!! But, if you need to come away from this book with the view of Tim McVeigh as a highly disturbed, demonic psychopath, don't buy it! You won't find closue or peace in the pages of AMERICAN TERRORIST. Ever since the bombing, Americans have been looking for the monster in Tim McVeigh. Was his lonely childhood the root of his evil? The divorce of his parents? His inability to form relationships with women? Or his failure to make the Green Berets in his beloved Army? No! In this book McVeigh explains why he detonated his truck bomb killing 168 people. Simply enough, he hated the government, wanted revenge for the botched FBI and ATF raids on Ruby Ridge and WACO, and wanted to 'wake Americans up.' Americans celebrate our Founding Fathers who, like McVeigh, where revolutionary ideologues. Just because McVeigh's ideology conflicts with that of most Americans, doesn't make him a psychopath. To the contrary, he comes across as a chillingly likeable guy. So, if your looking for your own peace or for some inner turmoil in McVeigh that might possibly explain the Oklahoma City bombing, you might want to keep looking.
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Anonymous
Posted May 13, 2001
Outstanding Book!
Extremely well-written and enlightening book. I'm so sorry for the victims and families of the OK tragedy -- but as a result of reading this book, I like Timothy McVeigh. God Bless Timothy and all involved. Thank you, Lou and Dan, for an outstanding book.
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Anonymous
Posted April 24, 2001
A Perfectly Told, Unglorified Account of America's Worst Terrorist
It would be a disservice to yourself to not read this book. We need to know the full truth, and this book provides it. I am from Oklahoma and experienced the horror and tragedy of the bombing first hand. We struggled to understand this unfathomable horror will little success. Some even think they will find solace in witnessing his death. But after reading this excellently written, forthright book, I've found that education is the only way to come to grips with this vicious act. The best way to find closure and understanding is to know the why and the how. It's better not to allow any part of this story to remain a mystery. We cannot allow this man to become a myth, and this book will insure that won't ever happen. Reading this book will not make you a supporter of Timothy McVeigh. That is not the intention of this story. So don't be afraid to read it, it's your right to know.
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