Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792) aroused great controversy in his lifetime. More than two centuries after his death; he still elicits strong views. For some he is the model of a pious religious activist who fought to establish a regime of Islamic godliness in the least promising of environments. For others; especially Muslims associated with mystic orders or who belong to the Shi‘i branch of Islam; he is a hate figure. Few would contest that he shaped the Muslim world. For over 250 years the Wahhabi movement has rested on the twin pillars of a clear; compelling credo and an indissoluble alliance with temporal power. Absolutist; uncompromising theology and political and religious ambition combined to make it the dominant force in Arabia; turning its champions; the Al Sa‘ud clan; from petty rulers of a mid-sized settlement into the guardians of Islam’s Holy Places; disposing of the earth’s greatest identified oil reserves. This thought-provoking and comprehensive biography; which charts the relationship between religious doctrine; political power; and events on the ground; uncovers the life and thoughts of the man who helped establish the first Saudi state and who began a dynastic alliance that continues to the present day.
#7206322 in Books Daily Edward L 1990-06-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 11.00 x .29 x 8.50l; .0 #File Name: 1681621665136 pagesThe Legacy of Custer s 7th U S Cavalry in Korea
Review
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. What a SHAMBy hmarksI was disappointed the day I received this book and remain so. The book is hardcover and about a quarter of an inch thin. The paper is glossy and very receptive to fingerprints; and although some of the photos are pertinent to the subject; most are standard Korean war photos with no real relevance. The maps are useless. The book is painfully replete with spelling and grammatical errors; the only reason I didn't send the book back was because at the time I believed it might have a modicum of historical worth; albeit at the obscure small unit level. As for the units involved; the book tends to focus almost exclusively on H/7; through a disconnected series of battles; centering on author Ed Daily's alleged sevice. I say "alleged" because he was later exposed as a fraudster by another writer and by a resultant media expose. This expose arose from Daily's claim that he was present at an alleged massacre of South Korean civilians by the 7th Cav at No Gun Ri. He was later proven to be somewhere else in Korea with a maintenace company at the time af the alleged killing; indeed the only time he served with the 7th Cavlry RCT was later; for two weeks in 1951. Daily has claimed in the book that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; among other medals. But research in the above expose revealed he had never been awarded any valorous decorations; nor was he ever an officer; as he also claimed. Daily has since kept a very low profile. The only reason I give it one star is because I can't give it zero. Don't get "took" with this one.
