Posted on 12/29/2006 8:17:19 AM PST by Valin
Frederick Forsyth talks about researching intelligence activities for his new novel, "The Afghan" -- as well as western torture methods in Afghanistan and who would have killed Litvinenko if he had written the plot.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Forsyth, at the beginning of your new thriller "The Afghan," an al-Qaida member is eliminated when he uses his cell phone and is immediately located by American intelligence services. Do you own a cell phone?
Forsyth: No, and I don't own a computer either. I'm obviously much mocked for being such a dinosaur, but I have my reasons. With my typewriter I've never sent seven chapters into cyberspace and lost them. Secondly, try hacking into my typewriter ... (Chuckles). I also don't use the Internet for searches, because frankly I don't trust it.
SPIEGEL: Despite all your skepticism you have used the Internet for marketing purposes. One year ago you auctioned off six names in your new book on eBay.
Forsyth: Yes, I got about 100,000 pounds (€149,000) for different charities. Cpt. Michael Linnett, the special forces officer in the race through the wilderness, is actually a businessman in Northamptonshire.
SPIEGEL: In your book you write that the Internet has become an indispensable propaganda tool for terrorists.
Forsyth: It's damn dangerous, because at least half the recruiting is done that way. Particularly because you can now produce these pictorials which they concoct with very bloody scenes which purport to be the result of an American bomb or something. Then there's an unstoppable torrent of child pornography, straight pornography, instructions on how to build bombs, guns, how to kill, maim and cripple. Up to 50 percent of the Internet is actually malign to the human condition.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
I thought this was an article about moveon.whore or the DNC.
Forsyth is one of the greatest writers. I dont care what his leanings are, the man can write a book. Check out "The Fist of God" about Saddam getting a nuke, or "Icon" about a neo nazi taking over Russia. I have read all of his books except "Phantom". These two are my favorites..
As far as I'm concerned Forsyth is another preeminent moron.
Saddam supported terrorists. Period. He gave money to Palestinians whose family members committed terrorism. He gave medical care and asylum to terrorists. We have more than enough documents outlining Saddam's assistance to terrorists.
As far as the situation in Iraq, and I've held this opinion since 2003, if in 2010 we have not obtained our goals of a stable peaceful Iraq then I'll question our policies but here and now not even 4 years since the operation began I say to big winded pundits of no consequence, go jump in a lake.
Yeah buddy!
They are watching right now....
;^)
The thing is (and something I have to keep reminding myself), you can say more in fiction than you can in non-fiction often.
Check out "The Fist of God" about Saddam getting a nuke, or "Icon" about a neo nazi taking over Russia
Oh sure, force me to go and get some more books! I just hope you can live with yourself!
I CAN live with myself! Both of those books are great stories!
He's certainly one of my favorites, especially "The Dogs of War," "The Day of the Jackal," inter alia. I just finished "The Veteran," a collection of a half-dozen novellas. Definitely worth the read.
:-)
Nice going. Now they know that we know...
What up, yo? I think "Icon" is my favorite..
It's Ok. We know that they already knew that we know.
Well I didn't know that they knew we knew. I wish you people would let me in on these things.
That I drink Budweiser and have holes in my underwear?
It is an amazing time we live in. Hussein was routinely firing missiles at our pilots in the no-fly zone in the leadup to the Iraq War and yet that is not considered legitimate grounds for going to war him. In times past though, simple words from the other side were enough to justify going to war against the aggressor (a la Hitler's declaration of war on the United States). Now apparently one has to have thousands of one's countrymen killed on their home soil, before it is considered legitimate to go to war against the attacker. Such lunacy does not bode well for the health of countries that such a high hurdle for responding to attacks on their citizens.
I suppose you're responsible for the leak?
I just finished reading "The Afghan". It was a pretty good thriller (like most of his books) with a Tom Clancy (techo-stuff) flavor. It scared me to think about how really clever terrorists are very difficult to stop. That's why we have to put them on defense and simply kill as many as possible.
Yes, and if it is on the internet it is not worthy of any authentic author's time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.