The Siege Of Mecca
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
On November 20, 1979, worldwide attention was focused on Tehran, where the Iranian hostage crisis was entering its third week. The same morning--the first of a new Muslim century--hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islam's holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Armed with rifles that they had smuggled inside coffins, these men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. Led by a Saudi preacher named Juhayman al Uteybi, they believed that the Saudi royal family had become a craven servant of American infidels, and sought a return to the glory of uncompromising Islam. With nearly 100,000 worshippers trapped inside the holy compound, Mecca's bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the United States and causing hundreds of deaths.Despite U.S. assistance, the Saudi royal family proved haplessly incapable of dislodging the occupier, whose ranks included American converts to Islam. In Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini blamed the Great Satan--the United States --for defiling the shrine, prompting mobs to storm and torch American embassies in Pakistan and Libya. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos led by tough-as-nails Captain Paul Barril, who prepared the final assault and supplied poison gas that knocked out the insurgents. Though most captured gunmen were quickly beheaded, the Saudi royal family responded to this unprecedented challenge by compromising with the rebels' supporters among the kingdom's most senior clerics, helping them nurture and export Juhayman's violent brand of Islam around the world. This dramatic and immensely consequential story was barely covered in the press in the pre-CNN, pre--Al Jazeera days, as Saudi Arabia imposed an information blackout and kept foreign correspondents away. Yaroslav Trofimov now penetrates this veil of silence, interviewing for the first time scores of direct participants in the siege, including former terrorists, and drawing on hundreds of documents that had been declassified on his request. Written with the pacing, detail, and suspense of a real-life thriller, The Siege of Mecca reveals how Saudi reaction to the uprising in Mecca set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11, and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.
Reviews
Review this book!
Available Copies
More Photos
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al-Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Newport, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$13.56
Show Details
Description:
New York: Doubleday, 2007. First Edition. Hardcover. Good/Good. 8vo - over 7?" - 9?" tall. Type: Ex-Library First Edition Ex-Library Hardcover Book and Dust Jacket in Good Condition. Library stamp on inside of covers and on upper edge-no other lib markings. Quite clean and unmarked book; backstrap partially loose from crash so front cover has some movement possible.… Read more about this item Item Price
A$13.56
The Siege of Mecca: The 1979 Uprising at Islam's Holiest Shrine
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780307277732
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$9.97
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2008. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.97
The Siege of Mecca : The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda
by Yaroslav Trofimov
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$9.11
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2007. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.11
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- near fine
- Edition
- First UK edition
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781846140600
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Montmorillon, FRA
- Item Price
-
A$29.05
Show Details
Description:
London: Allen Lane, 2007. First UK edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/near fine. First impression. 8vo. Pp x + 301. Burgundy cloth boards stamped in gilt on the spine. A clean, unmarked copy in a tight binding and bright, unclipped dust jacket. .
Item Price
A$29.05
The Siege of Mecca : The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Reno, Nevada, USA
- Item Price
-
A$9.14
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$9.14
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781846140600
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$19.75
Show Details
Description:
Hardback. Good. Item Price
A$19.75
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$9.11
Show Details
Description:
Doubleday Books, 2007. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.11
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$9.11
Show Details
Description:
Doubleday Books, 2007. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.11
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al-Qaeda
by Yaroslav Trofimov
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Longmont, Colorado, USA
- Item Price
-
A$13.69
Show Details
Description:
Doubleday, 2007. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 6 1/2 x 9 1/2. First Edition. First printing. In very good, clean condition. Presents detailed and historical information about the events that led to the attacks of 9/11 and the rise of terrorist movements.
Item Price
A$13.69
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781846140600
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$19.75
Show Details
Description:
Hardback. Very Good. Item Price
A$19.75
The Siege of Mecca : The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.36
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$10.36
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al-Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Like New
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2007-09-17
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Boonsboro, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
A$16.40
Show Details
Description:
Doubleday, 2007-09-17. First Edition. Hardcover. Like New. 6x1x9. Hardcover and dust jacket. Good binding and cover. Light wear. Clean, unmarked pages. Item Price
A$16.40
The Siege of Mecca: The 1979 Uprising at Islam's Holiest Shrine
by Yaroslav Trofimov
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN
- 9780307277732
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
A$6.69
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included. Item Price
A$6.69
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al-Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
La Mesa, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$12.17
Show Details
Description:
New York: Doubleday. Clean, crisp hardcover in fine condition; fine condition. Near fine DJ with faint wear at lower front edge. . Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 2007. Item Price
A$12.17
The Siege of Mecca : The 1979 Uprising at Islam's Holiest Shrine
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780307277732
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.79
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$10.79
The Siege of Mecca: The 1979 Uprising at Islam's Holiest Shrine
by Yaroslav Trofimov
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2008-09-09
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780307277732
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.65
Show Details
Description:
Anchor, 2008-09-09. Paperback. Very Good. 7x5x0. Each book is inspected by store owner/staff. Item Price
A$10.65
The Siege of Mecca: The 1979 Uprising at Islam's Holiest Shrine
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780307277732
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Tolar, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.65
Show Details
Description:
Anchor Beginner Book, 2008. Wraps have only light wear, spine is unbent. Pages are clean with no markings in text. Prior owner name on fep.. Soft Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Ex-Libris. Item Price
A$10.65
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda
by Yaroslav Trofimov
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2007
- ISBN
- 9781400135349
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Narrowsburg, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$45.60
Show Details
Description:
UNITED STATES: Tantor Audio, 2007 Audio Book. Very Good. AudioCD. 7 BRAND NEW AUDIO CDS in the clamshell case NEW IN THE SHRINK WRAP. Just a bit of shelf wear. NEW AUDIO CDS inside. Gift quality for your home and library.. Item Price
A$45.60
The Siege of Mecca: The 1979 Uprising at Islam's Holiest Shrine
by Yaroslav Trofimov
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780307277732
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
A$21.95
Show Details
Description:
Anchor. New. BRAND NEW, GIFT QUALITY! NOT OVERSTOCKS OR MARKED UP REMAINDERS! DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHER! Item Price
A$21.95
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al-Qaeda
by Trofimov, Yaroslav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780385519250
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
A$7.49
Show Details
Description:
Doubleday. Used - Good. Good condition. Acceptable dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
A$7.49