Terrorist Trail: Backtracking the Foreign Fighter
"Poole examines ongoing events in Iraq, the Middle East and Africa through the enemy's perspective.... 'Terrorist Trail' has been widely applauded as a valuable handbook containing historical and tactical information that could help military strategists." --El Paso Times, 11 February 2007"This book combines current events with historical detail, a rare combination in the book industry.... Delving into national histories of African jihadists entering Iraq, it stumbles upon major issues." --Mil. Officers Assoc. of America (MOAA) Magazine, February 2007"The book details the growing interest by China in African ... resources, and the exportation of African or Chinese guerrilla fighting tactics into Iraq and other parts of the Middle East." --Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, 27 December 2006"[F]illed with mind-stirring information not easily found elsewhere, this [book is] on terrorism and insurgency, where and how they have been fought, and some of the organizations, tactics, and techniques that have worked (former head of Hist. & Museums Div., HQMC)." --B.Gen. Edwin Howard Simmons USMC (Ret.), September 2006"[A]nother brilliant and insightful work.... [It has] a depth of research and understanding that ... those facing today's challenges [will need] ... to clearly grasp the nature of the conflict and the enemy.... [A]nother must read ... if you want to understand the true global ... connection of the threats we face (former head of CENTCOM)." --Gen. Anthony C. Zinni USMC [Ret.], September 2006"Poole's ability to place you inside the clandestine world of the international terrorist is profound.... The underlying message drives home our overall need to evolve [tactically]."--Leatherneck Magazine, October 2006"Well-written and thoroughly researched, the book is a bastion of knowledge and an unequalled training tool. It traces the world's terrorist problems without taking political alliances."--Quantico Sentry, 12 October 2006"Poole ... writes ... to supplement military training manuals.... [He] finds that al-Qaeda has been shipping fighters from Somalia to Afghanistan, Chechnya and Kenya, and [that] ... Iranian-backed Hezbollah is sending fighters to the Middle East through Sudan."--Savannah Morning News, 28 October 2006"Once again, John Poole has made a substantial contribution to understanding a 21st-Century world likely to be dominated by 4th-Generation war (father of 4th-Generation Warfare theory)." --William S. Lind, September 2006"China ... has become ... [a] player in the terrorist wars of the Middle East and elsewhere.... Poole recognizes this and has written a brilliant analysis of these two ... theaters of ... war that would make Orde Wingate and T.E. Lawrence proud.... This is a guide to victory over a determined foe (professional military historian)." --Kim Holien, September 2006"[B]ook ... has historical and tactical information essential to the containment of terrorism. The research and detail are amazing!... [It says] pure massive power is counterproductive.... In all military schools, [it] ... should be the bible for changing our philosophy and tactics to contain and defeat terrorism (frigate commander at the Battle of Leyte Gulf)." --Vice Adm. Thomas R. Sargent USCG (Ret.), Fall 2005"Poole provides the insight we need to win the war on terror.... [S]mall near-autonomous units of truly light infantry ... [must] play the role of police force rather than occupiers." --G2-forward.org, 31 January 2007"Only a few military thinkers have given us the insight and  practical help that John Poole has over the years. In 'Terrorist Trail,' 'Gunny' Poole provides the insight we need to win the war on terror."  --Unconventional Warfare Review, 31 January 2007"[W]ithout seriously contemplating this thought-provoking book, U.S. military men should not expect much of a change to the current situation (former commander of Camp Lejeune)."--Maj.Gen. Ray L. Smith USMC (Ret.), Fall 2005"[B]ook is a chilling description of the nature and extent of the constantly evolving and emerging [terrorist] threat as well as a ... surprising expose of those countries funding and fueling the hatreds.... Its true value, however, may be in outlining tactics and strategies to defeat today's terrorism threat (former commander of 1st Marine Division)." --Maj.Gen. John H. Admire USMC (Ret.), 2006"'Terrorist Trail' analyzes current events in world terrorism and terrorist tactics and provides methods for dealing with them. Poole ... has spent much of his [military] retirement researching foreign military tactics." --Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Spring 2008"Poole is one of the most innovative and creative thinkers to have served in the U.S. military.... Get the book ... [and] share it with military people.... Help spread the word.... [O]nly with the clamor of a great crowd will it be heard." --Defense and the National Interest, 31 January 2007