9/11 The Unfinished Battle

“Gurski is conditioned by decades of intelligence operations and analysis, in which matters are viewed on the continuum of human violence and mitigating safety to the public. It reminds us of the other kinds of terrorism of modern time, and the late Prof. Rapoport's 4 Waves of Terrorism is particularly well suited to give us useful categories of Anarchist, Anti Colonial, New Left, and Religious terrorism. This framing acknowledges the context of numerous wars over these decades, in which ideology and grievances mutually reinforce beliefs, particularly among Islamically deviant groups, the Khawarij in particular. Gurski provides not just insight, but wisdom in terms of what works in countering the very real threat of terrorism. Gurski's book insists on applying the same criteria across all categories equally, not opportunistically, and not shying away from critical points on policy in the region(s) abroad. Most importantly, it highlights the very real work that security services have to do against such a persistent threat. In the acronyms and alphabet soup of agencies, are true guardians of our society. This book is a great reference text, and makes the point also that a "post 9/11" period eludes us still." -- Mubin Shaikh
A sharp and timely corrective to the complacent view that jihadist terrorism is in decline. Drawing on decades of intelligence experience, Phil Gurski delivers an outstanding, data-driven analysis that deserves the attention of both policymakers and scholars. -- Peter Neumann
A Quarter Century After 9/11 is a sweeping, data‑rich tour de force that exposes the true shape of global terrorism today. With unmatched clarity, it shows how jihadist violence remains the world’s most persistent and lethal threat—despite decades of counter‑terrorism effort. Gurski blends deep expertise with gripping analysis, revealing why CT successes are real but never enough. This book brilliantly explains how post‑9/11 resource shifts reshaped global security and left critical gaps for adversaries to exploit. A compelling, authoritative, and essential guide to understanding 25 years of terrorism—and the threats that still define our future. Highly recommended read! -- Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Phil Gurski delivers a deeply informed assessment of how jihadist terrorism is evolving within an increasingly complex and evolving threat landscape. He reminds Canadians about the need for a strategic focus and the risks of complacency when warning signals are again intensifying. This is an essential and timely work that reminds us that underestimating this global threat is a mistake we cannot afford to repeat. This is a book well worth reading. -- Dan Stanton
For anyone seeking to understand how terrorism has evolved since 9/11, The Unfinished Battle is essential reading. Phil Gurski delivers a clear, compelling, and deeply informed account of the global War on Terror, from its violent beginnings to the unstable world it has helped create today. Drawing on decades of professional experience, Gurski makes a complex subject accessible without losing its urgency or depth. An important and highly readable book. -- Martin Gallagher
A quarter century after 9/11: more and more jihadi terrorism,’ by former CSIS strategic analyst Phil Gurski, is an insightful look into terrorism in a post-9/11 world that details the complexities of the subject matter while reinforcing the position that the biggest threat comes from Jihadi terrorism. Throughout the book, Gurski provides a comprehensive list and stats from around the world of terrorist incidents by a variety of groups, which, in the end, drive home that Jihadi terrorism is the predominant existing threat today. The text clearly lays out the information, mentions lesser-known terrorist and ideological groups, describes new hybrid movements, and keeps everything in context. A peppering of his own CSIS experiences adds to the understanding that, because it is a complicated matter, terrorism has led government agencies to navigate learning curves and shifts over the years; what becomes clear is that nothing has been straightforward. Naturally, there will be points in the book that some will not agree with. Nonetheless, I believe Gurski’s book is a great source for anyone interested in learning where today's threats come from and in understanding terrorism in its various facets and forms as they are at present. -- Royce de Melo
While the security services of the West need to remain ever vigilant to emerging national security challenges, the threats of the 20th century never really went away. In this book, Phil Gurski relates how and why with wisdom and clarity, giving the reader an exceptionally useful window into the persistence of the jihadi terrorist threat, in particular, and into the consequences of too-rapid swings of policy and resource allocation. A must read for anyone interested in Canadian and Western national security, the evolution of terrorism, and how intelligence and policy interact. -- Dr. David Priess