The Management of Savagery: How America ’ s National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump

Max Blumenthal's "The Management of Savagery" examines how the United States' foreign policy and national security decisions contributed to the rise of groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. It highlights instances of US support for Islamist militants during the Cold War as a counterbalance to Soviet influence, particularly in Afghanistan. The text also explores how neoconservative ideology, the Israel lobby, and the defense industry shaped interventionist policies in the Middle East and the subsequent rise of anti-Muslim sentiment and right-wing populism in the West. It criticizes the role of mainstream media and think tanks in promoting narratives that justified military action and downplayed the negative consequences of these interventions, including the refugee crisis and the strengthening of extremist groups.