Editing Daniel Benjamin (section)

==Writing==
Together with [[Steven Simon]], Benjamin wrote ''The Age of Sacred Terror'' ([[Random House]], 2002), which documents the rise of [[al Qaeda]] and religiously motivated [[terrorism]], as well as America's efforts to combat that threat. They review the history of [[Islamist]] political thought from [[ibn Taymiyya]] in the 13th century, to [[Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab|al-Wahhab]] (the 18th century founder of [[Wahabbism]]) down to [[Osama bin Laden|bin Laden]]. The danger, as they see it, is that "al Qaeda's belief system cannot be separated neatly from Islamic teachings, because it has -- selectively and perniciously -- built on fundamental Islamic ideas and principles." The second half of the book outlines the West's response. Ellen Laipson, in her review of the book, praises the authors for their study and methodology.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Laipson|first=Ellen|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/58630/ellen-laipson/while-america-slept-understanding-terrorism-and-counterterrorism|journal=Foreign Affairs|title=While America Slept: Understanding Terrorism and Counterterrorism|date=Jan–Feb 2003|volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=142–147 |doi=10.2307/20033435|jstor=20033435|accessdate=May 3, 2012|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Benjamin and Simon would follow up ''The Age of Sacred Terror'' in 2005 with ''The Next Attack: The Globalization of Jihad'' (Hodder & Soughton (in Britain), 2005), a book which received high-praise from [[Bill Clinton]].

In the April 30, 2006 edition of ''Time'', Benjamin wrote a favorable profile of [[Pervez Musharraf]], with the headline, "Why Pakistan's Leader May Be The West's Best Bet for Peace."