Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for Americas Schools

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Giduck stresses is to be prepared and not to be lulled into passivity that something so awful could not happen here on American soil, for we know that it already has. Sep 18, Cameron rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book has some valuable lessons for all emergency services workers, especially the importance of training together and developing response plans with each other and important stake holders - like school administrators. I think Americans might be tempted to dismiss the events in Beslan as the product of a radically different culture and government, but to think a similar incident and similar mistakes couldn't happen in the USA would be quite foolish.

Readers should be aware that there are quit This book has some valuable lessons for all emergency services workers, especially the importance of training together and developing response plans with each other and important stake holders - like school administrators. Readers should be aware that there are quite a few scenes described in the book that are terribly graphic. The terrorists commited every sort of the worst kind of crimes against their hostages while they held them.

It is not easy to read.

Beslan school siege

Giduck does make a few errors in the book that I feel may have damaged his works credibility. He predicted a similar event in the US within iirc 10 years - it didn't happen. He describes the actions and heroism of the Spetznaz in a manner that reveals that he practically worships their martyrdom. I have no doubt of their heroism, but I tend to question anything described in black and white terms.

Giduck also makes the ludicrous suggestion that American schools could have gas distribution systems installed for the administration of "knock out gas" in the case of a hostage incident. Still, I think the lessons available in this book far outweigh the few ill-advised statements that the author made. Jul 07, Kelly Owen rated it it was ok. This book came highly recommended. However it is poorly written. And just a small amount of follow up on what the author asserts are his credentials turns out there is great controversy.

Also none of the highly acclaimed institutions he referenced in the book with websites actually had websites at the sites provided. It does have some excellent points about protecting schools. However when laid down upon a foundation th This book came highly recommended.

Dec 04, Mike rated it it was amazing. All Americans should read this story. It's heartbreaking and eye-opening. It's full of insight on how to prevent a tragedy like this from happening on our own soil. Anyone who reads this book will have their minds opened to the real horror that is terrorism. The possibility of something like this happening in the States is getting more and more likely. My hope is that whoever reads this will absorb the lessons inside and remember them. Dec 09, Regina Lindsey rated it really liked it Shelves: Explained in Review On September 3, , 30 plus terrorist invaded the traditional fair-like festivities of a traditional first-day of school celebration in Belsan, Russia, taking approximately people hostage and holding them for 62 hours torturing them physically and mentally before killing more than , including children.

John Giduck is reportedly an expert in the field of counter-terrorism, Terror at Belsan by John Giduck I'm purposely not giving it a rating because I simply can't. The program was scheduled prior to the San Bernardino incident, but it took place the week following. The officer referred to this book often.

The book is, apparently, not without controversy. Giduck alludes to the controversy in the book. I have done a cursory search and it is hard to nail down whether the criticism is personal or on substance. When a book has that sort of controversy I find it difficult to review, particularly on a subject of this complexity.

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To add to the difficulty is the fact that I vehemently disagree with him on some of his conclusions. So, here goes my attempt. First, let me say this is not a book for the faint of heart. While it is not graphic in details of what occurred to the hostages both in Belsan and other examples it is hard not to imagine it. Additionally, we are talking about very young, elementary students and decisions that mothers were forced to make.

I had to put the book down many times. But, if you believe that nothing happens in a vacuum and that history repeats itself I would say this is an incredibly important book. It is downright scary. It is a bit dated. For instance, Giduck makes the case that terrorism is focused on the victor countries of WWII, and makes a strong case for it.

Since this book was first published in , he observes France is one of the few Allied countries that had not experienced a terrorist attack inside its country. That is, obviously, not the case today. But, it makes it all the more frightening and gives him credibility on some of his other predictions. He does provide a list of things he thinks, based on his experience and recommendations from those who have dealt with these events far longer than Americans, we can do to protect our schools. Some of them are interesting ideas such as schools checking with local governments at least twice a year to see if anyone has submitted a Freedom of Information Act related to building designs.

Others are simply unrealistic either because of our culture or because of the size of our country. Nov 11, Nadir rated it it was ok Shelves: The history lesson afforded by Giduck in relation to the vicious Chechen attack on a school filled with parents, teachers, and children is eye opening. It delves into the many "special" Russian police, military, and para-military units responded to the attack and the difficulties they had coordinating their efforts.

It further explores the Chechen motives and modus operandi in relation to this and previous acts of terrorism. The heroism of the Russian operators in attempting to save the hostag The history lesson afforded by Giduck in relation to the vicious Chechen attack on a school filled with parents, teachers, and children is eye opening. The heroism of the Russian operators in attempting to save the hostages once the shooting unexpectedly started is humbling and the manner in which drunk armed citizens played havoc with their efforts is infuriating.

Giduck follows the history section with insightful and valuable suggestions to American educators and law enforcement personnel in regards to how they might prevent or otherwise deal with similar acts of terrorism here in America. Given the not-so-long-ago attack by armed gunmen in Mumbai, India, I feel this advice is still timely. Some of it 3-man Special Forces security teams at every school are financially impossible for us to undertake in the current budget crisis climate, however.

Where the book completely falls down is when Giduck attempts to extend his history lesson to Islam. He may as well have began that section by saying, I'm an evangelical Christian and I feel so threatened by and filled with hatred towards Islam, I'll say anything in order to induce you, the reader, to hate it too, regardless of the fact that most of what I'm writing is a complete fabrication and bears no relation whatsoever to how Islam is practiced by its more then 1 billion followers the world over else the world would be a VERY different place.

Through the anti-Islam portion of his book, which is an Emerson-esque propaganda piece, Giduck actually does a huge disservice to those to whom he directs the book. If, in fact, his intention was to better equip educators and law enforcement personnel to prevent, or if unsuccessful, deal with "Islamist" terrorists, by misleading the reader as to the real history of Islam he leads them away from the critical task identified by the Chinese military philosopher, Sun Tzu - Know your enemy.

If the reader acted upon the information in Giduck's section on Islamic history, they would be woefully off the mark and would likely suffer potentially dire consequences for deep a misunderstanding.

Breadcrumb

As much as it appeals to members of martial society to preach "Kill them all! How, for example, can we expect "success" with our foreign policy objectives throughout the Muslim world if our leaders think along these lines? Must we convert all our "allies" to a particular brand of Christianity in order to make them trustworthy?? If so, expect to pay a very high price and achieve our own undoing. May 11, Ryan rated it liked it Shelves: Over hostages were killed and wounded. I'm surprised that more didn't die.

He basically makes the argument that America needs to be ready for that type of 'man made disaster' current homeland security lingo. The forward of the book makes a pretty good case that this will happen in America sometime. I hope that it John Giduck goes through the events that happened to the middle school in Beslan where kids, parents and teachers were taken hostage by 50 or so terrorists. I hope that it won't.

I also hope that law enforcement is preparing for such an event. May 26, Abby Jones rated it really liked it. A very honest and hard look at what happened at Beslan, the history of terrorism, and options on preparing American for this continuing war. I didn't agree with all his suggestions, but he gives you lots to chew on.

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I would be interested in a follow-up to the book since it is now eight years later and America has not suffered the same type of terrorist attack as seen in Beslan. All said, a worthwhile read. Aug 28, Christopher rated it it was amazing. A very eye opening read. History, and more important, terrorism repeats itself. America better wake up. Must read for everyone, particularly those uninformed who think that aftr , the worst is behind us. Aug 24, Kat rated it really liked it. I don't want to say I really liked this book because of the subject matter, but I do think our schools and the people in charge of security for our schools need to wake up and read this.

Mar 27, Eleanor Rigby rated it did not like it. Jul 22, Marisa Balmer rated it liked it. This is a book I'm reading for my thesis project on Campus Violence. Nov 29, Don rated it liked it. Pretty scary true story. Makes you think about how soft we are as a target, i. Sep 02, Amy rated it it was amazing.

Horrific true story about the tragedy at Beslan and a lot of history involved in this book. Oct 17, Kait Palmer marked it as to-read. John Giduck asserts that the terrorist threat to U. At the onset of the Beslan attack, he traveled to the site. He presents a first-hand account to the tragedy, but he also elaborates on the history of conflict between Chechnya and Russia. Finally, he offers some pointers for school preparedness and security procedures. It was not yet 8: Terrorist training exercises are such a regular activity that the bystanders did not react and stood by as the Chechens herded hostages to the school courtyard.

Caught between the tactics of surprise and diversion, the crowd could do little when confronted with the dreadful reality.

The assault ended after 62 hours when the Russian military ignited a fire in the roof of the building where the wounded were housed. Tragically, the military lacked adequate rescue plans including a lack of fire trucks and ambulances. At the Beslan Middle School Number One, there were dead, including children, while another individuals were wounded.

Provocative descriptions of Chechen and Islamic fighters pepper the text, e. In an unintentionally humorous moment, Giduck explains that he was taken aback when Tom Ridge, the head of Homeland Security, refused a consultation with the author on the subject of Beslan. Many of the items on his list appear reasonable and could support safety in the event of a natural catastrophe as well.

The web site offers solid advice. Yet, from Beslan Middle School Number One we learn that preparation for the unimaginable is an unwieldy task.

From Beslan, we learn that attackers infiltrated the school on earlier occasions and hid weapons to be obtained later during the attack.

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