Banned books trade sparks Anbar security fears

Abdullah al-Dulaimi named his book after an ancient Arabic proverb and pitched its fiery message at the United States and its Iraqi allies. He said his 200-page polemic, entitled What Is Taken By Force Must Be Retrieved By Force, discussed "the necessity of fighting the Americans and punishing those who co-operate with them, from politicians to civil servants and translators". The book was finished a year ago but has yet to make it to market. Established publishers did not touch it, Dulaimi said, because they feared it would land them in trouble with the authorities. "They assume I'm calling for violence and extremism," he said. A university-educated mathematician in his mid-forties, he denied encouraging terrorism, insisting he was merely being realistic. "The invaders would never think of leaving this country unless there is resistance … The political process is a complete failure," he said. Dulaimi said he was turned away by more than 32 publishers, even though he had offered to pay from his own pocket for the print run.