THEY DON'T BURN BOOKS, DO THEY? They may not burn them, but The New York Sun is reporting that Libel Suit Leads to Destruction of Books:

Cambridge University Press has agreed to destroy all unsold copies of a 2006 book by two American authors, "Alms for Jihad," following a libel action brought against it in England, the latest development in what critics say is an effort by Saudis to quash discussion of their alleged role in aiding terrorism.

Apparently the intimidation tactics that CAIR has used so well, are working especially well for Saudi Arabia--to such an extent that

A professor at Emory University, who won a libel suit in Britain brought against her and Penguin, Deborah Lipstadt, likewise told The New York Sun that this action by Cambridge University Press was a "frightening development." She said that it seemed to her that the Saudis were "systematically, case by case, book by book" challenging anything critical of them or anything that linked them to terrorism. She said that she could not think of any publisher that would now accept a manuscript critical of the Saudis. "This affects not only authors but readers," she said, adding that "ideas are being chased out of the marketplace."

Interestingly, Cambridge University Press did not even pursue the legal avenues available to it. Rachel Ehrenfeld, who is also being sued over her 2003 book, Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed--and How to Stop It, went to the courts:

In June, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in her favor, finding that if an American writer is sued for libel in a foreign court, that person can appeal to an American court to request that a British decision not be enforceable here.

Also odd, the suit seems to have been brought by Saudi businessman, Sheikh Khalid Bin Mahfouz, yet according to the 2 co-authors of the book, though Sheikh Mahfouz is mentioned in their book 13 times--he is never labeled as a terrorist in the book, and they have sent supporting documentation on this point to their publisher. The fact that Mahfouz has been successful in other suits was an obvious factor.

But if you can get hold of any of these books, do it now so you can be the proud owner of a colllector's item.

After all, how often do you get the opportunity to own a censored book?
More and more often, apparently.

[Hat tip: The Corner]

Technorati Tag: Alms For Jihad and Alms For Jihad and Cambridge University Press and Sheikh Khalid Bin Mahfouz.