The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda (First Edition)
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4.1 • 248 Ratings
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
A book that will change the way we think about al-Qaeda, intelligence, and the events that forever changed America.
On September 11, 2001, FBI Special Agent Ali H. Soufan was handed a secret file. Had he received it months earlier—when it was requested—the attacks on New York and Washington could have been prevented. During his time on the front lines, Soufan helped thwart plots around the world and elicited some of the most important confessions from terrorists in the war against al-Qaeda—without laying so much as a hand on them. Most of these stories have never been reported before, and never by anyone with such intimate firsthand knowledge.
This narrative account of America's successes and failures against al-Qaeda is essential to an understanding of the terrorist group. We are taken into hideouts and interrogation rooms. We have a ringside seat at bin Laden's personal celebration of the 9/11 bombings. Such riveting details show us not only how terrorists think and operate but also how they can be beaten and brought to justice.
Customer Reviews
Facinating
Very interesting book, the take against EID interrogation is telling and helps to show the breakdown of communication between agencies after 9/11. The redactions are frustrating, but still the overall message comes through, that intelligence and perseverance are the means to defeating a global terrorist threat.
Far to much redaction
While I realize that the author had to redact portions of this book in order to meet the publishing deadline, the redacted portions are quite extensive in some areas. It takes away from the overall story leaves you frustrated that information which (according to the author) ought to be considered non-classified is not permitted to be published. My advice, wait until the author is permitted to
Publish the full account without interference. It is a very excellent work overall, and I understand the author's wish to publish by deadline, but I feel he should have pressed the issue and received some sort of legal judgment qualifying the redacted information as non-classified. As it sits in its current form, the work is incomplete because of the redactions.
Amazing read
We need 100 more Ali Soufan's working for our government!