BOOK ANALYSIS

Book Analysis: Looming Tower

Book Analysis: Looming Tower

Introduction

In the aftermath of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, America found itself in a search for answers. This Pearl-Harbor level attack elevated terrorism from barely a priority, to the forefront of the American radar. It is destined to remain there for the foreseeable future. The elemental question still resonated on many American minds: who attacked us, and why do they hate us?

The bipartisan 9/11 Commission was formed to trace the roots of al Qaeda, investigate the history of the 19 hijackers, examine missed opportunities of law enforcement officials to avert the disaster, and make recommendations to clean up the faulty incoherent intelligence-gathering operation. The 500+ page 9/11 Commission Report contains thirteen chapters of historical narratives, analysis and recommendations. All ten members of the bi-partisan commission signed off on the report, which has arguably become a national historical document.

Like the 9/11 Commission, Lawrence Wright sought answers as to why 3000 American lives were lost in the attacks on September 11th. An experienced traveler to the region, Wright endeavored to do his own investigative study into the history, ideology and circumstances behind this large-scale attack on American soil. What sets the Looming Tower apart, in my opinion, is its focus on the people involved in September 11th, both "over here" and "over there." The book does not go into great detail about the 9/11 plot nor its execution. Rather, Wright drills down on the historical background and the conditions that produced those individuals who planned, financed, supported and executed the attack. He also focuses on the individuals responsible for combating terrorism in the United States, and he is not afraid to highlight the flaws of their respective organizations.

In addition to introducing the specific personalities involved in combating terror, Lawrence Wright's book underscores the lack of creativity on the part of United States' agencies in general. He also exploits their inability to connect the dots of various bits of intelligence. It also points out that Alec station, the CIA's "bin Laden issue station," dedicated to tracking its namesake was deemed unimportant, and essentially ignored. (Wright, 2006, 6).

Where intelligence agencies failed, Wright jumps in and completes the puzzle. By using personal narratives, Wright traces the seeds of al Qaeda back to Egyptian ideologue Sayyid Qutb, who is so repulsed by his trip to America that he returns to Egypt in support of a radical theocracy. The book then introduces Ayman al-Zawahiri, a Qutb follower who forgoes his intelligence and training (he is a medical doctor) for a life of radicalism, terror and crime. Other personalities like Muhammad bin Laden, his son Osama, FBI operatives Dan Coleman and John O'Neill, and CIA counterpart Michael Scheuer are introduced and developed to tell the story of the historical roots of al Qaeda. It also paints an appalling picture of the ineptitude that plagued United States' intelligence agencies in the pre-September 11th environment.

Equally appalling is Wright's portrayal of the deep-rooted bureaucrats at the NSA, CIA and FBI who failed to share ...