by Gerald L. Posner
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Product Description
Since 9/11, one important question has persisted: What was really going on behind the scenes with intelligence services and government leaders during the time preceding that terrible day? After an eighteen-month investigation, Gerald Posner reveals much previously undisclosed information, including details about a secret deal between Saudi Arabia and Osama bin Laden; how the U.S. government missed several chances to kill or capture bin Laden; how the CIA tracked–and then lost–two of the hijackers when they entered the United States months before the attacks; the devastating consequences of the crippling rivalry between the CIA and FBI; and the startling account of top al Qaeda captive whose information subsequently led to a trail of mysterious deaths of Saudi Arabian princes and Pakistani military leaders.
Why America Slept exposes the frequent mistakes made by law enforcement and government agencies, and demonstrates how the failures to prevent 9/11 were tragically not an exception but typical. In the end, Posner makes a damning case that the terrorist attacks could have been prevented.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Fair on how America lost its way., 2008-05-27
Unlike Clark's book, this shows a true picture on why America let its guard down. Many people didn't do their jobs. The INS didn't implement a effective student Visa program. Liberals like Barney Frank thought it was OK to let immigrants come into this country with political terrorist backgrounds. Our presidents didn't take the opportunity to review national security concerns. In fact, Clinton didn't even meet with his CIA head for two years. Many people failed, and OBL and his group seized the opportunity. Even our allies like Germany, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia deceived us. There is alot in this short book that makes people angry. The author documents why America slept, while the terrorists planned. In fact, during the election squabble, two of the pilots were training in Florida while this was happening.
This is one of the better books about 9/11. I thought I might be reading a rehash on what happened, but Posner tells his reader audience why this event happened. An interesting read, and one that will shape your perspective.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Positively Riveting, 2008-02-19
This is work that goes beyond just the interesting or compelling. If we think we heard all there is to hear about 9/11...then this book proves us wrong. The 2001 tragedy, as Posner documents the history, was far more than just 4 planes, 19 terrorists, three buildings, and a president in a schoolroom. Terrorist planning began years earlier. Funds from Germany were involved. The culprits roamed USA streets, lived in local east-coast apartments, and gathered illegal cash for their 9/11 project years before the event...so we find out.
It's an eye-opening, totally mind-boggling chronology that's something like a spy novel, something like a drama, with built-in intrigue and depth. -Here's the perfect book for anyone confused by the reported "facts" of 9/11...or for who may be searching for the behind-the-scenes truths about CIA, FBI, White House mishaps, bungling and non-cooperation. What did the FBI know pre-9/11, and how many times did the brass there say: "Forget about it. We don't need to deal with it now"? Quite a few times, apparently. So incredible a tale about how our super-sleuth agencies and administration dropped the ball, the read often infuriates and irritates.
It might be added, though Posner explained who was sleeping...and how, when, and where we were asleep at the switch, he didn't much tell us "Why" we slept, perhaps the (politico-?) background of which would be an equally magnetic story to tell. Even so, "Why America Slept" is a superb (if not slightly depressing) work!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
It Is Time To Wake Up, 2007-02-12
Gerald L. Posner proved his prowess as an investigator in his books covering the murders of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. But it is with this account on the political games & blunders that led to 9/11 which will define his reporting for future generations.
It is not only the 20-plus years of quiet deals, turf wars and unexplainable ignorance, but the powers who hold the puppet strings of the so-called American political leaders that doomed innocent civilians on that September morning.
And the perfection of the reporting has deflected harsh criticism initially aimed at Posner, in particular the threatened legal action from the Saudi ruling family. The truth really stings when it is in a book and cannot be honestly repudiated by the puppeteers.
As the Bush Administration and their lap dogs - Democrats and Repulicans - in Congress and the media prepare the American people to escalate the military quagmire in Iraq and rattle the sabre at Iran and other sovereign nations, Posner's message is as important as ever.
The politcians refused to set an alarm clock of common sense. It is time for the people to wake them up to the truth behind their criminal lies.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Wake up America, 2006-10-24
"9/11 could have been prevented."
A dry read that will leave you frustrated with the failures within our government and around the world. Information is taken from personnel interviews and extensive references. We shut our eyes and ears--willingly ignorant. Were we looked on as a paper tiger?
Posner covers: The ignored Mosques and charities in our own cities, who raise funds for terrorists; the lack of communication within and between our government, CIA, FBI, and law enforcement--division, hindrances, lack of action, ineptness; terrorists cells within; links to iraq; bombings leading up to 9/11; the warnings of the Bin Ladin progression; missed opportunities; the money flow--banks, businesses.
The media reporting on domestic terrorists was overshadowed by the O.J. trial--the later bringing in a more captivated audience. Our priorities lie elsewhere.
Was Zubayday tortured? Who else new and failed to tell us?
Good accompaniment: "9/11 Commission Report"
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Concise, Provocative, And Well Researched, 2006-06-16
In "Why America Slept" Gerald Posner has written an excellent account of policy and intelligence failures that prevented America from suspecting, detecting, and preventing the September 11, 2001 attacks. The book is not a typical political ax-grinding tome, but rather seeks to dispense credit and blame regardless of party affiliation. The book goes back to the Carter administration, which in many ways set the tone for US dealings with Muslim extremists (largely excepting Reagan) and is particularly good at exploring the legal hand-wringing that went on in Washington in attempting to deal with terrorists in a politically correct manner, and a general failure to take terrorism seriously enough (the book gives perhaps the best account of the Clinton administration's failure to treat Osama bin Laden as a major threat, despite the 1999 findings of the Hart-Rudman report on national security.)
A major recurring theme of the book is the now-familiar refrain of lack of intra- and inter-agency cooperation (most notably between the CIA and FBI), utter incompetence by the INS, failure to correctly analyze threats by militant religious factions (starting with the takeover of the Alkifah Refugee Center in Brooklyn, New York by Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, ultimately giving bin Laden prime influence at the Center,) and political cowardice in pursuing religious enemies of the United States, including enemies who had repeatedly threatened US interests.
This is a very concise and well documented history of the government inaction that utterly failed to prevent the worst surprise attack in American history. I highly recommend it to everyone.
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