Ali Soufan’s The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda has made a significant impression on my thinking. In the past fe...moreAli Soufan’s The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda has made a significant impression on my thinking. In the past few months, I have found myself going back to it numerous times. Soufan, who served as an FBI Special Agent from 1996 to 2006, was one of the United States Government’s top al-Qaeda experts. Fluent in Arabic and born in Lebanon, Soufan served on the FBI team which investigated the East African Embassy bombings, the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen and other al-Qaeda operations in the Middle-East. Following the September 11th attacks, Ali Soufan became one of the U.S. Government’s top interrogators, working extensively at Guantanamo Bay and bases throughout the Middle East.
Drawing from his experience as a investigator and interrogator, Soufan devoted a large portion of The Black Banners to the importance of strategic decision-making and analysis. On one level, Ali Soufan’s book dealt with the American Government’s response to the growing threat of radical international terrorism. On a broader level, however, The Black Banners offered an insider’s perspective on how the American government implemented a sudden shift in policy in response to the dramatic events of September 11, 2001. In the space of a few short months after the attack, American policymakers had to develop a long-term strategic plan for defeating al-Qaeda while also addressing the root problems of radical terrorism in the Middle East.
From a policy perspective, a strategy had to be created which provided a strong military response, enhanced law enforcement capabilities and enabled better intelligence gathering. Yet, any such response also needed to prevent the problem from reoccurring later in a different form. It was critical to address the underlying cultural, economic, religious and education factors. On the more immediate, operational level, the U.S. Government had to develop a cohesive plan for encouraging cooperation between numerous law-enforcement and intelligence organizations. Beyond simply working together, each agency needed to be assigned a different piece of the overall goal. Coordination was essential to prevent needless duplication and ensure that the government worked as a whole towards the ultimate objective.
The threat of international terrorism was not only an ongoing news story, but also an ever-present challenge to Canada’s national security. The Black Banners did not focus directly on Canada, but much of what it explored has direct relevance to this country’s strategic decisions going forward. Ali Soufan started his memoir with a quote from Sun Tzu: “So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will win a hundred times in a hundred battles.” In other words, any successful strategy will depend on having knowledge that is accurate, detailed and timely. Effective decision-making requires understanding your opponent’s plans and motivations, but also your own organization’s capabilities and limitations. Having a strong strategy also depends on effective leadership and a motivated team. It is impossible to completely predict all future problems, but it is possible to create an organizational culture that skillfully adapts to new challenges by emphasizing cooperation and personal initiative. (less)
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