The 9/11 Investigations

by Steven Strasser (Editor), Craig R. Whitney (Introduction)

The 9/11 Investigations lifts the curtain on the top-secret investigations into the worst attack in American history. Here in one place is the most salient information from both the Joint House-Senate Inquiry and the 9/11 Commission investigation, distilled into a narrative that readers can understand. First, The 9/11 Investigations presents the most shocking discoveries to emerge in the course of the investigations. Former Newsweek editor Steven Strasser has combed through the extensive investigative documents and extracted the most revelatory information about 9/11 itself--the al Qaeda plot, the terrorist attack, the emergency response--as well as troubling insights into the inner workings of our the decision-making process at the top levels of government, the miscommunication between the FBI and CIA, and the fatal oversights made by the Bush administration before the attacks. Second, The 9/11 Investigations explores the investigation process itself. A lead essay by Craig R. Whitney, assistant managing editor of the New York Times, places the 9/11 investigation into a historical context of other governmental investigations such as the Warren Report and the Pearl Harbor investigation. Whitney also explores the political power plays that have affected the investigation's progress, addressing these fundamental Why hasn't the Bush administration cooperated fully with the 9/11 Commission? How has the administration's behavior affected the work of the Commission? Who will be held responsible for the intelligence and leadership failures revealed by the investigations? And perhaps most Will the 9/11 investigation help prevent such a tragedy from happening again? Are we any safer for their work? Together, these documents and analysis provide an in-depth look at how America has tried to deal with the shocking impact of the 9/11 attacks.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Political Science, American

624 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assembling a book from the overwhelming amount of hearing transcripts, joint committee investigation, and subsequent findings and recommendations of congressional panels in the wake of 9/11 is an astounding feat.

Whitney’s introduction draws compelling parallels between these investigations and those initiated after earlier national tragedies (the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassinantion of JFK).

Suffice to say, the agencies responsible for anti and counterterrorism in the pre-9/11 years were lacking systems for data and intelligence aggregation, translators, and synchronization.

For all the conspiracies generated over the years since in a puerile attempt to comprehend those horrible events, gross negligence (a theme in this book) seens to be rarely considered.

The transcripts are well-edited, the investigation briefings succint (obviously), but the frustration with this initial edition comes from the what is not (and in some cases could not) be provided.

I’ll most likely get the updated version and do a re-read.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It provided me a very visible understanding of the true nature of the so called leaders we have in Washington. Every book has a viewpoint and this must be understood by the reader. I pray that we will honor our nation and it's founders for what they were able to accomplish. It is amazing that today we are finding leaders cutting our national safety/security infrastructure to a level that allowed this tragedy to occur. At one time our nation had a reactionary force that could have mitigated some of this disaster.

[Alec · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but not in a traditional way. The book is full of information, reports released by FOIA and other technical documents. If you're really interested in what happened on September 11th, 2001 then this book is for you. Just don't expect anything but testimonies interviews and documents.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't read it straight through or word for word, but i got the general drift. interesting reference for conspiracy theorists such as myself :)

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to what really happened on 9/11

[Britt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the graphic novel version which is totally skippable. Graphics don't add much. and there isn't really any content that was already given to anyone following the news when the report came out

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read , informative , persuasive and engaging.

[Rickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is different but very informational. Took me FOREVER to finish because it's not a traditional format but more of interviews of high officials. Still worth reading.

[Charlotte Halbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

heartbreaking.

[Levi Cress]

Got part way through.