The Eleventh Day by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan

With the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks coming in the next week we will be beseiged with memories, shows, books and tributes. In no way do I mitigate the importance of the events that took place that day but this book might well make one feel a little differently about the events.

The book takes us through the events as they occurred and then goes through the various conspiracy theories that have been floated about the events. Thankfully and successfully after going through the typical conspiracies we have all heard floated the authors conclude that no reasonable person can really think these theories hold water.

We learn about Bin Laden, the plotters, and then in the end and perhaps the most disturbing part of the book much focus is given to the 9/11 report and much of the redacted portions that deal with relationships between Saudi Arabia and the members of the plot. Sinister might be a strong word to describe the actions of the President but one does wonder why he personally would classify parts of the documents that the CIA did not fit to do so. Clearly there was knowledge and support from some of the highest levels of the Saudi government for these operations.

We attacked the Taliban perhaps correctly so, we falsly accused Iraq, and yet we redacted reports of Saudi involvement. One has to wonder why.

Also disturbing are the complete disarry between the FAA and NORAD on the days of the events, the misleading and outright false statements given officials of these departments and the military about the events of the fateful day. The actions of Clinton NSC advisor Sandy Berger in stealing documents out of the National Archive have never been fully investigated...what was he hiding? Most importantly the fact that it is evident that it was possible had the intelligence agencies listened and communicated to each other that the events could have been prevented. The Bush White House clearly dropped the ball.

While conspiracies were not likely in the U S government or apparatus before the fact it seems very evident that there were conspiracies after the fact to cover the negligence of the agencies and people given the task of protecting us. The cover provided for the Saudi government and officials still troubles.

Perhaps the best book you will read regarding the wide ranging events and cirucmstances of 9/11 and it's effects