Customer Reviews
Whats Missing - By: Jg Mcilroy, 29 Jun 2008 
Well after reading this book, iam think did Steve Coll write the 9/11 Commision Report. As the 9/11 Report blames nobodyin the CIA, FBI, NSA for 9/11. Coll fails even to mention the Bin Ladens being flown out of the USA on 9/12/01, when nobody was flying. The book fails to menion the the guy who knew the most about Osama, AL"CIADA" John Oneil . Oneil was the lead FBI investigator of the Cole bombing, resigned from the FBI becuase the Bush administration told him to "back off the Bin Laddens". John Oneil took over secuirtyin the Twin Towers on 9/11 , he never made it out . Also mising was this,The first instance is the electronic memo of July 10, 2001 from Kenneth Williams, an FBI agentin Phoenix, Arizona, noting the number of students with ties to radical Islamic fundamentalists enrolled at local aviation training schools, & suggesting that a nationwide canvass of these schools be carried out to determine if there was a pattern. The guy who sat on this memo David Fracsa , was promoted. Now there is some good informationin the book, but its been editited t by Bush White House. . The Books says the CIA NEVER HAD ANY CONTACT WITH BIN LADDEN EVER. I wont be buying his new book The Bin Laddens. The paper back was published after the 9/11 commision report was put out.
Incredible - By: Mr. S. Rattu, 05 Nov 2007 
This has become my favourite book of all time. Each page is packed with information, the whole book is extensively referenced too. It also puts to bed many misconceptions & myths (a common one is that the CIA funded bin Laden, which is not true).
Coll also describes the feelings of those who workedin the CIA & State Dept. & he shows their many conflicts & competing ideologies. The split feelings & decisions within the U.S. policy makers with respect to Massoud, bin Laden & the Taliban are very well told.
Recommended.
You could not want for a better history - By: Jon D, 31 Oct 2007 This is by far the clearest & most complete account I have yet read about the roots of al-Qaeda. The style of writing is exemplary: this is a big book on a tricky subject & could have turned out very dull & difficult indeedin the hands of a poorer writer, but Steve Coll deserves all the prizes & acolades that he has received for his work.
The book clearly traces the foundations of radical islam from the years before the Soviet invasion of Afgaistan, through the rise of the Taliban & up to the eve of 11th September 2001.
A must-read for anyone struggling to understand where why the world has got to today.
Brilliant - By: Peyman Askari, 08 Mar 2007 A brilliantly written book which goes into a great deal of detail. I found it interesting that the writing style almost perfectly matched that of Daniel Yergin's, who was also a recepient of a pulitzer prize
Brilliant - By: J. Lee, 16 Feb 2007 I read this book whilst travelling last year & found it absolutely gripping. It gives a great insight into Afghanistan & the rise of Bin Laden within the taliban. You get to see how close the CIA were to stopping this guy & the reasons why they didn't. the amount of near misses are heartbreaking as you of course know what the end outcome is.
Recommended to casual readers & also to those wanting a further understanding of the region & its history.
