The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda (First Edition)

Ali Soufan

Sep 2011 · W. W. Norton & Company

About this ebook

A book that will change the way we think about al-Qaeda, intelligence, and the events that forever changed America.

On September 11, 2001, FBI Special Agent Ali H. Soufan was handed a secret file. Had he received it months earlier—when it was requested—the attacks on New York and Washington could have been prevented. During his time on the front lines, Soufan helped thwart plots around the world and elicited some of the most important confessions from terrorists in the war against al-Qaeda—without laying so much as a hand on them. Most of these stories have never been reported before, and never by anyone with such intimate firsthand knowledge.

This narrative account of America's successes and failures against al-Qaeda is essential to an understanding of the terrorist group. We are taken into hideouts and interrogation rooms. We have a ringside seat at bin Laden's personal celebration of the 9/11 bombings. Such riveting details show us not only how terrorists think and operate but also how they can be beaten and brought to justice.

Ratings and reviews

The CIA looks pretty bad in this book. Not only do they withhold information that would have helped the FBI prevent 9/11, but they withheld access to high value detainees that could have prevented dozens of other attacks. "EITs" are such a waste of time that don't have a single success. Tried and true interrogation techniques work as Ali Soufan demonstrates over and over again. The CIA censoring of the book is annoying sometimes when they remove large swaths of the story. Some redactions are especially silly. Like this one: "That's it, [1 word redacted] said to myself." Clearly the missing word is "I". The CIA censored this story to try to make it so we couldn't tell that Ali was the one telling the story which doesn't make any sense. The other silly thing is that all of these stories are declassified. It's like someone at the CIA just wanted to damage the book because they didn't like Ali Soufan.

Very insightful book. I can only hope that people will understand the underlying message that EITs are not the most effective interrogation technique. His due diligence as it applies to those he interrogates should be standard procedure for any investigation or government branch. Too many people in positions of authority simply do not understand that cultures and belief systems are different around the world, and if you are not open to this you will never understand. Readers should pay particular attention to his comments on linear thought, and the role that respect plays in their lives.This is good stuff that applies far beyond al Qaeda.

If you want to understand 2001 to 20011 then you have to read this book. It's not famous now, but it will be in a few years, as those that made bad decisions then will finally leave power entirely to let the truth come out. It's still all so muddy, and part of the reason why everyone just forgets and wants to forget.

About the author

Ali Soufan, a former FBI special agent and the lead investigator on some of the world’s?most complex international terrorism cases, gained an?international reputation as a top counterterrorism operative. He is the chairman and CEO of The Soufan Group, founder of The Soufan Center, and has been featured in books, films, television series, newspaper articles, and documentaries across the globe.