After 9/11, I had a lot of questions. Who were these Al Qaeda people? Where did they come from? What was their motivation?

Our government's answer to these questions? They were "killerz" who "hated freedom." We circled the wagons and branded anyone with questions as an "enemy of freedom."

Sadly, those answers were so simplistic and childish they were basically useless. Without understanding our enemy, it seemed unlikely we could defeat them. Evidence of this is that the war on terror has gotten worse not better as the years since "mission accomplished" have dragged on.

I havent read his book but a ten minute interview with Lawrence Wright was more informative than 5 years of the Bush administration. Wright goes back to the start of Al Qaeda in 1988, (that's what I said, 1988!) and he gives us background on the people who founded the modern militant Islamic movement. Wright humanizes the people and makes them understandable in the opposite way our government demonizes them and turns them into charactatures. Amazing stuff.

Wright also credits the policy of torture by the Egyptian government (and a favorite of President Cheney) with shaping the ferocity of Al Qaeda's acts, like 9/11.

The real shocker from the interview? Al Queda was discredited and all but destroyed after the battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan. The war in Iraq basically rebuilt the movement and brought new recruits to the banners. Some mission accomplished.

"The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11" by Lawrence Wright

Author Dissects People, Politics Prior to 9/11 Attacks

The News Hour

September 5, 2006

Lawrence Wright, author of "The Looming Tower - al-Qaeda and Road to 9/11" discusses his new book which describes the people, politics, and roiling theology behind Islamic terrorism and the terror attacks leading up to and including Sept. 11.

read the interview transcript

And it's -- I can tell you this. In November or December of 2001, when, you know, America and coalition forces invaded Afghanistan, and fought the battle of Tora Bora, although we didn't capture or kill bin Laden or Zawahri or some of the other top lieutenants, Al-Qaida was essentially dead.

It was not only that most of the members had been killed or captured. It was repudiated throughout the world. And it -- you know, the internal documents show that they were in great despair. Unfortunately, Iraq has given -- the -- the war in Iraq has given them new life. And I -- I fear the progeny of Al-Qaida are going to be with us for a long time.

Update: 9-8-06

Mr Wright was on our local talk show, Weekday, this morning. For an excellent, 1 hour interview, check out the podcast.

Wright points out that these "killerz" are real people with human emotions and desires. He explains the motivations of the key players (which sharply contradict the political rhetoric that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq). And he points out that our policies would be more effective if more people understood who we were fighting and why they "hate" us.

I thought it was fascinating to hear that Al Qaeda's real goals were to replace the Saudi royal family (no democracy there). Al Qaeda reasoned that if they attacked the Saudi's government directly, the people would oppose them but if they attacked the USA, it would expose the Saudi's relationship with the USA and cause a popular uprising. In other words, 9/11 was the product of local politics and wasnt intended to "destroy" America or "freedom" as we have been lead to believe.

'The Looming Towers'

09/08/2006 9:00a.m.

Following September 11th, Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda took center stage. An unknown group was suddenly notorious, becoming the focus of anger, grief and fear. With the fifth anniversary upon us, we take a step back to take a closer look the events leading up to 9/11.

New Yorker writer Lawrence Wright explores the events that preceded 9/11 in his new book The Looming Towers. He joins us this morning on Weekday.