Name – Garima Jain
Subject- History 1302 (17323 Lecture 016)
Instructor: Owen L. Roberts
1. General Information:
A. Book Title:
The Looming Tower: Al- Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
B. Author:
Lawrence Wright
C. Publisher:
Alfred A. Knopf, 2006
D. General Content:
The Looming Tower is an in-depth study of the factors leading to 9/11. It brings to life the characters which have created jihadist movement and explains why their ideas had such a violent force. The Looming Tower shows purported lack of seriousness by American Intelligence regarding Bin Laden, who played an important role in the 9/11 assault on America.
2. Prologue: In the prologue of the Looming Tower, Wright gives the readers glimpses of American Intelligence system, marked by bureaucratic red-tape and squabbling. Dan Coleman was the only FBI agent who was put behind the Bin Laden threat prior to the 9/11 attacks. Before the attack, America considered terrorism just as a nuisance and not a threat. Very few people in the intelligence cared or even knew about Bin Laden. Even when they had an informant who gave out chilling accounts about Al-Qaeda including information about training camps, sleeper cells and organizational charts, FBI failed to understand the gravity of the issue. Wright notes that the lack of concern about terrorism was frightening and shocking at some level but not entirely surprising since there were more pressing investigations.
3. Thesis: In the Looming Tower, Wright tries to portray that contrary to the belief in the power of numbers by some analysts, personalities matter and a small group of people can profoundly change the course of history. He draws on a wealth of information derived from rare documents and interviews with sources that range from the lowest ranks of the jihadist movement to the highest tiers of U.S. government. America paid a huge price for ignoring and under evaluating the presence of Al Qaeda.
4. Analysis of Individual Chapters:
Analysis of Chapter One
A. Chapter 1: “The Martyr”
B. Summary:
Wright starts his narrative by introducing Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian rebel educationist who was forced into exile to United States in 1948. With time, Qutb got convinced that western world is a materialistic and immorally distorted world. He was convinced that contemporary Islam was deviating from its path and it was his duty to restore the moral guidelines of Islam. Wright discusses his attitude as the ‘paradise lost’ syndrome. Qutb returned to Egypt and immediately started voicing anti-western world sentiments. In 1954, Qutb became the editor of the Muslim Brother Magazine and started writing articles calling for jihad against the Britain. This put him on the radar of secular Egyptian government of Gamal Abdul Nasser as he was negotiating a treaty which called for an end to the British occupation. Though Qutb was convicted and executed in 1966, he was an inspiration for al-Qaeda terrorists in the years to come. His legacy lived on.
C. Main Idea: In this chapter, Wright tries to show that the ideas and radical thoughts of Sayyid Qutb inspired and motivated Islamic terrorist groups like Al- Qaeda for jihad.
D. Supporting Facts: Wright aptly named the chapter ‘The Martyr’ since it shows that the death of Sayyid Qutb, the subject of this chapter, was a sacrifice that inspired the future generations for jihad. He discusses how Nasser quickly realized that he had made a mistake by executing Qutb. Due to his radical teachings and followers, Qutb was more dangerous after death than being alive. Nasser tried to lure Qutb to accept his mistakes in return for his freedom but Qutb rejected the offer and goes on to became an inspiration for future generation of Islamic terrorists.
E. More Convincing: If the author had included some first-hand accounts of opinions of the officials in Nasser government about Qutb, it would have helped the readers in understanding the gravity of displeasure of Nasser government better. Also, if Wright could
1. A narrative is a spoken or written account of connected events; a story: “a bare narrative of the details”. 2. This source is a secondary because it’s retold. 3. This book was written because of the exclamation of Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves and also on the life and times of Fredrick Douglas as a slave. Chapter I 1. Douglass was born in Maryland around February 1818. 2. Douglass really didn’t have much to say on behalf of his mother, but his grandmother whom took him in was one who…
Pesticides 70 million Automobiles 60 million -- 80 million Lighted communication towers 40 million -- 50 million Wind turbines 10,000 -- 40,000 (Cite) In short term, the bodies of birds can be counted and used against the construction of wind turbines. In the long run, with the continued use of coal and natural gas that are causing climate changes, there will be an even bigger threat to birds then collisions looming ahead. Wind turbines can even be beneficial economically. Texas State Technical…
The highly acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan is most well-known for producing thought-provoking and complex films in a manner which strays from the audiences typical expectations. An “auteur” is defined as a filmmaker who has a distinct style and is recognised as the sole producer, or as the French word auteur translates, “author” of a film creating an individual and recognisable stamp on their work. Nolan has earned the title of being an auteur through the use of his signature techniques such…
operations. On May 8, 2012, AT&T sold its Advertising Solutions segment. In December 2013, AT&T announced that it had closed the transaction to lease rights to approximately 9,000 of its Companyowned wireless towers to Crown Castle International Corp., as well as the sale of approximately 600 AT&T towers. In March 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of prepaid wireless provider Leap Wireless International Inc. Financial Analysis Profitability Measures and Ratios Verizon Wireless Ratio Financial…
and for business clients there other methods such as tele-conferencing to have their meetings with people all over the world. Also National car holidays can be considered a substitute as people can travel in their cars to place like Butlins, Alton towers etc instead of going…
• Cognizant Reports Gearing Up For Basel III Stringent data reporting and risk management requirements will compel banks to significantly overhaul their IT infrastructure to not only comply with sweeping regulatory change but also to power new operational efficiencies and create market differentiation. Executive Summary In its depth and scope, Basel III is unlike anything the banking business has seen. A combination of micro- and macro-prudential norms, the global regulatory mandate (which rolls…
Alhadji Dean Memoir Paper - Final Draft 4.3 - Printout 6 Jun 13 Mr Berrigan CMCC ENG 110 To Be and Has Been Chapter 1 A purpose and theme of “To Be and Has Been” well illustrates- for me- the complexity of juxtaposing myself between what is coming- Future Events- and what actually took place- my Past Events. When I look back it is a crafted result set to the tune of that which is remembered and perhaps unprovable, alongside that which is researched and often another person's interpretation…
4263 REV: APRIL 27, 2012 ERIK STAFFORD JOEL L. HEILPRIN Valuation of AirThread Connections In early December 2007, Robert Zimmerman, senior vice president of business development for American Cable Communications (ACC), was in his office sifting through a number of investment banking proposals related to potential acquisition targets when he paused to consider the recent presentation made by Rubinstein & Ross (R&R). Rubinstein & Ross was a boutique investment bank with a strong reputation…
CASE 46 Making Socially Responsible and Ethical Strategic decisions move a company toward its stated goals and perceived success. Strategic decisions also reflect the firm’s social responsibility and the ethical values on which such decisions are made. They reflect what is considered important and what a company wants to achieve. Mark Pastin, writing on the function of ethics in business decisions, observes: There are fundamental principles, or ground rules, by which organizations act. Like the ground…
feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ Ability & Achievement –2 Chronicles 26:15-16 (King Uzziah)- And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. 16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his…