Griffin (The New Pearl Harbor
), a 9/11 “truth advocate,” continues to explore the internal inconsistencies in the official version of the events of September 11, plumbing statements by the Bush administration for contradictions. Did President Bush race home from Florida immediately after hearing of the attacks? Yes, maintain officials. No, claim Griffin’s sources; Bush dawdled for half an hour before making an unhurried drive to the airport. Most chapters concern matters of similarly modest importance, but readers will receive a few jolts. Could America have foreseen 9/11? Absolutely not, Bush spokesmen repeat—but Griffin quotes officials, security experts and military leaders who warned of terrorists commandeering planes. Was bin Laden responsible? Readers will be surprised by Griffin’s finding that conclusive evidence is still pending; U.S. officials submit that bin Laden’s prior orchestration of attacks is proof enough, but today bin Laden is on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for directing several terrorist attacks—but not for 9/11. Although readers might be wont to dismiss this book as pure conspiracy theory, it succeeds as a searing and close reading of the events of September 11. (June)
