The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 had an immense impact on global history. A retaliatory strike against the Taliban has mutated into an open-ended campaign to transform the Middle East. An unpopular president with a doubtful mandate has been able to make far-reaching changes to the US constitution and oversee a massive transfer of wealth to the rich. None of this would have been possible without the 9/11 attacks, yet the events of the day and the period directly prior to the attacks are filled with unanswered questions. Why did the US government pay so little attention to the urgent warnings from friendly intelligence agencies about an impending attack? How were members of terrorist organisations able to enter the United States so easily? How were they funded? Why was the FBI not able to connect field reports of highly suspicious behaviour at flight schools with warnings of imminent hijackings and possible suicide attacks?
