Review

Reviewed Work(s): The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence
Wright
Review by: DAVID L. TESKA
Source: Naval War College Review , Vol. 60, No. 3 (Summer 2007), pp. 146-147
Published by: U.S. Naval War College Press
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26396865

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146 NAVAL WAR COLLEGE REVIEW

power and security around the world, although some of his basic premises
Klein reasons, space will become an are quite repetitive. Additionally, a
arena where states will protect their few of his recommendations may be
space assets in the same manner that viewed as incredibly challenging, if not
they protect their sovereign airspace, impossible, from technological and fis-
land, and territorial seas. To this end, cal perspectives.
he draws upon the historical context of This is a must-read for military and
Sir Julian Corbett’s maritime strategy nonmilitary strategic thinkers with in-
theory as a basis on which to build a terests or stakes in space operations.
comprehensive space strategy. Previous While it is sure to raise some eyebrows,
attempts at space strategies have hinged particularly in the air and space com-
upon using air or naval strategies, or a munities, this book does what it is sup-
combination of the two. Klein argues posed to do: raise the level of debate on
that simply using air or naval strategies the formulation of a sound space strat-
is too restrictive and does not ade- egy. This is a critically important subject,
quately capture the uniqueness of space one that if not properly implemented
operations. Air and naval strategies in and understood could have disastrous
his view are too militarily focused, spe- consequences on our national interests.
cifically on offensive weapons, or lack
DANA E. STRUCKMAN
the proper linkage to the instruments of
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force
national power. For these reasons he Naval War College
turns to Corbett’s maritime theory,
which describes the relationship be-
tween land and sea as vital and also
serves well as a model for development
of space strategy.
Wright, Lawrence. The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda
This unique approach may be criticized and the Road to 9/11. New York: Knopf, 2006.
by some. However, these same critics 480pp. $27.95

would do well to understand Klein’s use Lawrence Wright has provided the mili-
of Corbett not as the be-all and end-all tary professional an excellent primer
approach to space strategy but rather as into the world of those who see the
a framework upon which to build. In United States as a threat. The Arab
fact, Klein himself admits that his ap- world remains little understood by
proach to a space strategy largely agrees most Americans. It takes Wright nearly
with current joint doctrine, the Space five hundred pages to lay out the com-
Commission Report, and other publica- plex tale of modern Islamic fundamen-
tions. However, his treatment highlights talism. It is no surprise that Osama Bin
some areas deserving more debate, such Laden is a key player, and Wright gives
as a better understanding of the defense him center stage. Bin Laden is the son
of high-value positions in space and ac- of a wealthy Yemeni who through grit
cess to what he calls “celestial lines of and hard work earned the favor of the
communication,” a phrase adapted ruling family in Saudi Arabia for bold-
from classic Corbett. ness in civil engineering projects that
Klein’s Corbett-based space strategy is helped Saudi Arabia advance into the
presented in a fairly easy-to-read way, twentieth century.

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BOOK REVIEWS 147

The 1980s saw the first true conflict be- internal barriers swept aside. Much has
tween Islamic fundamentalists and a been done in the years since that clear,
major power, the ten-year war waged blue Tuesday morning in September to
by the mujahideen in Afghanistan after reconcile that environment. The other
the Soviet invasion. The Soviet Union take-away is that Bin Laden and his ilk
withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, are more complex than their rhetoric
having suffered an unexpected drub- would have us believe. His followers,
bing. Emboldened by their victory however, see him as a devout Muslim,
against one superpower, many muja- pure in thought and strident in deed,
hideen, under the spiritual leadership of out to defend his faith from foreign in-
Osama Bin Laden (who spent some time fluences bent on its destruction. So as
in Afghanistan during the war), turned long as the United States remains en-
to fighting the new threat to Islam posed gaged in that vital region, his likes will
by the United States. The organization remain ever present and ever the threat.
formed from disparate jihadist groups in
DAVID L. TESKA
Egypt, Iran, and Pakistan to meet this Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
task was one whose name would become
synonymous with the most violent form
of anti-American Islamic fundamental-
ism—al-Qa‘ida (the Base). Ironically, it
was the United States that, through the Key, Joshua, and Lawrence Hill. The Deserter’s
CIA, had largely financed and equipped Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who
the mujahideen and other anti-Soviet Walked Away from the War in Iraq. New York: At-
forces in Afghanistan. lantic Monthly, 2007. 237pp. $23

The Looming Tower is truly a book for Joshua Key is a young married man
our time. The New York Times agrees; it with four children who joined the U.S.
selected it as one of the ten best books Army to escape the grinding poverty of
of 2006. Drawing upon expertise gained his life in Guthrie, Oklahoma. In 2003,
from living and teaching in the Middle he was deployed to Iraq with the 43rd
East, Wright has written a succinct and Combat Engineer Company. At the end
engaging work on the history, religion, of seven months, Key had become so
and temperament of a people who re- disillusioned with the Army and the Iraq
main at best enigmatic to most Ameri- war that he deserted while on leave in
cans. More importantly, Wright’s the United States. He ultimately made
narrative characterizes the path to Sep- his way to Canada to ask for asylum.
tember 11th as a lengthy and convoluted Lawrence Hill, a Canadian writer and
one, a journey that started long ago. The journalist, put Key’s story into coherent
attacks on that day were the next step in form.
an irrevocable conflict between elements Although the book is well written, it is
of radical Islam and the country they saw actually hard to read, because of the
as a threat to their existence. U.S. Army’s allegations of Key’s disloy-
The lessons of The Looming Tower are alty, dishonesty, disrespect, selfishness,
many. The United States can succeed in dishonor, lack of integrity, and coward-
its fight against the radicals of Islam ice, particularly during his first deploy-
only if it is completely united, with all ment with the 3rd Armored Cavalry

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