Rating: 
Summary: It's unfortunate that people need to point fingers...
Review: To allege that Clinton "blew it" when it came to Bin Laden is laughable. Though Mr. Miniter researched this issue with great success he missed or intentionally left out certain parts that would give him no reason to write such a book.There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Miniter began writing and researching this book with the intent of "proving" a popular theory that was started by the same people that tried to throw Mr. Clinton out of the White House. Here is the run down of the case: Sudan offers to give Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia so that he can be handed over to the United States. Saudi Arabia basically looks at the Sudan offer as idiotic. It would have been politically damaging for any Muslim country to hand over a fellow Muslim to the United States. By not pressuring the Saudis Clinton is blamed for "letting Bin Laden go". There was also other events, such as the Sudanese offering to assist the United States in a plan to get Bin Laden which was unrealistic and was frankly wishful thinking on the part of the Sudanese. In the end we have another anti-Clinton obsessive trying to blame terrorism on Clinton while making a dime off of the people who actually would be silly enough to buy this book. It's even more unfortunate because people take individuals like Mr. Miniter serious when there are other people who know far more then Miniter does. I'm no fan of Clinton but his obsessive haters just look like complete fools.
Rating: 
Summary: Full of errors, full of holes
Review: Another moronic doorstop from the rabid Clinton haters.
Errors both factual and logical pepper this useless addition to any recycle pile. Easier to blame Clinton than fully (or even generally) understand terrorism, Bin Laden, or the wider Middle East.
A must throw out.D.A., NYC
Rating: 
Summary: A Reviewer Who Read The Book
Review: The author does a great job in connecting the dots. He does not hold Clinton responsible for the first attack on the WTC but rather holds him responsible for the politically correct, flacid response to a near disaster. The author continues to develop events here and overseas into a pattern where the US response to Bin Laden's ever more aggessive attacks only encouraged further attacks. The problem is not just Bill Clinton but the rather the team he brought and the culture he initiated in DC. As the author documents, there were multiple opportunites to get inside the 9-11 plot and Bin Laden , but many were overlooked, killed by the Justice Dept under Reno's dictatorship or stalled. The State Department's opposition to adequate support for the troops in Somalia lead to the disaster. For those who believe the presence of the requested AC-130 gunships would not have altered the battle they might look to see who won the Collier trophy last year - the crew of one gunship which fought off a large force of Taliban/Bin Landen troops to save vastly outnumbered special forces in Afganistan. Those who doubt the author's conclusions might also look to the written comments of Dick Morris in his columns or Dereliction of Duty which also documents Clinton's lack of focus. There is also the written documentation from the FBI offices asking only that HQ allow them to follow up on leads and offering the comment that someone will die if they are ignored. The chokepoint was not in the field offices of the CIA/FBI/DOD but rather in DC where Clinton's people ruled. Finally, in the organized group of negative posters there is a fixation on holding Reagan/Bush responsible for Bin Laden. If this is so ( in the beginning) then they need to give Reagan/ bush credit for the defeat of the Soviet Army in Afganistan, something they have been very reluctant to do. It was this defeat which played a major role in convincing the world that the often proclaimed manifest destiny of Communism was a hollow promise/threat. Furthermore, it ignores the reality that leaders of countries and movements change. Many in the State Department supported Mao but none have stepped forward to accept responsibility for the 30 million or so innocent citizens who died at his hand. In summary - a very readable book which will help to understand many of the pieces of the puzzle as they unfold. Highly recommended
Most of the one and two star reviews start off with the premise that the author or publisher is only interested in trashing the Clinton legacy. It is painfully obvious that most of these posters have NOT read the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Very insightful!
Review: This is a great book. Do not let the partisan reviews by people who haven't read the book discourage you from checking it out. There is no name calling in here like "Lies and the Lying Lairs," "Stupid White Men," and "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot." To say conservatives are the name callers is absurd. A democrat hardly writes a book with footnotes and this book is packed with them. If they had read the book, they'd see that Mr. Miniter gives Clinton credit for several things, including breaking up the plans for New Years Eve 2000 attacks in Los Angeles and other cities. Face it, Clinton was a horrible president and any book that tells the truth about his administration will be attacked for being supposedly from conservative partisans. But you can't polish a turd, as they say, and Clinton was a corrupt man. You can't blame Bush for an attack that occured 9 months into his presidency and then leave Clinton, who did nothing for 8 years, as blameless. Get this book and do something liberals don't, actually try learning the truth.
Rating:
Summary: A must read if you want to know the truth.
Review: I have been reading many books on Bin Laden, Al Quaida, Muslim extremist and law enforcement as it relates to 9-11. I must say this book, Losing Bin Laden, is one of the best. I see Miniter being attacked in reviews as a right winger but the fact is he is a life long Democrat, who voted for Bill Clinton twice, so he has NO ax to grind against him in that regard. Losing Bin Laden is completely documented and thoroughly sourced. Even President Bill Clinton said himself in a taped speech in February 2002, to a New Your business Group, on why he did not accept Osama Bin Laden's extradition from the Sudan, "I did not bring him hear because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we know he wanted to commit crimes against America." I Guess he and his administration did not consider the 1993 Attack on the WTC as enough to put someone in jail over? And This statement confirms 1 of the 12 chances he and his administration had to get OBL. Losing Bin Laden centers on the History of the raise of Bin Laden in relation to the response of our intelligence agency's, State department, and the Clinton Administration's actions or lack there of. Many may think, why read a book about past failures in not realizing how dangerous Bin laden was before 9-11? Well, because the book is much more then an indictment of Clinton and His administration. It's so much more than an indictment on Clinton's legacy as president. This book documents all of Al Quada's attacks on the US and American citizens all over the world; Documents the History of this declared war (Jihod) on us the US; and How each attack was handled my the FBI, CIA, And by the administration. Miniter shows us how and why the dots weren't connected before 9-11. And how 12 opportunities were missed to get Bin Laden and Stop his organization long before 9-11. Yes, the Book is critical of President Clinton and his administration; BUT I would ask everyone to look at that and make a judgment, but also to move on beyond the question of Clinton's legacy and LOOK TO learning from our past mistake's. Also there is a good Appendices hear explaining Al Quada's connection the Sadam and Iraqi Intelligence, which is now buttressed by the recent leak Pentagon memo that documents 35 meetings between The BASE and Iraqi Intelligence from 1993 to 2001. This book is a must read if you want to know the truth.
Rating:
Summary: spin, not facts
Review: Another book from the hate America crowd. It would be one thing if Miniter presented facts and analysis, but this book has neither. When you read this book, you get the impression that Miniter simply doesn't like America or her values, and you come away asking "Why?" When President Clinton closed of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House after terrorism in Oklahoma City, some Republicans accused him of hysteria. Most decent Americans are appreciative of all the efforts President Clinton did to stop terrorism. He did all he could and had his share of his successes. The federal budget on anti-terrorism tripled during the wonderful years that Clinton was in office, to about $6.7 billion. Timothy McVeigh is no longer with us. When Clinton ordered military action to kill Osama bin Laden, the Republicans accused him of "wagging the dog". The perpetrators of the 1st WTC bombing have been captured. Four followers of the Egyptian cleric Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman were captured and sentenced to 240 years in prison each. The purported mastermind of the plot, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, was captured in 1995, convicted of the bombing in November 1997, and also sentenced to 240 years in prison. One additional suspect fled is believed to be living in Baghdad. Has that person been found? The LAX and Seattle terrorists have been captured. The serious lapses started with the current occupant of the White House. As 2003 comes to a close, we have not captured Bin Laden, despite the international support that was mobilized after the tragic events of 911. Clinton's national security adviser, Samuel R. Berger told the incoming administration that Bin Laden will be their biggest concern. Why did not Mr. Bush take Mr. Berger seriously? The Republicans misunderstood how serious President Clinton was. Instead of criticizing President Clinton, this book should be criticizing the conservatives for underestimating and undermining President Clinton's heroic fight against terrorism. Could it be that Miniter is putting partisanship above patriotism? Remember: The right wing lies. The right wing hates. They only want your money so they can buy drugs or gamble. Ignore them!
Rating:
Summary: An oddly disturbing effect.
Review: Reading this book left me with 3 distinct impressions:
1) The author is not great at the craft of writing, but this isn't of prime importance in a research text. It just makes it unpleasant to read. 2) There is a lot of musing about what Clinton might have been thinking at various times. This is exceptionally vague and unsupportable for a history/research book and it sometimes wanders into the realm of Monica Lewinski fantasy, but only lightly. 3) The author seems to be giving offhanded slams to Bush (W). He frequently refers to ineffective missile strikes on Bin Laden by Clinton with terms like "empty gesture." It happens enough that it seems to be alluding to Bush's frequent bombings of empty caves in Afghanistan and empty buildings in Iraq. It is confusing coming from a purportedly rightward leaner, and is a bit out of line to undermine a sitting president this way. It think he should save it for a later book.
Rating:
Summary: This book will ENRAGE you..
Review: I had no idea the extent to which Bill Clinton ignored the problem of terrorism until now. It's absolutely amazing that he could neglect the threats on the country by REFUSING to kill or capture Bin Laden on multiple occasions. Bin Laden and his top lieutenants were virtually handed to Clinton on a silver platter, and like a good liberal, fearing world opinion or accusations of violating UN "due process" resolutions, he refused. Unbelievable.. There is much more that every concerned American must know. BUY this book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Completely Documented Work!!!
Review: I have been reading many books on Bin Laden, Al Quada, Muslim extremist and law enforcement as it relates to 9-11. Those books include Why America Slept by Gerald Posner, Catastrophe by Chris Ruddy and Carl Linbacher Jr., Breakdown by Bill Gurtz, The Sword Of the prophet by Serge Trifkovic, American Jihad by Steve Emerson, among others, and I must say this book, Losing Bin Laden, is one of the best. It is completely documented and thoroughly sourced. It centers on the History of the raise of Bin Laden in relation to the response of our intelligence agency's, State department, and the Clinton Administration. Many may think, why read a book about past failures in not realizing how dangerous Bin laden was before 9-11? But this book is so much more than an indictment on Clinton's legacy as president. This book documents all of Al Quada's attacks on the US and American citizens all over the world; Documents the History of this declared war on US; and How each attack was handled my the FBI, CIA, And by the administration. Miniter shows us how and why the dots weren't connected. (remember that question, its funny it disappeared when the press started to learn it was not the Bush administration that did not connect the dots but the Clinton administration). And how opportunities were missed to get Bin Laden and Stop his organization long before 9-11. Yes, the Book is critical of President Clinton and his administration; BUT I would ask everyone to look beyond the question of Clinton's legacy and LOOK TO learning from our past mistake's. Also there is a good Appendices hear explaining Al Quada's connection to Sadam and Iraqi Intelligence. This book is a must read. Lets get informed and LET'S WIN this war on terrorism.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done
Review: Hindsight may be 20/20, but that's the purpose of a well-done study such as this. As somebody who has done similar research and has interviewed some of the same people, I thoroughly enjoyed Mitiner's account and can honestly say he takes the issue of missing the indications and the warnings of al-Qaeda's war on America to a whole new level. Dan Verton, author Black Ice: The Invisible Threat of Cyber-Terrorism.
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