Customer Reviews

Unsafe at any Altitude: Failed Terrorism Investigations, Scapegoating 9/11, and the Shocking Truth about Aviation Security Today

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I saw the advance publicity for the "60 Minutes" report last night and
went out to get a copy of "Unsafe at any Altitude," the book the report was based on. Not only did this book's authors, Susan
and Joseph Trento, obtain the copy of the no-fly list that "60 Minutes"
used as the basis of its report, but that list is only one of many interesting revelations as this book explores how flawed
our aviation security system is.

This book offers a professional analysis and it brings the aviation terrorism phenomenon into the front of the stage, by highlighting some evidence regarding some of the major aviation terrorism incidents of the pase decades. As an academic researcher of aviation terrorism, this book certainly may be useful for those who are interestd in the 'story behaind the story'.
Dr. Hillel Avihai

It costs a lot for responsible government officials to play the game: Don't blame me don't blame you -- blame that fellow behind the tree. The author's tell you how that game was played in respose to 9/11. And because this billion dollar game was played with the screeners at airports, the extra billions of dollars spent are not providing any more safety than before 9/11. But the mind set of the post 9/11 air traveling public must make us safer. The passengers now know if they fight for the control of the plane there is a chance for life -- if they don't fight death is certain.

Although the idea for this book is good, it is written in a very disjointed way. Chapters have little relevance to each other and have large gaps in the timeline the authors have tried to write about. Verges on a long rant. Too much like a govenmnent conspiracy book than a piece of analytical non-fiction.

I'm almost finished with this book, and may not bother. When I saw the title I expected a critique of airport security procedures, which are window dressing to make the traveling public think something is being done to keep us safe in the air. But most of the book is a defense of Frank Argenbreight & Argenbreight security. I had forgotten about questions raised about the screeners after September 11 until I read this book.
It's a little heavy on the conspiracty theory for my taste. I suppose that the information about the Lebanese man who was in league with the terrorists while convincing the Reagan administration he was on our side was interesting, but that was not why I read this book. For a better analysis of security, read Gavin de Becker.

Much of the info in this book is fact. However, assumptions are made to fill in the fact gaps. Even what they call "truth" is sometimes assumption or just plain wrong. The authors offer some ideas on improving airport security, but you have to figure that they have already been considered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.