Part 3, Chapter 7 Summary

Franks and his wife are on their way to Pakistan when they watch the Trade Center collapse on television on September 11, 2001. Franks knows immediately that it is the work of Osama bin Laden, an enemy he considers to be intelligent, courageous, and deadly.

In the first communications with other military leaders, Franks warns that Hussein will want to take advantage of the situation. Franks' other immediate reaction is that this is an act of war, not merely terrorism. The United States should get together a coalition to fight al Qaeda. Then he rues the fact that he has no real idea where al Qaeda camps are located, because of the ineffectiveness of the CIA.

When Franks returns to the United States, he finds others are thinking along the same lines. Franks spends the week after the disaster in planning sessions, and...