Chapters 19-20 Summary and Analysis

Schroen is the Islamabad station chief in 1996 and is the primary assistance for the agency's virtual station on bin Laden. The CIA is trying to recover Stinger missiles and the Taliban will not sell back the ones they have.

By November 1996, bin Laden has moved his operations to the south to Kandahar. He is now building his reputation in the international media. He also becomes an ally of the Taliban.

Unocal is working on its pipeline plan and rents a house across the street from bin Laden. This is only one of his compounds. He is also establishing training camps, but the United States has no plans for anything other than intelligence gathering.

Massoud, in the north, is finding sponsors in Iran and India. They raise money from selling gems and heroin to finance the fight of the Taliban...