Former FBI special agent Ali H. Soufan’s new book “The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda” was heavily redacted after a review by the Central Intelligence Agency and was sent to print with the mark-outs visible. “For three months, the FBI conducted its review,” Soufan said in a letter at the beginning of his book dated August 23. “After requesting specific changes, the bureau sent me a letter saying that the manuscript was ‘approved for publication with respect to FBI information.’” Shortly after receiving approval from the FBI, Soufan received another letter saying his manuscript was being sent to the CIA for review. “This was strange, as I have never reported to the CIA or had any contractual agreement with them,” he wrote. The CIA sent two letters of concern — first about Chapters 1 through 15, and then from Chapters 16 to the end. The CIA eventually “took back” their list of redactions only to send “an even more extensive set.” Soufan said those redactions included “a public exchange between a U.S. senator and myself that was broadcast live on national television.” Soufan said he’s asked the FBI to work with the CIA over the redactions. If Soufan is not able to clear the redactions with the FBI, he plans to pursue the censorship through legal methods. I picked up a copy of the book on Tuesday evening (my copy pictured above). I’ll let you know how it is.
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Former FBI special agent Ali H. Soufan’s new book “The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda” was heavily redacted after a review by the Central Intelligence Agency and was sent to print with the mark-outs visible.

“For three months, the FBI conducted its review,” Soufan said in a letter at the beginning of his book dated August 23. “After requesting specific changes, the bureau sent me a letter saying that the manuscript was ‘approved for publication with respect to FBI information.’”

Shortly after receiving approval from the FBI, Soufan received another letter saying his manuscript was being sent to the CIA for review. “This was strange, as I have never reported to the CIA or had any contractual agreement with them,” he wrote.

The CIA sent two letters of concern — first about Chapters 1 through 15, and then from Chapters 16 to the end. The CIA eventually “took back” their list of redactions only to send “an even more extensive set.” Soufan said those redactions included “a public exchange between a U.S. senator and myself that was broadcast live on national television.”

Soufan said he’s asked the FBI to work with the CIA over the redactions. If Soufan is not able to clear the redactions with the FBI, he plans to pursue the censorship through legal methods.

I picked up a copy of the book on Tuesday evening (my copy pictured above). I’ll let you know how it is.

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