"Profiles the most important figures in the al Qaeda movement---Osama bin Laden, Ayman Zawahiri, Abu Musaib al Zarqawi, and Mullah Omar, giving a comprehensive analysis of its origins, leadership, ideology, and strategy. Focuses more closely on what has happened to al Qaeda since 9/11 and outlines its ultimate goals"--Provided by publisher.

Updated with new postscript. Hardcover c2008. "A Saban Center at the Brookings Institution book" -- p.[4] of cover

Preface -- 1. The Manhattan Raid -- 2. The thinker : Zawahiri -- 3. The knight : Osama -- 4. The host : Mullah Omar -- 5. The stranger : Zarqawi -- 6. Al Qaeda's plans -- 7. How to defeat al Qaeda -- Postscript : al Qaeda today.