My Trip to Al-Qaeda

Every American; each person on this planet should see this extraordinary film. It is a unique, insightful and unemotional presentation that tells it like it is. What I witness from abroad, happening to America is precisely what plays into the Al Qaeda/Taliban script. America, you are self-imploding just as Lawrence Wright brings so succinctly to the forefront. The rhetoric of the extremists (particularly the Christian religious radical Right) which is spewed by the Fox media, is a powerful enabler of extremism and will bring down your country from within. To where has compromise, compassion, understanding, meaningful debate and sanity disappeared? Wake up Americans, before it is too late and take the message of "My Trip to Al-Qaeda to heart.

This video is the Prime example how west is manipulating the brains of people who don't know much about Islam and People of Egypt.

Its a propaganda video in a sweet way to spread hate and negativity of Islam and Muslims, Really shame on Author and i pity how less he knows. Sham on you.

There are so much information in the documentary which is false and has no true Islamic truth, Author is just assuming what he thinks is right but he never care enough to know what exactly is the truth.

I seriously don't see any logic behind this video other than to give Muslim and Islam bad name, director/author thinks that people in middle east are imagining the truth and their beliefs are self made. Which i find really deceptive and prerogative.

Anyone who thinks that this documentary paints a pejorative picture of Islam or is just propaganda more than likely is already looking at it with preconceived notions. It is a documentary that EVERY THINKING PERSON should see, and I suggest that you see it more than once. It is NOT a condemnation of Islam. It is NOT a western propagandist platform. It is NOT a U.S. bashing "leftist rant". It IS one man's take on the organization we have come to know as Al-Qaeda and it's role in fomenting terrorism worldwide. It is a MUST SEE for any thinking person who is capable of analytical thinking.. no matter which side of the religious fence you fall on. I happen to be an American born Christian and I found the film to be thought provoking on many levels.

First let me say I am a conservative at heart but I'm also open minded to hearing the point of view of others. Whether you are on the right, left or somewhere in between this is an excellent documentary. This film was completed very objectively with no perceived, at least by me, bias for one view point or another.

Lawrence Wright, in my opinion, identifies well America's complacency and false sense of inferiority. Mr. Wright also describes very clearly the extent to which Al-Qaeda will go to fulfill their prophecy. This film is not intended to be a scare tactic but to simply and objectively state the facts.

Every American should take an hour and half of their selfish day and watch this film. Not to brew hatred or to scare people to action but to educate them about the determination of Al-Qaeda.

Lawrence Wright's film is fascinating and thought provoking. I read Wright's book The Looming Tower in 2006 and it was the first time I felt I had a clear understanding what the war with Al Qaeda was all about. In this film, Wright explores similar territory and provides an explanation of the philosophy of groups like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Both share a view of the world that is repugnant and alien to our liberal western sensibilities. We value human life, scientific progress and equality for women and they don't. Wright explains that the Islamic world resents the material and military success of the West. The rise of terrorism has been a way for some extremists to obtain payback for the years of humiliation.

While the West has mostly rejected religious fanaticism, Wright shows that parts of the Islamic world are now embracing it. Many regard their failure to compete with the West as a punishment from God. Because Muslims have rejected the true path they need to embrace fundamentalism to achieve God's forgiveness. They therefore reject modernity and oppose Arab leaders like Anwer Sadat who favor secularism. Al Qaeda wants to eliminate what it sees as our corrosive influence in the Middle East. However it is not clear why God isn't punishing us, the infidels for our blasphemous ways. We don't enforce the punishments listed in the Old Testament like killing anyone who works on the Sabbath, so it's hard for us to understand why the stoning of women is making a comeback in countries like Iran or why this is something that God requires.

Wright argues that U.S. policies towards the Muslim world after 9/11 have played into bin Laden's hands. Policy makers failed to understand that bin Laden was happy to weaken the U.S. by drawing it into long draining wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The nightmare scenario is for the Islamists capture the Middle East or they start an ongoing insurgency in the West. Watching this program you feel reasonably confident this won't happen, mainly because you quickly realize how crazy their beliefs are. Their views have no appeal for us and it's hard to believe that rational Muslims really want what Al Qaeda is selling. Even their interpretation of Islam seems un-Islamic.

The West and the Islamists have incompatible views on the world so it seems that there will always be conflict. Wright seems to understand this strange world. This is a fascinating film.