“When news of the first plane's hitting the World Trade Center reached them, bin Laden's followers exploded with joy. But shrewder members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan realized that the attacks might not be the stunning victory that bin Laden, and many in the West, took them to be.”

American journalist, documentary producer, professor, and author

Peter Lampert Bergen is an American journalist, documentary producer, think tank executive, professor, and author. He is best known for his reporting and commentary on foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism. His work centers on issues of international security and U.S. policy, and he has built a career across journalism, documentary production, academic work, and think tank leadership. His writing and public analysis focus on how governments respond to threats and conflict.