gayfordeniro This isn't so much Alex Gibney's documentary as it is Lawrence Wright's powerpoint presentation. So I think any criticism must be leveled at Wright (which has been the case in other reviews).The documentary attempts to draw conclusions from a large and complex political environment, and as Wright has years of personal experience here, he draws on this to make these conclusions. This is a problem, as the micro is being used to reinforce the macro. Now, I'm not saying wide conclusions cant be drawn from an isolated case, look at The Oath (2010) for an example of how to do this well. But here Wright's focus causes the viewer to have an unclear understanding of important points of his argument. I.e. the difference between an Islamist and a Jihadist is not shown well. And much depth seems missing from the actions of the West in breeding this 'humiliation'; for example the trade embargo on Iraq post the Gulf War, harming millions of innocents, is completely missing. Wright's goal is to understand the motivation and mind-set of the jihadist, and I think he fails due to his starting point being his personal experiences.Wright's experiences however, happen to provide the most interesting parts of this documentary. The wire-tapping he encountered for example, held my attention far more than his introspective rant to finish. This documentary really should have just centered one or two of these personal aspects in isolation, or even just Wright's life. The conclusions would have been much stronger.

sherco-854-787590 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.

eastbergholt2002 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.

John Hawks This documentary is nothing but full of lies. Some of the stuff is totally unbelievable. I taught in Middle east as well but people there are no where near bad or the way he mentioned. We have Madrisa's in UK as well and where students go and study Islam. And they are as normal as anyone else... I am sorry to say but Lawrence Wright's got it all twisted and it seems like he is assuming stuff and working on some Propaganda.Information is totally false and biased, its really shame that this guy taught and lived in middle east for so long and still could not understand real Islam and people of Islam.