What if the CIA acted on the threat from Al Qaeda before September 11, 2001? What if the American government had agents in place who reported the information needed to make certain thousands didn't die when terrorists attacked the United States on its own soil? Author Ralph W. Doss presents a realistic scenario in 9/11 What If or How the CIA and the FBI Could Have Foiled the Al Qaeda Terrorist Attack . Citing the terrorists' activity in detail, Doss presents an alternative history of actions US agencies could have taken, breaking them down step-by-step, so readers can understand why the September 11, 2001, attacks were preventable. In 9/11 What If , CIA Director Arthur Kent knows his Agency lacks information on impending threats. He puts together a small team of officers to recruit agents able to report on hard targets such as the group in part funded by moneyed Saudi Osama bin Laden. The team's efforts produce results, but how can the United States use the intelligence wisely to prevent the September 11 tragedy? More importantly, Doss asks, has the United States learned the needed lessons to stop such a tragedy happening again?