How does an unremarkable and non-ideological businessman end up trying to bring nuclear weapons into the United States for a notorious terrorist organization? Former war crimes prosecutor Michael Lebowitz joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to explore this chilling reality in his new book, Second Wave: Inside Al Qaeda’s Post-9/11 Attack Plan and America’s Secret Effort to Stop It. He dives into the true story of Saifullah Paracha and his son Uzair, two businessmen with New York ties who became entangled in Al-Qaeda’s post-9/11 attack plans.
Lebowitz reveals how Al-Qaeda sought Saifullah’s expertise in international shipping and smuggling to help execute a massive “second wave” of attacks on the United States. The narrative also uncovers the intense, behind-the-scenes turf wars between the FBI, CIA, and the military over the Parachas. Clashing approaches to interrogation, intelligence gathering, and legal jurisdiction created messy outcomes, left the father and son in legal limbo for decades while they were detained at Guantanamo Bay or in the United States. This insider’s look at America’s counterterrorism response offers vital lessons on past successes and failures on combatting terrorist organizations.
He had this addiction to connections. He wanted to know everybody, and he did know everybody. And he liked to boast about it.
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Michael Lebowitz is one of America’s few war crimes prosecutors with frontline counterterrorism experience. A former senior attorney at the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, he spent nearly a decade prosecuting cases at Guantanamo Bay, including the 9-11 conspirators, the USS Cole, and top Al Qaeda commander trials. A U.S. Army combat veteran and former Pathfinder unit paratroop officer, Lebowitz also served as a senior legal advisor to U.S. Army Cyber Command.
Ron Granieri is Professor of History and the Chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of War.
Photo Description: A group of detainees at Joint Task Force Guantanamo stand as they observe morning prayer before sunrise inside Camp Delta Oct. 28. Detainees at the JTF are afforded the opportunity to pray five times each day and are provided prayer rugs and copies of the Quran.
Photo Credit: Petty Officer 1st Class Marcos Hernandez
