In Vanity Fair, Michael Bronner has produced a tour-de-force, “9/11 Live: The NORAD Tapes,” a dramatic reconstruction, based on newly released audio tapes, of how military and civilian authorities responded during the 2001 attacks. (Among other findings, Bronner makes clear that the military and White House dissembled like crazy in the aftermath.)
He’s combined terrific journalism — solid reporting and writing — with an element that transforms the resulting piece into something greater than the already powerful text. Throughout the story are links to the audio transcript excerpts.
The result is stunning. I encourage you to read and listen for yourself.