Clinton Discloses CIA's Pre-9/11 Decision on Bin Laden Operation

Former US President Bill Clinton disclosed that the CIA called off an operation intended to eliminate Osama bin Laden prior to the September 11 attacks, citing concerns about potential civilian casualties. In an interview on WABC Radio's "Cats Roundtable," Clinton explained that he had authorized the CIA to pursue bin Laden, expressing a preference for capturing him alive, although the primary goal was to stop him. Clinton expressed frustration over the CIA's last-minute decision to abandon the mission, which he believed might have succeeded.

Clinton stated, "I was scared, and I was mad because we tried to get him before, and the CIA at the last minute killed the plan that I think might well have succeeded." He noted that the agency ultimately deemed the risks too high, fearing that an unsuccessful operation could lead to significant civilian casualties. "They didn’t want to run the risk. I didn’t second-guess them, but I think, in the end, [bin Laden] was determined to do what he did, and he had lots of money and lots of capacity," Clinton reflected.

The former president also recounted his immediate reaction to the September 11 attacks, identifying bin Laden as the likely perpetrator shortly after witnessing the second plane strike the World Trade Center. At the time, Clinton was in Australia, while his wife, Hillary, was in Washington, and their daughter was in Lower Manhattan. He expressed concern for their daughter's safety as she was among those instructed to evacuate the area on foot.

Clinton recalled, "I was watching television in Australia when the second plane hit. I immediately said that bin Laden did this. They all looked at me and said, ‘How do you know this?’ I said, ‘Well, because the only adversaries we have with the capacity to do this are Iran and bin Laden.'" He emphasized that he believed bin Laden had been planning such an attack for a long time.

Clinton's Warning on Future Terrorism Risks

In light of the ongoing threat of terrorism, Clinton warned that another attack on New York City remains a possibility. He stressed the importance of vigilance and intelligence gathering, stating, "I think it’s entirely possible. I think we have to stay on guard about that. We have to make sure we’re getting all the intelligence we can on the issue. I think there is a chance that will happen."

While acknowledging that the United States is now better prepared to respond to such attacks, Clinton cautioned that missing one opportunity could have dire consequences. He remarked, "We’re much better prepared [now] than we were… [But] you only have to miss once, and then you’re screwed. It’s just something that has to be a continuing part of our national security plan."

Filed & Cleared

Clinton's comments came shortly after the CIA released over 100 pages of declassified presidential intelligence briefings from the years leading up to the September 11 attacks. These documents include a 1998 memo warning the Clinton administration about a potential Al-Qaeda operation involving the hijacking of a commercial airliner. Although many documents remain heavily redacted, they contain warnings about potential US targets and intelligence suggesting that bin Laden was preparing to attack the United States.

A briefing from August 6, 2001, during George W. Bush's presidency, indicated that bin Laden was "determined to strike" the United States and could potentially use Al-Qaeda members already inside the country. Another assessment from August 28, 2001, characterized bin Laden's operations as "expert and flexible," noting their vulnerability to short-term disruption. The briefings documented the agency's evolving understanding of Al-Qaeda and bin Laden's intentions, highlighting the persistent threat they posed to national security.