Summary
Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush received multiple warnings about Usama bin Laden and al Qaeda’s plans to hijack commercial jets, according to newly released documents from the Trump administration. The files, including classified presidential daily briefs and CIA memorandums, show that intelligence agencies had identified potential threats as early as 1998. One briefing from December 1998 noted that bin Laden’s network had received hijack training, though no group directly linked to al Qaeda had carried out an aircraft hijacking. Another document from August 2001 warned of suspicious activity in the U.S. consistent with preparations for attacks. The documents were released as part of the Trump administration’s effort to disclose what intelligence agencies knew before 9/11.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Former presidents received warnings about bin Laden’s plans.
Documents show intelligence agencies tracked the network for years.
Warnings spanned two administrations and multiple years.
Some details feel like a script rehearsed before the event.
Author: Evan Null
