Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePresident Donald Trump’s administration has released more than 100 pages of declassified presidential intelligence briefings, marking the CIA's largest disclosure regarding Osama bin Laden and threats prior to September 11, 2001. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that the release of the 71 briefs from 1998 to 2001 was an act of exceptional transparency intended to honor the victims of the attacks and CIA personnel who served in the Global War on Terror. The documents trace intelligence provided to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, including a September 1998 memo warning that bin Laden preferred striking the U.S. on its own soil and could fly an explosive-packed airplane into a U.S. city. An August 6, 2001 briefing warned Bush that bin Laden was determined to strike inside the U.S., noting FBI observations of potential hijacking preparations and surveillance of federal buildings in New York. While reinforcing 2004 9/11 Commission findings, the heavily redacted documents highlight how analysts struggled with incomplete intelligence and at times suspected al-Qaeda of intentionally feeding conflicting target reports to mislead officials. In fullNewly released Top Secret docs show warnings about Osama bin Laden threats to US in years before 9/11More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Declassified 9/11 files detail warnings issued to leaders before attack
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePresident Donald Trump’s administration has released more than 100 pages of declassified presidential intelligence briefings, marking the CIA's largest disclosure regarding Osama bin Laden and threats prior to September 11, 2001. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that the release of the 71 briefs from 1998 to 2001 was an act of exceptional transparency intended to honor the victims of the attacks and CIA personnel who served in the Global War on Terror. The documents trace intelligence provided to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, including a September 1998 memo warning that bin Laden preferred striking the U.S. on its own soil and could fly an explosive-packed airplane into a U.S. city. An August 6, 2001 briefing warned Bush that bin Laden was determined to strike inside the U.S., noting FBI observations of potential hijacking preparations and surveillance of federal buildings in New York. While reinforcing 2004 9/11 Commission findings, the heavily redacted documents highlight how analysts struggled with incomplete intelligence and at times suspected al-Qaeda of intentionally feeding conflicting target reports to mislead officials. In fullNewly released Top Secret docs show warnings about Osama bin Laden threats to US in years before 9/11More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
