Bill Clinton Reveals Why CIA Abandoned Plan to Take Out Bin Laden Before 9/11
Former US President Bill Clinton has revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) abandoned a plan to eliminate al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because of concerns that the operation could kill innocent civilians.
Clinton made the disclosure on Sunday, September 13, during an interview on WABC’s Cats Roundtable programme hosted by John Catsimatidis.
The former president said he had authorised the CIA to target bin Laden, whom he regarded as one of the biggest threats to the United States at the time.
“I had authorised the CIA to try to take him out,” Clinton said, adding that although capturing bin Laden alive would have been preferable, stopping him was the priority.
According to Clinton, the CIA pulled back from the operation at the last minute because officials feared that a failed attempt could result in significant civilian casualties.
“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 said.
“But they were afraid that if they missed, they’d kill a lot of innocent civilians. 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 said he had always believed the US should do more to neutralise bin Laden, describing him as a major threat to American security.
“I wish we had done even more to get him. I always thought he was our biggest threat … I wanted to get him, and I did what I could to do that,” he said.
The former president also recalled his reaction to the September 11 attacks, saying he immediately suspected bin Laden after watching the second plane crash into the World Trade Center while he was in Australia.
Clinton said his daughter was in Lower Manhattan at the time, and he and his family were deeply concerned about her safety as communication lines became difficult.
“I was watching television in Australia when the second plane hit. I immediately said that bin Laden did this,” he recalled.
He said he already knew that bin Laden had been planning attacks against the United States for a long time and believed he had the resources and capability to carry them out.
Bin Laden was eventually killed on May 2, 2011, during a secret US Navy SEAL raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, under former President Barack Obama.
Clinton also warned that the possibility of another major terrorist attack in New York City should not be dismissed, although he said the United States is now better prepared.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
