...cited an event on the golf course on September 16, 1996. The military had been put on alert to retaliate against Iraq for their capture of the Kurdish city of Irbil in violation of peace agreement signed to end the Gulf War. The Air Force found an appropriate target and needed Clinton's approval to proceed. Clinton's National Security Advisor, Sandy Berger, phoned for Clinton three times at the golf course while the planes were en route to the target. Clinton refused to take the calls. Finally, when it was too late to continue, the strike was called off; the planes returned. During similar periods of indecision by Clinton, Osama bi Laden was given a chance to escape our military. Later, Osama bin Laden was captured by Sudan, who offered bin Laden to the Saudis. The Saudis declined, but Clinton could have accepted bin Laden from Sudan.