[pete anderson]

When push came to shove with the Islamic terrorists in 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2000, he was AWOL.

Unfortunately the history of the United States dealing with Islamic Terrorists begins long before 1993.

The PLO hijackings in the early 1970's America did nothing.

The 1979 seizure of the US Embassy in Iran and America did nothing.

The 1983 bombing of the US Embassy and Marine Barracks in Beirut and America did nothing but pack their bags and leave.

1985 killing of the wheelchair-bound American Leon Klinghoffer an America did nothing.

The 1988 Bombing of Pan Am 103 and America sued.

This is not even mentioning the terrorists attacks Israel suffered around the world. America had been AWOL on this issue for years and years.

[TeleStraightShooter]

IIRC, the Beirut bombings were in a small degree answered by the USS New Jersey.

However on the whole I have to concur, as the US was primarily engaged with the USSR and viewed some Islamists as common enemies with communism.

IMO once the Cold War ended, WJC thought that "Mid-East Peace" was goal #1 and that making nice with the PLO, and ignoring Islamist Terror would achieve that.
The Clinton Administrations gross miscalculation was based on basic cultural ignorance @ the expense of the victims of 9/11.