State Dept. Says It Warned About bin Laden in 1996

NY Times ^ | August 17, 2005 | ERIC LICHTBLAU

[Homer1]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 - State Department analysts warned the Clinton administration in July 1996 that Osama bin Laden's move to Afghanistan would give him an even more dangerous haven as he sought to expand radical Islam "well beyond the Middle East," but the government chose not to deter the move, newly declassified documents show.

[Ramius]

Well... wait just a second here. Let's not get too excited just yet.

That Bin Laden was a known terrorist in the 90's, or even the 80's is not exactly new information. I was privy to some other-than-public traffic in the 80's and there were all manner of names like Bin Laden, Noriega, Abu Nidal, Escobar... these were all familiar names on the hot traffic lists.

I don't like the Klinton admin any more than anybody else, and they likely did drop the ball to some extent. But we do have to keep eyes on the prize, that they would have hit us nomatter who was in power or what we did.

[Darkwolf377]

...shed light on a murky and controversial chapter in Mr. bin Laden's history: his relocation from Sudan to Afghanistan as the Clinton administration was striving to understand the threat he posed and explore ways of confronting him.

If there's any doubt about the NYT's bias, imagine how that would read if this happened in the Bush administration.

...sheds light on the complete collapse of the administration in its bungled efforts to stop the obvious terrorist threat of Bin Laden...or words to that effect.

[MaineVoter2002]

Clinton Admits: "I Refused Bin Laden Extradition Offer"

http://www.newsmax.com/Clinton.mp3

[Milhous]

The left wing dominated lower echelon of the state department is just doing some serious CYA.

My take on it also.

[abigailsmybaby]

"his relocation from Sudan to Afghanistan as the Clinton administration was striving to understand the threat he posed and explore ways of confronting him."

Has the Clinton administration come up with any ideas yet?

[citizencon]

And Kerry, Biden, Dean, Kennedy, Boxer and all the other idiots in their party have the nerve to ridicule Pres. Bush for not yet having caught Bin Laden...

[nopardons]

Amazing, isn't it?

[nopardons]

bttt

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the reply.
Another poster credibly posited that this stuff may be coming out now in order for it to be "old news" in two years. This theory certainly fits the Clinton MO.

[Chode]

and the Hitsssss just keep right on coming!!!

[nopardons]

Flip flopping and spin is NOT going to save Clinton and his horde now.

This is his legacy.........when he could have gotten bin Laden, he did NOTHING, when he could have stopped, or at least put a crimp in the 9/11 plot, he did NOTHING, his legacy is NOTHING but ineptitude, craven dithering,and enabling the terrorists and bin Laden to KILL INNOCENT AMERICANS.

[citizencon]

What did Vince Foster knew ?

[Enchante]

"Condi, ever the analyst and academic, may have decided to start doing research. There are all sorts of documents concerning Bin Laden's stay in the Sudan that could be unearthed."

Time for the Bush administration to do a thorough search and public document dump of embarrassing Clintonlite memos, recommendations, and activities in the late '90s. There are probably lots of juicy items in DOD, State, CIA, WH, National Archives, etc. that ought to be revealed any day now.....

[ARealMothersSonForever]

I thought I had just entered a parallel universe where the NYT was suddenly concerned with truth, justice, and the American way. Thanks for snapping my mind back to reality.

[Cementjungle]

Another poster credibly posited that this stuff may be coming out now in order for it to be "old news" in two years. This theory certainly fits the Clinton MO.

Or, maybe they figure that everyone already has their position (either pro or anti Clintoon) and this old news won't sway anyone. In other words, they might figure that no one will give a hoot.

[abigailsmybaby]

It's worse than that. You're in The Twilight Zone.

[Enchante]

Bill Clinton says that if only he could have served a 3rd term as President, he's really really soooo sure that it would have been the ideal time to deal with Bin Laden.... in the first months of 2001.....

[nopardons]

Are they ice skating in Hell tonight?

[nopardons]

YIKES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!