Posted on 03/07/2006 12:21:36 PM PST by jcb8199
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - The U.S. government knew by the 1990s how al Qaeda trained suicide operatives but missed capturing the man who masterminded the September 11 attacks about four years before they occurred, an FBI agent said on Tuesday.
FBI agent Michael Anticev said in testimony at a sentencing trial for September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui that the U.S. government knew by the mid 1990s that there were several al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and other countries.
Operatives at the training camps were taught how to carry out terrorist operations, including suicide missions, and were trained in how to avoid detection, he said.
At that time, the U.S. government was tracking several top al Qaeda members, Anticev said, and between 1996 and 1998 made an attempt to arrest Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- the man who has been described as the brains behind the September 11 hijackings.
Anticev said the attempt, made "somewhere in the Middle East," failed after Mohammed was apparently tipped off.
Anticev was responding to questions from defense attorney, Edward MacMahon, who was trying to refute the government's argument that if Moussaoui had not lied to the FBI in the days before September 11, 2001, the hijackings could have been stopped.
The question of Moussaoui's lies while in custody on immigration charges from August 16, 2001, are at the heart of a sentencing trial to determine if he receives the death penalty for conspiracy in connection with the September 11 attacks.
Moussaoui's lawyers have said the government will be hard-pressed to prove that Moussaoui could have told the FBI anything that would have prevented the hijackings.
Moussaoui, an admitted al Qaeda member, pleaded guilty in April to all six conspiracy charges against him. The sentencing trial is being held to determine if he will be executed for his crimes or sentenced to life in prison.
When he pleaded guilty last year, Moussaoui said he was not meant to be part of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon which killed 3,000 people.
But he said he was part of a broader conspiracy to use airplanes as a weapon and said he was being trained on a 747 airliner to strike the White House.
The 37-year-old Frenchman of Moroccan descent did not speak while the court was in session, but sat stroking his bushy beard and smiling at times when FBI agents identified the September 11 hijackers and explained the overall plot.
In response to questions from MacMahon, Anticev said the U.S. government was also aware before September 11 there had been a plan in the 1990s to blow up 12 U.S. airlines.
"Do you know if the FBI was concerned before 9/11 about the possibility of al Qaeda using planes as weapons?" MacMahon asked.
"I don't know if that's correct," Anticev replied, but then said the FBI had been concerned about possible hijackings.
Or they'll just say that during that time the Republicans controlled Congress.
The National Security Council is not the team referenced. It is not subject to Senate approval as are the major players under it. NSC is not identical with those leading the fight against terrorism it has much wider concerns. I was referring to that not the NSC. And that team was not complete until summer 01.
Maybe you missed the part where I said that was Bush's only major failure.
this should make it into a commercial if HIllary runs.
You are incorrect. Buh-bye.
You can continue to try and blame the President but that only works at DU not where rational people congregate.
1. I said was that, logically, if they knew in the 90s, they knew in the aughts. It's common sense.
2. You came back with BS that his "national security team" was delayed by Democrats and there for he didn't know.
3. I proved you wrong by showing documented proof that the National Secutity Team was in place GW's first week in office.
4. You floundered about trying to suggest that the NSC isn't the NSC you meant.
5. I laughed at you.
6. You made an idiotic DU reference.
7. I laughed at you some more.
8. What's next?
When you "review" at least get it right.
I never brought up the National Security Council you did. Those are not the appointments I was referring to but the lower level grunts actually doing the dirty work. The Terrorist fighting team was far more than that and was not completely confirmed until midsummer.
And any assumption that what was known in the 90s was known during 01 is just silly. Particularly if you consider WHO was in charge during the 90s. Perhaps you are under the impression that they were patriots concerned about the nation.
"Ms. Gorelick, can you please come out of your office? There's a man here who says he's got some papers that he can give only to you. He says you have to accept them personally."
Semper Memory Cells
was not allowed to put his National Security team in place
If that's not the National Security Council, but instead the "lower level grunts who do the dirty work", why don't you point out a few specific positions that were delayed, how long they were delayed, how you know what impact that had, etc. I have presented facts. You've presented none.
Good point. Al Qaida was a known entity, meaning the Bush Administration was presumably well aware of them.
It is a fact that the FBI head did not take office until the week before 9/11. It is also a fact that important officers in the fight against terrorism were not confirmed until summer. I did not document those facts but that does not change them from being facts.
Nor will I root them out for you. That also does not change things.
That is an Urban myth though commonly believed. At the time of Iran Contra Al Queda did not exist and Osama was not blowing things up.
His way of 'blowing off steam'?
LOL. You're the joke that keeps on giving. The FBI had a director for the first half of 2001 named Louis Freeh. He served in the Bush administration until HE resigned in June 2001. Democrat delays had nothing to do with FBI at all. The current director of FBI, Mueller, wasn't even NOMINATED by Bush until July 2001, after Freeh quit. He was confirmed in less than 30 days. In short, you're wrong again.
In short read the initial remark which launched your jihad.
You are recounting one of the most often debunked urban legends in modern history. I'm surprised you fell for this old chestnut. It was ABU NIDAL, not OBL. You should try to do your homework, and not spread these urban myths as fact.
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/north.asp
Semper Correct
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