page 129 chapter 7
The White House situation room was buzzing. It was fall of 1998 and the "intelligence community" were tracking the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the shadowy mastermind of terrorist attacks on American targets overseas. "They've successfully triangulated his location!" yelled a Sit room watch stander. "We've got him!"
The watch officer notified National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, "Sir, we've located bin Laden. Wehave a two hour window to strike.
Berger ambled down the stairwell and entered the Sit room. He picked up the phone and called the president. Amazingly, Clinton was not available. Berger tried again and again. Bin Laden was within striking distance. The window of opportunity was closing fast. The plan of attack was set and the Tomahawk crew was ready. For about an hour Berger couldn't get the Pres on the line. Though the Pres was always accompanied by military aides and the Secret Service, he was somehow unavailable. Berger stalked the Sit room, anxious and impatient.
Finally the Pres accepted Berger's call. There was discussion-there was pauses-and no decision. The Pres. wanted to talk with his secretaries. He wanted to study the issue further. Berger was forced to wait. The clock was ticking. The Pres. eventually called back. He was still indecisve. He wanted more discussion. Berger alternated between phone calls and watching the clock. The NSC watch officer was convinced we had the right target. The intelligence sources were conclusive. The Pres., however wanted a guaranteed hit or nothing at all.
This time it was nothing at all. We didn't pull the trigger. The window of opportunity closed.
(excerpt from DERELICTION OF DUTY)
THANK you for posting that excerpt!!!