Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has revealed that the CIA had developed a plan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but the operation was ultimately called off over concerns that it could result in civilian casualties.
Clinton discussed the matter during a radio interview on Cats Roundtable with host John Catsimatidis. He said that his administration had authorized the CIA to take action against the al-Qaeda leader, whose growing threat had already become a major concern for U.S. officials.
Clinton said capturing bin Laden alive would have been preferable, but stopping him was the administration’s primary objective. According to the former president, CIA officials decided to abandon the operation at the last moment because they feared a failed mission could lead to the deaths of innocent people.
Although Clinton did not challenge the agency’s decision at the time, he later said he believed the operation might have succeeded.
He also recalled the shock and frustration he felt after the September 11 attacks, saying he immediately suspected bin Laden was responsible while watching the events unfold on television from Australia. His daughter was in Manhattan at the time, leaving the family deeply concerned as they struggled to reach her.
Clinton said bin Laden had been planning attacks against the United States for years and had both the financial resources and operational network necessary to carry them out.
Osama bin Laden was eventually killed on May 2, 2011, during a U.S. special forces operation targeting his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, under President Barack Obama.
Clinton also warned that the United States must remain vigilant against terrorist threats. While he said another major attack on New York cannot be completely ruled out, he emphasized that the country is far better prepared today than it was in 2001.
