Headline USA reported that the CIA released a collection of late‑1990s and early‑2000s assessments warning the Clinton and Bush administrations of Al Qaeda plots, including the use of airliners. The release reportedly coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
What the CIA memos warned
According to Headline USA’s review of the documents, a Sept. 10, 1998 CIA report warned that “the same group responsible for the bombings in Africa may fly an explosive-packed airplane into a US city.” A Dec. 4, 1998 memorandum stated, “Bin Ladin might implement plans to hijack a US aircraft,” adding that “some members of the Bin Ladin network have received hijack training,” while noting no Al Qaeda–tied group had yet executed such a hijacking at that time.
Headline USA further cited a July 21, 1999 CIA report that bin Laden’s network “made a dry run of a bombing of the FBI headquarters and indicated the operation would take place ‘soon.’” Journalist Sean Davis posted images of newly declassified pages on X and highlighted the Dec. 1998 hijacking line.
Missed handoff—and a contested claim
Headline USA reported that in December 1999 the CIA surveilled two eventual 9/11 hijackers—Nawaf al‑Hazmi and Khalid al‑Mihdhar—in Malaysia, then “lost track” of them before they surfaced in San Diego in spring 2000. Florida Bulldog, citing evidence it reviewed, reported that the CIA did not notify the FBI when it learned of their US presence and alleged senior officers at the agency’s Bin Laden Station blocked a cable to FBI Headquarters.
Florida Bulldog published the following alleged exchange with an FBI agent embedded at the unit: “It’s not an FBI matter… When we want the FBI to know, we’ll let them know. And you’re not going to say anything.” The outlet attributed the quote to a CIA desk officer, identifying the FBI agent as Mark Rossini.
Recruitment allegation
According to Office of Military Commissions investigator Don Canestraro, at least two FBI agents told him the CIA’s reluctance to share information stemmed from an attempt to recruit al‑Hazmi and al‑Mihdhar to infiltrate Al Qaeda. This is an allegation attributed to Canestraro’s interviews.
Warnings continued into 2001
Headline USA reported the CIA continued issuing warnings about potential Al Qaeda attacks in the early months of the Bush administration.
Reporting and document quotations credited to Ken Silva at Headline USA; additional document excerpts referenced via Sean Davis on X. Allegations regarding the CIA‑FBI handoff are attributed to Florida Bulldog and to Canestraro’s account.
