CIA releases briefs on bin Laden and al-Qaida before 9/11
By PBS NewsHour
Community Score: 50% | 8.8K views | 4w
0 community ratings: null thumbs up, null thumbs down
The CIA on Friday released its largest-ever batch of declassified presidential intelligence briefs on the threat from Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida before 9/11. Among the 71 documents is a September 1998 brief warning that Osama bin Laden’s preferred option was to strike the U.S. on its own soil in Washington, adding that al-Qaida may fly an explosive-packed airplane into a U.S. city. The documents show both the Clinton and Bush administrations received repeated warnings, but experts say they do not fundamentally change what was known. The threat was clear, while the intelligence lacked the timing and specifics needed to identify the coming attack. Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show. Sign up for Here's The Deal with Lisa Desjardins: https://to.pbs.org/41q6E8i Subscribe for exclusive content in our newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe PBS News podcast
Tags: News, pbs news, news hour, pbs news hour, cia, intelligence, osama bin laden, al-qaida, september 11, 9/11
More from PBS NewsHour
- What scientists are learning after SpaceX debris crashed into the moon — Score: 50%
- WATCH: Trump says Secret Service wanted him to sneak off AF1, defends safety of plane with staff — Score: 50%
- WATCH: Trump arrives at finale of Patriot Games high school athlete competition — Score: 50%
- WATCH: Border czar Homan says ICE is still making record arrests 'despite the radical courts' — Score: 50%
- PBS News Hour full episode, August 11, 2026 — Score: 50%
- What to know as your driver's license gets a digital upgrade — Score: 50%