According to reports in February 1999 from the tribal contacts in Afghanistan, Bin Ladin was expected to be at a hunting camp meeting with Emiratis until the morning of February 11. On February 10, counterterrorism czar Richard “Clarke wrote to [National Security Advisor Sandy] Berger’s deputy [James Steinberg]…that the military was then doing targeting work to hit the main camp with cruise missiles and should be in position to strike the following morning.” However, “No strike was launched. By February 12 [1999], Bin Ladin had apparently moved on, and the immediate strike plans became moot. According to CIA and Defense officials, policymakers were concerned about the danger that a strike would kill an Emirati prince or other senior officials who might be with Bin Ladin or close by.”
– 9/11 Commission, The 9/11 Commission Report, Page 138