Former CIA Director George Tenet wrote: “The attacks of 9/11 were not the end of anything. They were the beginning. That was the message I was getting from my Counterterrorism Center. As far as al-Qa’ida was concerned, 9/11 was just the opening shot. …Over the next several years we were able to achieve remarkable success against the terrorist threat for three strategic reasons. First was the loss of al-Qa’ida’s safe haven in Afghanistan. Because we were able to get into the sanctuary, we suddenly had access to people and documents that laid bare the future plans and intentions of al-Qa’ida… The second strategic reason for success was Pakistani president [Purvez] Musharraf’s decision to join the fight on our side. Pakistan switched sides–from aiding the Taliban to fighting al-Qa’ida… The third reason was the decisive action on the part of the Saudi leadership following the Riyadh bombings in May [12] 2003. Saudi authorities have detained or killed many of the top known al-Qa’ida cell leaders in the kingdom and hundreds of foot soldiers. They have captured thousands of pounds of explosives. They have also reduced the financial resources at al-Qa’ida’s disposal.”
– George Tenet with Bill Harlow, At the Center of the Storm, Pages 229-230