“Early in September [4, 2001, counterterrorism czar Richard] Clarke unloaded his frustrations in a memo to [National Security Advisor Condoleezza] Rice. ‘Decision makers should imagine themselves on a future day when CSG [Counterterrorism Security Group] has not succeeded in stopping al Qaeda attacks and hundreds of Americans lay dead in several countries, including the U.S.,’ Clarke wrote. ‘What would those decision makers wish that they had done earlier?’ The CIA was ‘masterful at passive aggressive behavior’ and would resist funding new policy initiatives. ‘You are left with a modest effort to swat flies,’ Clarke declared. ‘You are left waiting for the big attack, with lots of casualties, after which some major U.S. retaliation will be in order.’ ”
– Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, Page 580