“In June 2001 they [Osama bin Laden and Tanzim al-Jihad (a.k.a. Egyptian Islamic Jihad) leader Ayman al-Zawahiri] cemented their marriage by merging their two groups–Al Qaeda and elements of the Tanzim–into one, Qaeda al-Jihad. The experience and character of the two complemented each other and fueled their unholy alliance with missionary zeal.” [The 15th of […]
Category: quotes
6/15/2001
Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet released a written statement for the Joint Inquiry Committee on October 17, 2002. It read: “In June and July [2001], CIA launched a wide-ranging disruption effort against Bin Ladin’s organization [al-Qa’ida], with targets in almost two-dozen countries. Our intent was to drive up Bin Ladin’s security concerns and lead […]
6/15/2001
“In June 2001, a propaganda video released by al Qaeda claimed credit for the [USS] Cole bombing and called for more attacks on U.S. interests.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.] – Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Bin Laden’s Legacy, Page 30 […]
6/15/2001
“When [future 9/11 hijacker Khalid] Almihdhar’s visa expired, the State Department, not knowing any better, simply issued him a new one in June 2001–even though by then the CIA had linked him to one of the suspected bombers of the USS Cole in October 2000.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes […]
6/15/2001
In a tape released in June 2001, “Mr. bin Laden seemed to gloat as he spoke in Arabic of future attacks on American targets that he said would dwarf those he has directed in the past. ‘With small capabilities, and with our faith, we can defeat the greatest military power of modern times,’ he said […]
6/15/2001
“It is clear that [American-born al Qaeda member John Walker] Lindh was able to acquire information on bin Laden’s future plots. At one point in June [2001], Walker Lindh was told by one of his instructors that ‘bin Laden had sent forth some fifty people to carry out twenty suicide terrorist operations against the United […]
6/15/2001
“He [FBI Director Thomas Pickard] gave [Attorney General John] Ashcroft the first of his weekly briefings in June [2001]. Before the meeting, Pickard sent an agenda to Ashcroft’s office of the issues to be discussed. Terrorism was the number one item on the list… Ashcroft listened, but he seemed far more intrigued by other items […]
6/15/2001
During a videotaping in June 2001, Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud spoke with his Washington advocate and lobbyist Otilie English. “The Arabs and the Pakistani Taliban were the key to the war’s outcome, he [Massoud] continued. ‘It is a totally separate story whether Osama is a popular figure outside Afghanistan or not, but inside […]
6/15/2001
“In June [2001], only 18 out of 298 classified Senior Executive Intelligence Briefs sent to Bush administration officials referred to bin Laden or al Qaeda.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.] – Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, Page 568 […]
6/15/2001
” ‘Sunni extremists associated with al Qaeda are most likely to attempt spectacular attacks resulting in numerous casualties,’ warned a classified threat advisory issued in June [2001] by the Intelligence Community Counterterrorism Board. It mentioned Italy, Israel, and the Arabian peninsula as the most likely targets.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting […]