"CLINTON IGNORED OSAMA"

That's what the wingnuts have been saying since the October, 2001 op-ed by Fats Limbaugh in the Wall Street Journal and perhaps before then.

Here's what the DCI had to say in 1999:

Statement of DCI George J. Tenet as prepared for delivery before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Current and Projected National Security Threats (2 February 1999)

Looking out over the next year, Mr. Chairman, let me mention two specific concerns. First, there is not the slightest doubt that Usama Bin Ladin, his worldwide allies, and his sympathizers are planning further attacks against us. Despite progress against his networks, Bin Ladin's organization has contacts virtually worldwide, including in the United States — and he has stated unequivocally, Mr. Chairman, that all Americans are targets.

Bin Ladin's overarching aim is to get the United States out of the Persian Gulf, but he will strike wherever in the world he thinks we are vulnerable. We are anticipating bombing attempts with conventional explosives, but his operatives are also capable of kidnappings and assassinations.

We have noted recent activity similar to what occurred prior to the African embassy bombings, Mr. Chairman, and I must tell you we are concerned that one or more of Bin Ladin's attacks could occur at any time.


Here's a bit of what the FBI had been doing:

August 7, 1998
Terrorist bombing attacks on US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam killed hundreds of US, Kenyan, and Tanzanian citizens. A Joint Terrorist Task Force, composed of the FBI and other federal, state, and local authorities cooperated in the investigation.

June 7, 1999
Usama bin Laden was added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list. Bin Laden was charged in connection with the U.S. Embassy bombings in East Africa.