Clinton Reveals CIA Scrapped Bin Laden Kill Plot Over Civilian Casualties

Former President Bill Clinton disclosed that the CIA abandoned a plan to eliminate Osama bin Laden prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks due to concerns about potential civilian casualties. Clinton stated on WABC's "Cats Roundtable" radio show that the agency opted against the operation because of the risk of killing innocent bystanders if the mission went awry.

Clinton recounted authorizing the CIA to pursue bin Laden, emphasizing that while capturing him alive would have been ideal, the primary objective was to stop him. "I was scared, and I was mad because we tried to get him before, and the CIA at the last minute killed the plan that I think might well have succeeded," Clinton said. He added that he did not second-guess the agency's decision at the time but reflected that bin Laden, with his resources, was determined to carry out attacks against the U.S.

Clinton also shared his immediate realization that bin Laden was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. While watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center from Australia, he recalled, "I immediately said that bin Laden did this." He explained that at the time, the only adversaries with the capacity for such an attack were Iran and bin Laden. He reasoned that Iran would not act due to the potential for immediate U.S. retaliation, while bin Laden was known to be in Afghanistan. Clinton noted that he believed bin Laden had been planning to strike U.S. soil for a considerable time.

Osama bin Laden was eventually killed on May 2, 2011, in a raid by U.S. Navy SEALs on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during the presidency of Barack Obama.

Reflecting on national security, Clinton expressed concern that New York City could potentially face another terrorist attack but asserted that the U.S. is now significantly better prepared. "We have to stay on guard about that. We have to make sure we’re getting all the intelligence we can on the issue," he stated. He cautioned that while defenses have improved, "you only have to miss once, and then you’re screwed."