Two and a half years after the terrorist attacks, it remains unclear why the FBI, given the general but dire warnings that preceded the attacks, did not go on full alert.
The agency clearly believed something was afoot. On July 12 of that year, Assistant FBI Director Dale Watson, chief of the counterterrorism division, told the National Governors Association that a significant terrorist attack was likely on U.S. soil. "I'm not a gloom-and-doom-type person," he said. "But I will tell you this. headed for an incident inside the United States."
The Aug. 6 CIA memo, called the president's daily brief, includes this passage: "The FBI indicates patterns of suspicious activity in the United States consistent with preparations for hijacking." This line was read into the record by Commissioner Bob Kerrey, but the memo itself remains classified. The White House said it may declassify it as early as next week.
Asked to elaborate on the nature of the suspicious activities, Coggswell, the FBI spokesman, said, "I can't speak to that classified document."http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-rice0410,0,3695500.story?coll=ny-top-headlinesstory goes on to say that this may be cleared up somewhat when Pickard and Freeh testify.
I didn't see it.
does this ring a bell? did it come up at all?