THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

April 10,2004

Thomas H. Kean, Chairman

Lee H. Hamilton, Vice Chairman
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20407

Dear Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton:

This is to advise you that, in accordance with section 3.1(b) of Executive Order 12958, as
amended, the Director of Central Intelligence has declassified (with three redactions required to
protect intelligence sources), and the President has determined to release publicly and as
declassified, an item concerning Usama bin Ladin from the August 6,2001 Presidential Daily
Brief. This item was the subject of public discussion during the April 8, 2004 appearance of the
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, at a public
hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
This unprecedented decision to release publicly the subject item of the PDB has been reached
only in further recognition that the events of September 11, 2001, and the Commission's unique
status and mission, present extraordinary circumstances, and on the basis of understandings that
we believe are necessary to limit harm to the ability of future Presidents to receive candid advice.
Specifically, based on discussions with Commission representatives, it is our understanding that
the Commission recognizes that this decision does not set any precedent for future Commission
requests, or requests in any other context, for release of PDB items, and will not be cited by the
Commission as precedent. In addition, we have been assured that the Commission will not
request declassification or public release of any additional PDB items, or additional access to
PDB items beyond that which has been provided under the accommodations we previously
reached.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to help it obtain the information it
needs to fulfill its statutory mandate.

Sincerely,

Alberto R. Gonzales
Counsel to the President
 J. < . t o

Declassified and Approved

for Release, 10 April 2004

Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US

Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate Bin Ladin

since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Bin Ladin
implied in US television interviews in 1997 and 1998 lhal his followers would
follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring
the fighting to America."

— After US missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, Bin Ladin

told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to

— An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EM) operative told an^MMB service

at the same time that Bin Ladin was planning to exploit the operative's
access to the US to mount a terrorist strike,

The millennium plotting In Canada in 1999 may have been part of

Bin Ladin's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the
US. Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the
idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport hlmseff, but that ;Bin
Ladin lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the
operation. Ressam also said that In 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his
own US attack.

— Ressam says Bin Ladin was aware of the Los Angeles operation.
*

Although Bin Ladin has not succeeded, his attacks against the US
Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate mat he prepares
Operations years in advance and Is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Ladin
associates surveilled our Embassies in Nairobi and Par es Salaam as .early
as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were
arrested and deported In 1997.

Af-Qa'lda members—Including some who are US citizens—have resided

in or traveled to the US for years, and the group apparently maintains a
support structure that could aid attacks. Two al-Qa'ida members found guilty
in the conspiracy to bomb our Embassies in East Africa were US citizens, and a
senior EIJ member lived in California in the rnid-1990s.

— A clandestine source said in 19.98 that a Bin Ladin cell in New York
was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.

We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational

threat reporting, such as that from & •••••••§ service in
1998 saying that Bin Ladin wanted to hijack a US aircraft to gain the
release of "Blind Shaykh" 'Urriar 'Abd a!-Rahman and other US-held
extremists.

continued. ..

For the President Only Declassified and Approved

6 Augusl 2001 for Release, 10 April 2004
 14)004

Declassified and Approved

for Release, 10 April 2004

Nevertheless, FBI information since thai lime indicates patterns of

suspicious activity in Ihis country consistent wilh preparations for
hijackings or other types of attacks, including recenl surveillance of
federal buildings in New York.

The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full field investigations

throughout the US thai it considers Bin Ladin-relaled. CIA and the
FBI are investigating a call to our Embassy in the UAE in May saying
that a group of Bin Ladin supporters was in the US planning attacks
with explosives.

For me president Only MM Declassified and Approved

6Augusi200i f or Release, 10 April 2004