Sd B5 White House 1 Of 2 Fdr- Letter From Gonzales Re Release Of August 6 Pdb426

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

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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 6 Augusl 2001

Declassified and Approved for Release, 10 April 2004

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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 6Augusi200i

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Declassified and Approved f or Release, 10 April 2004