The following timeline contains dates of Bin Ladin public statements and activities, the US Intelligence Community's Activities and the privatization of the World Trade Center before 11 September 2001.
In August 1998, the US Intelligence Community obtained information that a group of unidentified Arabs planned to fly an explosive-laden plane from a foreign country into the World Trade Center. This information was passed to the FBI and the FAA. It should be assumed the Port Authority of New York was informed, given that the target was clearly identified and the twin towers remained a high risk target following the failure of the 1993 bombing.
In September 1998 the Port Authority of New York commenced privatization of the twin towers, two other office buildings and a 90-store mall. The Port Authority would remain the landlord with the title to the land after awarding the 99 year lease.
The eventual destruction of the Twin Towers could be recognised as satisfying the interests of different parties.
In August 1998, the US Intelligence Community obtained information that a group of unidentified Arabs planned to fly an explosive-laden plane from a foreign country into the World Trade Center. This information was passed to the FBI and the FAA. It should be assumed the Port Authority of New York was informed, given that the target was clearly identified and the twin towers remained a high risk target following the failure of the 1993 bombing.
In September 1998 the Port Authority of New York commenced privatization of the twin towers, two other office buildings and a 90-store mall. The Port Authority would remain the landlord with the title to the land after awarding the 99 year lease.
The eventual destruction of the Twin Towers could be recognised as satisfying the interests of different parties.
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SOURCES OF INFORMATION
PANY - The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
http://www.panynj.gov/
USIC & BL - Joint Investigation Into September 11th: First Public Hearing - 18 September 2002 Joint House/Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing - Staff Statement, Part I, September 18, 2002
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2002_hr/091802hill.html
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KEY DATES
BL - 23 August 1996 - Public Fatwa authorizing attacks by his followers against Western military targets on the Arabian Peninsula.
BL - 23 February 1998 - Usama Bin Ladin and four other extremists publicly issue another public fatwa expanding the 1996 fatwa to include U.S. military and civilian targets anywhere in the world.
BL - May 1998 - Press conference, Bin Ladin publicly discusses "bringing the war home to America."
USIC - June 1998, the US Intelligence Conununity obtains information from several sources that Usama Bin Ladin is considering attacks in the U.S., including Washington, DC and New York. This information is provided to senior U.S. Government officials in July 1998.
BL - 7 August 1998 - BL Attacks US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya & Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
USIC - August 1998, the US Intelligence Community obtains information that a group of unidentified Arabs plan to fly an explosive-laden plane from a foreign country into the World Trade Center. The information is passed to the FBI and the FAA. The FAA find the plot highly unlikely given the state of that foreign country's aviation program. The FBI's New York office takes no action on the information, filing the communication in the office's bombing repository file. The Intelligence Community acquires additional information since then indicating there may be links between this group and other terrorist groups, including al-Qa'ida.
PANY - 24 September 1998 - IN HISTORIC SHIFT, PORT AUTHORITY PUTS WORLD TRADE CENTER ON THE MARKET
PANY - 18 August 1999 - PORT AUTHORITY SEEKS PRIVATE BIDDERS TO OPERATE WORLD TRADE CENTER UNDER LONG-TERM LEASE - Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
PANY - 20 September 1999 - PORT AUTHORITY DEADLINE FOR PRIVATE BIDDERS
USIC - March 2000, the US Intelligence Community obtains information regarding the types of targets that operatives in Bin Ladin's network might strike. The Statue of Liberty is specifically mentioned, as are skyscrapers, ports, airports, and nuclear power plants.
BL - 12 October 2000 - BL Attacks the USS Cole.
USIC - April 2001, the US Intelligence Community obtains information from a source with terrorist connections who speculates that Bin Ladin is interested in commercial pilots as potential terrorists. The source warns that the United States should not focus only on embassy bombings, that terrorists sought "spectacular and traumatic" attacks, and that the first World Trade Center bombing would be the type of attack that would be appealing.
WIKI - 15 February 2001, the Port Authority announces Vornado Trust Realty has won the lease for the World Trade Center, paying $3.25 billion for the 99-year lease. Deal falls through in March 2001.
PANY - 26 April 2001 - PORT AUTHORITY TO LEASE WORLD TRADE CENTER TO SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES, INC. AND WESTFIELD AMERICA, INC
PANY - 24 July 2001 - GOVERNOR PATAKI, ACTING GOVERNOR Di FRANCESCO LAUD HISTORIC PORT AUTHORITY AGREEMENT TO PRIVATIZE WORLD TRADE CENTER - Silverstein Properties, Inc., and Westfield America, Inc. win the lease of the Twin Towers and other portions of the complex in a deal worth approximately $3.2 billion.
After Six weeks the Twin Towers fall......... Tuesday 11 September 2001
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