Reply #14: I think the information was being accumulated in 1998-2000, and then [View All]

[Justice]

Cole was bombed in what Sept of 2000 - and when they confirmed that Bin Laden was behind Cole it was close to the election/in the recount period, and Clinton didn't think he should start something that the next president would be saddled with given the short time frame. So, the plan was laid out to give Bush a jumpstart, but he brushed it aside.

On edit:

President Clinton said law enforcement and intelligence agencies couldn't agree that al Qaeda was responsible for the bombing of the USS Cole until December, 2000 (after the 2000 election and during the recount). The 9/11 report states this also.