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Thursday, July 24, 2003 Posted: 1226 GMT ( 8:26 PM HKT)

(CNN) — Missed clues and opportunities by U.S. intelligence agencies are said to be highlighted in a congressional report on the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, according to several sources who also say the FBI will bear the brunt of the criticism.

It has become increasingly clear since 11 September that Western intelligence agencies have completely failed to understand or to penetrate successfully the networks of Islamist ultra-radicalism. No intelligence agency predicted the attacks on New York or Washington. Nor were there any warnings of the attacks since then in Kenya, Bali or Morocco.

Welcome back. The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has now been to the Pentagon, the Capitol and the White House. He’s talked about the security problems facing his nation prior to September’s scheduled elections. And he’s asking for more help for his fragile nation. That comes as the hunt, of course, continues for Osama bin Laden.To […]

A suggested reading list for those who want to know more about al Qaeda, by topic:Al Qaeda in general Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon, The Age of Sacred Terror, (New York: Random House, 2002) Peter Bergen, Holy War, Inc. Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden (New York: Touchstone, 2002). (paperback edition) Rohan Gunaratna, […]

Writing the obituary of al Qaeda has proven premature. Recent attacks in Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Pakistan by al Qaeda and affiliated groups demonstrate the war on terrorism is far from over. Indeed there are likely to be more attacks against western targets in coming weeks. Yet the Bush administration, and by extension the American public, are laboring under two misapprehensions about the conduct of that war; one of which is significant, the other is of fundamental importance. The first miscalculation is that the war in Iraq was relevant to the war on terrorism.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A series of bombings hit Casablanca, Morocco, targeting places of Belgian, Spanish and Jewish interests, and killing dozens of people. Moroccan Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel blamed international terrorists for Friday night’s attacks, which came four days after suicide car bombings killed 25 people in Saudi Arabia. CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen discussed […]

Peter Bergen: Al Qaeda may be forming multiple attacks Friday, May 16, 2003 Posted: 10:30 PM EDT (0230 GMT) CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen: “It would be very surprising” if the Riyadh attacks weren’t the work of al Qaeda. ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — The attention of the United States was focused once again on terrorism […]

LONDON, England (CNN) — A leading Saudi dissident who broadcasts a nightly radio newscast from London into the Saudi kingdom, said he is certain that Saudi exile Osama bin Laden gave the “green light” for Monday’s suicide attacks in Riyadh.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: No one’s claimed responsibility for the Saudi attacks, but a lot of people, including the secretary of state himself, are clearly pointing toward Al Qaeda.

CNN’s terrorism analyst Peter Bergen has been studying that group for many years. He wrote an important book himself, “Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden,” a best seller. Peter joins us now from Washington.

For the Saudis it?s finally time to put up or shut up. This week?s suicide attacks in Riyadh demonstrate that al Qaeda is alive and well in Saudi Arabia. Indeed al Qaeda is to a large extent a Saudi organization: Saudi charities and individuals have been the most important funders of al Qaeda; fifteen of […]