Blind Spot: The Inability of American Presidents to Recognize the Dangers Posed by bin Laden

Event Details

Miller Center scholar Timothy Naftali has explored recently uncovered archives to learn why U.S. counter-terrorism efforts before the September 11th attacks did not recognize the threat posed by bin Laden. Naftali argues that successes in catching Nazi and Soviet spies proves the U.S. knew how to run counter-terrorist operations, but from the hostage taking at the Munich Games to the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center until the 2001 attacks, early successes did not result in the capture of Osama bin Laden. Naftali directs the Presidential Recordings Program and the Kremlin decision-making project at the Miller Center. A book signing will follow the Forum.