James Pavitt

James Pavitt retired as Deputy Director of Operations at the Central Intelligence Agency in June 2004. He was succeeded by Stephen R. Kappes. [1] [2]

Pre-9/11 Intel

On April 11, 2002, while CIA DOO, Pavitt "delivered an address to the Duke University Law School Conference," which was "covered by AgenceFrance-Presse (AFP) on Sunday April 28, 10:59 AM" in the article titled 'Top CIA official warns next terror attack unavoidable'." [3]

Pavitt was quoted as saying:

"Pavitt dismissed charges the CIA was caught unaware by September 11 suicide attacks in the United States that killed some 3,000 people.

"The CIA knew the network led by Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden was planning a major strike, he said.

"But he argued that because al-Qaeda carefully screened its recruits and sharply limited the number of people privy to vital operational details, learning about the coming attacks was next to impossible."

Related SourceWatch Resources

• intelligence community

External links

• "Top CIA Official Warns Next Terror Attack Unavoidable," China Daily, April 28, 2002: "A top Central Intelligence Agency official has warned Americans that a new terrorist attack is unavoidable, despite all efforts to prevent it and the fact that the CIA is now 'stealing more secrets' than ever."
• Larry Chin, "CIA Admits Foreknowledge of 9-11," From the Wilderness, May 7, 2002.
• "CIA covert operations chief retiring. Agency says departure unrelated to Tenet's resignation," CNN, June 4, 2004.