COVER STORY
They Had A Plan
Long before 9/11, the White House debated taking the fight to al-Qaeda. It didn't happen—and soon it was too late. The saga of a lost chance

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A 9/11 Timeline
While White House officials debated going on the offensive against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, 19 terrorists prepared for an attack that would shake a nation



Could the Sept. 11 attacks have been prevented?
Yes
No


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FROM THE AUG. 12, 2002 ISSUE OF TIME MAGAZINE; POSTED SUNDAY, AUG. 4, 2002
PHOTOGRAPH BY JERRY DRIENDL/GETTY IMAGES

Copyright © 2002 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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