So this could have been a crucial opportunity for the agency to continue their surveillance of these men But the CIA lost the trail and then never notified the State Department or the FBI about these two suspected operatives for the next year and a half.

Muhammad Atta was well-educated.

He had an architectural degree out of the University of Cairo.

He had come to Germany by a request to a German family that he was friendly with.

They invited him to come to Hamburg.

He came to Hamburg to study.

They considered him smart, charismatic, pleasant.

If I did something in December on my way out, they would think it's all about my legacy.