Terrorism emerged as an increasingly important national security issue during Clinton 's administration . In the closing years of the Soviet – Afghan War , Osama bin Laden had organized al-Qaeda , a militant Sunni organization . Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders despised Western values , and were particularly incensed by the U.S. military presence in Saudi Arabia . Al-Qaeda grew during the 1990s and engaged in terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere . The group claimed responsibility for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing , the bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa , and the bombing of a U.S. ship at port in Yemen . In retaliation , Clinton ordered the bombing of al-Qaeda facilities in Afghanistan and Sudan . The Central Intelligence Agency and the military tracked bin Laden 's movements in an attempt to capture or kill him , but Bin Laden evaded capture or death within the mountainous and hostile country of Afghanistan
1993 World Trade Center bombing
1993 World Trade Center bombing
Presidency of Bill Clinton