Berntsen went to Afghanistan in March 2000 as a part of a CIA team that planned on capturing a senior Al Qaeda leader . Berntsen writes that though leaders at the CIA , particularly Cofer Black and Henry A. Crumpton " had shown a willingness to plan and execute risky missions , " top US government leadership including President Bill Clinton and CIA Director George Tenet were unprepared to take the increased risks . It is recognized that the environment for covert CIA operations in areas of Central Asia significantly shifted after the September 11 attacks in 2001 on New York City and Washington , D.C . The legitimacy for conducting such operations received widespread recognition and the actions carried out by CIA personnel after the attacks allowed for greater efficacy in targeting Al Qaeda personnel planning and conducting operations against US interests . Furthermore , Berntsen 's mission was also undermined by a CIA station chief in a neighboring country , dubbed Lawrence , who contacted CIA Headquarters calling for the mission to be called off . The mission was never executed and the CIA 's indecision would lead the Northern Alliance 's leader Ahmad Shah Massoud to conclude that the US was " not serious " about fighting the Taliban
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Gary Berntsen