Tom Drake

In fact, all the jobs I had when I was at NSA over a six and a half year period, my supervisor was always reporting to the top deck, the civilian head, which was the deputy director, who then reported to the director as a military head. So, first day I reported to my new duty station as a senior executive was 9-11. And this is where life...

In fact, all the jobs I had when I was at NSA over a six and a half year period, my supervisor was always reporting to the top deck, the civilian head, which was the deputy director, who then reported to the director as a military head. So, first day I reported to my new duty station as a senior executive was 9-11. And this is where life...

rapidly shifted in short order a little bit later that morning. And I pause because even to this day, and I feel it right now emotionally, okay, it's, you're probably gonna see it in my face, because almost 3000 people were murdered that day, and they never should have disappeared. They never should have lost their lives. It never should have happened.

rapidly shifted in short order a little bit later that morning. And I pause because even to this day, and I feel it right now emotionally, okay, it's, you're probably gonna see it in my face, because almost 3000 people were murdered that day, and they never should have disappeared. They never should have lost their lives. It never should have happened.

rapidly shifted in short order a little bit later that morning. And I pause because even to this day, and I feel it right now emotionally, okay, it's, you're probably gonna see it in my face, because almost 3000 people were murdered that day, and they never should have disappeared. They never should have lost their lives. It never should have happened.

I literally am haunted the rest of my life with that reality, the what-ifs of history. I still wake up sometimes sweating over the what-ifs of history. I pause again because did I know, even though the system was blinking red since 1998 per George Tenet at the CIA... They knew that Al Qaeda was up to something. Remember 93 when I was sitting there on the terrorism desk?

I literally am haunted the rest of my life with that reality, the what-ifs of history. I still wake up sometimes sweating over the what-ifs of history. I pause again because did I know, even though the system was blinking red since 1998 per George Tenet at the CIA... They knew that Al Qaeda was up to something. Remember 93 when I was sitting there on the terrorism desk?

I literally am haunted the rest of my life with that reality, the what-ifs of history. I still wake up sometimes sweating over the what-ifs of history. I pause again because did I know, even though the system was blinking red since 1998 per George Tenet at the CIA... They knew that Al Qaeda was up to something. Remember 93 when I was sitting there on the terrorism desk?

It's not like we didn't know. Remember, we already had Cole incident, Kaibar Towers, a bunch of others. But it wasn't a priority. Bush was the new president. Wasn't a priority. Counterterrorism was not priority. Even on the list, it was on a list, but it wasn't where it mattered. Just wasn't. And I went home. And I remember calling in.

It's not like we didn't know. Remember, we already had Cole incident, Kaibar Towers, a bunch of others. But it wasn't a priority. Bush was the new president. Wasn't a priority. Counterterrorism was not priority. Even on the list, it was on a list, but it wasn't where it mattered. Just wasn't. And I went home. And I remember calling in.

It's not like we didn't know. Remember, we already had Cole incident, Kaibar Towers, a bunch of others. But it wasn't a priority. Bush was the new president. Wasn't a priority. Counterterrorism was not priority. Even on the list, it was on a list, but it wasn't where it mattered. Just wasn't. And I went home. And I remember calling in.

very early the next morning of course i was i was i sat in front of the tv i just sat there just absolutely it was hard to break away just everybody went home i went home because i see i was so new right they had crisis teams remember there have been crises yeah this clearly was going to be something way different

very early the next morning of course i was i was i sat in front of the tv i just sat there just absolutely it was hard to break away just everybody went home i went home because i see i was so new right they had crisis teams remember there have been crises yeah this clearly was going to be something way different

very early the next morning of course i was i was i sat in front of the tv i just sat there just absolutely it was hard to break away just everybody went home i went home because i see i was so new right they had crisis teams remember there have been crises yeah this clearly was going to be something way different

And remember, there were other planes that they had attempted, or one of them we know, Shanksville, right? Pentagon, right? It would have been way worse if they hadn't hit the part of the Pentagon that had just recently been modernized. And then, of course, the two towers. People don't realize those towers are actually quite susceptible to that type of terrorist attack. Right.

And remember, there were other planes that they had attempted, or one of them we know, Shanksville, right? Pentagon, right? It would have been way worse if they hadn't hit the part of the Pentagon that had just recently been modernized. And then, of course, the two towers. People don't realize those towers are actually quite susceptible to that type of terrorist attack. Right.

And remember, there were other planes that they had attempted, or one of them we know, Shanksville, right? Pentagon, right? It would have been way worse if they hadn't hit the part of the Pentagon that had just recently been modernized. And then, of course, the two towers. People don't realize those towers are actually quite susceptible to that type of terrorist attack. Right.

And it wasn't like there hadn't been attempts. Bojica had been exposed where they're going to hijack airliners. Okay? Mm-hmm. Remember. But 93 sort of had been forgotten, I guess. Remember what they said. Remember the general, what he said to me personally, right? Yep. I was right there when he said it. Yep. So... I went home because I wasn't part of the crisis team.

And it wasn't like there hadn't been attempts. Bojica had been exposed where they're going to hijack airliners. Okay? Mm-hmm. Remember. But 93 sort of had been forgotten, I guess. Remember what they said. Remember the general, what he said to me personally, right? Yep. I was right there when he said it. Yep. So... I went home because I wasn't part of the crisis team.

And it wasn't like there hadn't been attempts. Bojica had been exposed where they're going to hijack airliners. Okay? Mm-hmm. Remember. But 93 sort of had been forgotten, I guess. Remember what they said. Remember the general, what he said to me personally, right? Yep. I was right there when he said it. Yep. So... I went home because I wasn't part of the crisis team.