Did you take Al Qaeda / bin Laden seriously before 9/11?

[OilemFirchen]

55. What makes you think there was "almost no mention" in the media?

There was constant news of instability in the Middle East including, and specifically, terrorist attacks. And more specifically, Al Qaeda and Bin Laden.

Here's a snippet from Bill Cohen, testifying in 2004:

During my tenure at DOD, no matter had a higher priority than countering the threat posed to America, our people and our interests by international terrorists. No issue consumed more personal attention by me, many other senior colleagues in DOD, and I believe other Principals. I personally made sure that it also was front and center for defence ministers, foreign ministers, prime ministers and presidents of the nearly 100 countries with which I dealt and whose cooperation could help in countering this threat.

As your question implies, it is important to understand that the U.S. faced then and faces today numerous threats to our national interests and to our national territory that DOD and other agencies must also address. Some of these other threats put at risk the lives of thousands to millions of Americans and millions of persons in allied countries. It would not have been responsible to have given less attention than we did to these other critical security issues.

Likewise, DOD must ensure the capabilities and readiness of our Armed Forces are effective to meet both current and future threats.

http://www.9-11commission.gov/hearings/hearing8/cohen_statement.pdf

Much of this was addressed in various media. That you don't remember isn't relevant.