CIA and FBI Could Have Prevented the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States of America

This research paper argues how the CIA and FBI failed to prevent the devastating terrorists' attacks of September 11, 2001. The United States established both CIA and FBI organizations for the purpose of procuring investigative intelligence through covert or paramilitary HUMINT capabilities in the form of espionage, sabotage, or counterintelligence ways as a means of influencing foreign governments. It is disappointing to know, but more embarrassing to not know how the U.S. intelligence community failed in its efforts with gathering and producing "actionable intelligence" in order to preclude such threats from manifesting into what the U.S. experienced on September 11, 2001. In order to find some fidelity with the root causes surrounding the CIA's and FBI's negligence with the 9/11 attacks, this paper will specifically address three questions: (1) How were terrorists able to enter the U.S.? (2) What were the root causes of intelligence breakdowns between the CIA and FBI? (3) Who was to blame for this failure? Finally, the paper will offer alternatives and recommendations throughout on how both CIA and FBI could have prevented the 9/11 attacks. In my opinion an intelligence failure of this magnitude should never occur again and because the U.S. is an open democratic society we as Americans will always be vulnerable to outside threats. The U.S. intelligence communities must garner support from its counterparts in the pursuit of securing its domestic and national security interests.