inquired of two manufacturers of GPS equipment whether their products
could be converted for aeronautical use--activities that closely resembled those
of the 9/11 hijackers during their final preparations for the attacks.
saoui paid the $6,800 balance owed for his flight simulator training at Pan Am
in cash and began his training. His conduct, however, raised the suspicions of
his flight instructor. It was unusual for a student with so little training to be
learning to fly large jets without any intention of obtaining a pilot's license
or other goal. On August 16, once the instructor reported his suspicion to the
authorities, Moussaoui was arrested by the INS on immigration charges.
KSM also states that Moussaoui had no contact with Atta, and we are unaware
of evidence contradicting this assertion.
over, he admits that only three potential pilots were ever recruited for the
alleged second wave, Moussaoui plus two others who, by midsummer of 2001,
had backed out of the plot.
being primed as a possible pilot in the immediate planes operation.
dahar, Binalshibh claims KSM mentioned Moussaoui as being part of the 9/11
operation. Although KSM never referred to Moussaoui by name, Binalshibh
understood he was speaking of the operative to whom Binalshibh had wired
money. Binalshibh says KSM did not approve of Moussaoui but believes KSM
did not remove him from the operation only because Moussaoui had been
selected and assigned by Bin Ladin himself.
Moussaoui had been detained, they might have canceled the operation.When
Binalshibh discussed Moussaoui's arrest with KSM after September 11, KSM
congratulated himself on not having Moussaoui contact the other operatives,
which would have compromised the operation. Moussaoui had been in con-
tact with Binalshibh, of course, but this was not discovered until after 9/11.
States from his final trip to Germany, his disagreement with Atta apparently
resolved.The operatives began their final preparations for the attacks.