Final answer:
Before 9/11, US officials made critical mistakes including ignoring warnings of potential attacks, misjudging WMD capabilities in Iraq, and misdirecting military focus to Iraq without a proven Al Qaeda connection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, there were several key mistakes made by US government officials in the fight against terrorism. These mistakes include:
- Lack of response to credible warnings: The 9/11 Commission report revealed that both the Clinton and Bush administrations failed to adequately respond to credible reports suggesting that a terrorist attack was being planned.
- Assessments of Iraq's WMD capabilities: There were incorrect assessments regarding Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The American public was led to believe that Saddam Hussein had WMDs, but by 2006, it was confirmed that there were no such weapons in Iraq.
- Misguided focus on Iraq: Despite Osama bin Laden's opposition to Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration chose to invade Iraq. Evidence later showed that there was no meaningful connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, questioning the rationale behind the invasion.
These errors had significant consequences, affecting the global perception of the United States and impacting its ability to maintain stability.