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From Josh Meyer of the LA Times comes an extraordinary account of behind-the-scenes goings-on at Al Qaeda during preparations for 911:
Mohammed described Al Qaeda in a written statement for his U.S. interrogators...
Mohammed revealed some of his management stratagems to his interrogators.
"Simplicity was the key to success," was one of them.
For instance, he told the plot's co-conspirators not to use codes, especially in routine messages or e-mails.
"He asked the operatives to be normal to the maximum extent possible in their dealings, to keep the tone of their letters educational, social or commercial, and to keep the calls short."
Mohammed also delegated tasks. He entrusted much of the communications and finance details to two underlings so he would not have to be in contact with the hijackers while they were in America. And he gave lead hijacker Mohamed Atta the authority over many operational details.
Mohammed said he was a stickler for security. He insisted on compartmentalizing the details of the plot, to such a degree that even some of Al Qaeda's top officials did not know them.
"When four people know the details of an operation, it is dangerous; when two people know, it is good; when just one person knows, it is better," Mohammed said, according to his interrogators.
