al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar

[noise]

Almost seven years later and still there isn't a convincing explanation as to why they were able to roam freely around the US.

A review of explanations thus far:

1) Watchlisting failures.

2) Poor cable trafficking procedures.

3) CIA was trying to recruit them.

4) They were Saudi GID operatives and US intel was ordered to leave them alone.

5) Gorelick wall restrictions and risk averse FBI management screwed up the search for them in late August '01.

IMO, none of these explanations add up.