** FILE ** National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter testifies in January ... more >WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Obama administration official says al Qaeda leader Osamabin Laden wanted to see President Obama and Gen. David H. Petraeusassassinated.
But Michael Leiter told NBC’s “Today” show he didn’t think that necessarily was bin Laden’s highest priority, suggesting the terrorist leader dreamed of another large-scale, 9/11-type attack on the United States.
Asked by “Today” host Matt Lauer Tuesday whether bin Laden’s aim of seeing Obama assassinated was more of a “wish list” than a plot, Mr. Leiter agreed.
Mr. Leiter served as head of the National Counterterrorism Center during the Obama administration. He was present with Mr. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House a year ago as they monitored the U.S. operation that killed bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan.
By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
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