>The Sudan offered us Bin Laden in 1997 and Clinton declined. I think Janet Reno told him we really couldn't convict him of anything. They thought of it as a legal problem.

I agree that it was looked at as more of a legal issue, but the 911 commission "found no credible evidence" that "Sudan offered" and "Clinton declined".

http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch4.htm

Sudan's minister of defense, Fatih Erwa, has claimed that Sudan offered to hand Bin Ladin over to the United States. The Commission has found no credible evidence that this was so. Ambassador Carney had instructions only to push the Sudanese to expel Bin Ladin. Ambassador Carney had no legal basis to ask for more from the Sudanese since, at the time, there was no indictment out-standing.

Finding examples of missed opportunities is an easy thing to do.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4431601/

... But NBC News has learned that long before the war the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself — but never pulled the trigger.

... The Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, and the White House again killed it. By then the administration had set its course for war with Iraq.

... The Pentagon drew up still another attack plan, and for the third time, the National Security Council killed it.

Military officials insist their case for attacking Zarqawi’s operation was airtight, but the administration feared destroying the terrorist camp in Iraq could undercut its case for war against Saddam.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-allowed-zarqawi-to-escape/2006/04/30/1146335608444.html