False Trail

Many of the investigators believe that some of the initial clues that were uncovered about the terrorists' identities and preparations, such as flight manuals, were meant to be found. A former high-level intelligence official told me, "Whatever trail was left was left deliberately—for the F.B.I. to chase."

From : WHAT WENT WRONG, by SEYMOUR M. HERSH, New Yorker Issue of 2001-10-08