"My OPINION is that they were aware something was being planned but chose to ignore the warnings."
Something, perhaps, but I do not think they had definite enough indications to be able to know what. IMO, of course. Looking back, perhaps it is obvious, but with the information THEY HAD AT THE TIME, could they REASONABLY have put the information together and come up with what actually happened? If 10 people each know one part, can they know what ( of all that they know) NEEDS to be told to the other 9 people to fill out the picture?
And then, COULD they have taken action (under the situation at the time)?
"On 9/11 I do BELIEVE that we were caught off-guard and the flaws in our defense became evident."
Absolute agreement on this one.
"I THINK that the attention spent on conspiracies diverts attention from the serious failures and inadequate preparations that our government had."