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"Unlike last year's report, bin Laden's al Qaeda organization is mentioned, but the 2000 report does not contain a photograph of bin Laden or a lengthy description of him and the group. A senior State Department official told CNN that the U.S. government made a mistake last year by focusing too tightly on bin Laden and "personalizing terrorism ... describing parts of the elephant and not the whole beast."
- CNN, 4/30/2001
(quote changed, I'll explain why later. apologies)
..okay, here's the story which contained the original quote. Sorry, I didn't have a chance to track down the correct link just then:
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The State Department officially released its annual terrorism report just a little more than an hour ago, but unlike last year, there's no extensive mention of alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. A senior State Department official tells CNN the U.S. government made a mistake in focusing so much energy on bin Laden and 'personalizing terrorism.
Thanks, as is often the case these days, to David Sirota of the Center for American Progress.