Hatchet Job Alert: "Terror Czar" Clarke to Release Book
From CBS News:In the aftermath of Sept. 11, President Bush ordered his then top anti-terrorism adviser to look for a link between Iraq and the attacks, despite being told there didn't seem to be one.
The charge comes from the advisor, Richard Clarke, in an interview airing Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT on 60 Minutes.
The administration maintains that it cannot find any evidence that the conversation about an Iraq-9/11 tie-in ever took place.
Clarke also tells CBS News Correspondent Lesley Stahl that White House officials were tepid in their response when he urged them months before Sept. 11 to meet to discuss what he saw as a severe threat from al Qaeda.
"Frankly," he said, "I find it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he's done such great things about terrorism. He ignored it. He ignored terrorism for months, when maybe we could have done something to stop 9/11. Maybe. We'll never know."
Clarke went on to say, "I think he's done a terrible job on the war against terrorism."
The No. 2 man on the president's National Security Council, Stephen Hadley, vehemently disagrees. He says Mr. Bush has taken the fight to the terrorists, and is making the U.S. homeland safer.
Matt's Chat
Let me say this about the opening paragraph: I would HOPE that any President would want to have agencies looking for links to the perpetrators EVERYWHERE. It is outrageous to castigate the President for wanting to make sure that everybody responsible gets their fair share of the justice. And here is a quote that particularly is ridiculous:"I think they wanted to believe that there was a connection, but the CIA was sitting there, the FBI was sitting there, I was sitting there saying we've looked at this issue for years. For years we've looked and there's just no connection."The FBI and the CIA dropped the ball all around on 9/11; who are they to criticize ANYBODY? This sounds like for CYA than expose to me...
Update
PowerLine has more info on ClarkeRichard Clarke is a bitter, discredited bureaucrat who was an integral part of the Clinton administration's failed approach to terrorism, was demoted by President Bush, and is now an adjunct to John Kerry's presidential campaign.Now, go read it so you know PowerLine came to this conclusion.
Mark's Remarks
Let's review here. Mr. Clarke was the terrorism guy when the first WTC attack occurred. He was terrorism guy when the embassies were bombed, along with the Cole. Hmmm.....now who wasn't doing their job there, Dickie Boy? And, remember how you were the a big source of info for Miniter's book "Losing Bin Laden," in which you detailed how Albright, Cohen, and Co. refused to go in after UBL. So, Mr. Clarke, let's get past your agenda of trying to smear Bush for your best friend, who O BY CHANCE HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF KERRY'S CHIEF ADVISERS, and level with the American people. Clinton fumbled the ball, over and over again. Monsoor Ijaz brokered four deals with the Sudanese whereby they would turn over bin Laden, and Clinton, Albright, and co. nixed it every time. And, Clinton treated every terror attack like it was a legal matter instead of security. So, Mr. Clarke, quit putting your own sour grapes at BEING DEMOTED AND FAILING YOUR RESPONSIBILITY of keeping America safe ahead of the truth. This is a political farce, and it is sad that some people are buying your garbage, despite people going on the record and providing documentation that your ramblings are falsehoods and conjecture. Of course, CBS had a double segment on 60 minutes. WHY? BECAUSE THEIR PARENT COMPANY IS PUBLISHING MR. CLARKE'S BOOK AND STANDS TO MAKE MILLIONS. Hmmm? What? Why wasn't this disclosed? Why weren't Clarke's credentials vetted before he was interviewed by Leslie Stahl(ing Career). Could it be bias? I believe so. I believe it is the media's orgasmic effort to win the election for John Kerry.
