Freeh: I Turned to Bush After Clinton Blocked Khobar Terror Probe

Newsmax ^ | Tuesday May 20, 2003; 9:32 a.m. EDT | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[cody32127]

In a blistering indictment of his old boss's negligence in fighting the war on terrorism, former FBI Director Louis Freeh charged Tuesday that ex-President Clinton was so unhelpful during his agency's investigation into the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that he had to turn to former President Bush.

Writing in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, Freeh described the Clinton White House as "unable or unwilling to help the FBI" gain access to key witnesses in the Khobar case because it feared exposing the role of Hezbollah and its state sponsor, Iran.

"The only direction from the Clinton administration regarding Iran was to order the FBI to stop photographing and fingerprinting official Iranian delegations entering the U.S. because it was adversely impacting our 'relationship' with Tehran," Freeh complained.

"The FBI recommended a criminal indictment that would identify Iran as the sponsor of the Khobar bombing," the one-time top G-man revealed. "Finding a problem for every solution, the Clinton administration refused to support a prosecution."

In yet another stunning admission, the former FBI Director said that he was so frustrated by President Clinton's refusal to help that he sought out Clinton's predecessor, who, though out of office for more than three years, promptly took action.

"After months of inaction, I finally turned to the former President Bush, who immediately interceded with [Saudi] Crown Prince Abdullah on the FBI's behalf," Freeh revealed.

"Mr. Bush personally asked the Saudis to let the FBI do one-on-one interviews of the detained Khobar bombers. The Saudis immediately acceded."

Thanks to Bush's intercession Freeh said his agents were given "direct access to the Saudi detainees."

"This was the investigative breakthrough for which we had been waiting for several years," the former FBI director proclaimed.

Explaining why news of Bush's role in helping the FBI while Clinton sat idle had remained a secret all these years, Freeh explained that the 41st president, "typically disclaimed any credit for his critical intervention."

The prosecution and criminal indictment for the Khobar Towers bombers, "had to wait for a new administration," he noted.

Of Bush's son, Freeh observed, "This is a president who is serious about fighting and winning the war on terrorism."

[The Other Harry]

I've always thought Freeh was a decent guy. Unlike his boss, and his boss's boss.

[anniegetyourgun]

"Finding a problem for every solution, the Clinton administration refused to support a prosecution."

The last administration never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.....except when it came to romps in the Oval Office.

[KSCITYBOY]

bump

[Capriole]

Certainly easy to believe. A friend of mine was highly placed with the CIA during the Clinton years. The CIA is of course responsible for producing a daily intelligence briefing which is to be placed on the president's desk every morning. For eight years the CIA faithfully produced that briefing every morning, and for eight years Clinton each day ignored it and declined to read it. Which explains a good deal about what happened during the Clinton years.

[BIGZ]

This will not be reported by the main stream media, just as the Estrich story was swept under the rug. The JFK story was big news. Liberal bias in the press, no way.

[Pegita]

Run that by me again Capriole ... are you saying for EIGHT years, X did not read the daily intelligence reports? That's a fact?

[doug from upland]

The legacy rolls on.

[Jeff Head]

"The FBI recommended a criminal indictment that would identify Iran as the sponsor of the Khobar bombing," the one-time top G-man revealed. "Finding a problem for every solution, the Clinton administration refused to support a prosecution."

We should be taking the Iranian government down now if this is a known fact. Such an act is very plainly and Acto of War and deserves the appropriate response.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this!

[Helms]

Make no mistake about it- we are going through some world historic times and the Kulture War is underway. The Postmodern Liberal Intellectuals show no sign of stopping but rather are going ahead full throttle. Hard to believe that despite
the massive burdens of reality they still perpetuate their fantasy. The call to arms was signaled in the 2000 Presidential election and we are in the thick of it now, no turning back.

[katana]

The post refers to NewsMax, which I agree would be treated as if it were the National Enquirer. But it says Freeh's statements appear in today's Wall Street Journal which is about as mainstream as you can get and is still, I believe, the most widely circulated daily paper in the U.S. This may or may not have "legs" but it will be noticed.

[JmyBryan]

Was Freeh the head of the VRWC?

(sarcasm)

[Grampa Dave]

Capriole do you remember when the small private plane crashed on the White House Grounds about a year after the Clintoon was president?

The insiders and retired CIA personnel joked that the pilot was poor James Woolsey, the first CIA director under the Bent One, trying to get past White House Security to deliver his monthly briefing.

[Grampa Dave]

Hopefully, someone will post what was in the WSJ re this story.

[The Wizard]

Shocked, I'm shocked Clinton helped criminals

of course he did, he grew up with the mob and has always been a mob guy

[sarasota]

Perhaps Clinton had someone else read the CIA dailies and brief him on them?

[Lost Highway]

20 years from now there is going to be so much stuff out on this guy. (Clinton) It's going to be fun to watch.

[alfa6]

Hey TS, you see anything in the WSJ about this?

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Remember Khobar Towers