Wes Clark Claims Richard Clarke Allegations "not Political" (Today Show this-dog-won't-hunt alert)

[governsleastgovernsbest]

For once, let's start with the conclusion, then get to the facts. Conclusion: the allegations by Richard Clarke that the Bush administration was asleep at the switch when it came to fighting terror pre-9/11 will not have a significant negative impact on W's re-election prospects.

The Dems have given it their best shot, starting with last night's appearance by Richard Clarke on 60 Minutes, and continuing this morning with an appearance on the Today Show of Kerry surrogate Wesley Clark.

And the reliably liberal Norah O'Donnell, in her set-up piece before the interviews of Condi Rice and Wes Clark did her best to hide Richard Clarke's Clinton ties. She never mentioned that Clarke was in the Clinton administration. At very end of he piece she alluded to the fact that he was involved with anti-terror "for a decade" but didn't put that in the political context. You might say she mentioned the fact to build his credentials as an expert rather than to expose his political bias.

Here's the case against the political significance of Richard Clarke's statements: First, he presented them in blatantly political manner. The clip shown on Today this morning shows Clarke animatedly asserting that it is "outrageous" that W is running for re-election on the basis of strong leadership on national security, whereas he in fact did a poor job.

So Clarke himself immediately casts his allegations in a political context. Given that he was a long-time member of the Clinton admin who was a hold-over in the Bush administration, his bona fides as a neutral observer are very questionable.

Next, there is the Dems problem with people in glass houses not throwing stones. As Condi Rice pointed out in her interview with Matt Lauer, Richard Clarke was the anti-terror czar during the the first bombing of the WTC bombing, of the Khobar towers, the Cole, the US embassies in Africa and most of the advance planning for 9/11. Yet he and the Clinton administration did little or nothing to stop or react to any of them.

The deluded Wes Clark was interviewed by (the ditzy) Ann Curry. Clark tried to keep a straight face - and to give him credit, he certainly didn't blink ;-) - while claiming that Richard Clarke's charges were "not political."

But even the very liberal Curry clearly was not buying. She interrupted Clark on a number of occasions, repeating the charges that Condi had made to the effect that the Clinton administration shared the blame. Clark made a pitiful effort to change the subject, claiming that the Clinton admin's responsibility is "not the question."

Curry then asserted: "but you supported the war against Iraq."

A very agitated Clark shot back: "I never supported the war!" [Well, with the exception of that first statement I made on the first day of my presidential campaign when I said I did. But that was before Mary helped me.]

Curry: "But John Kerry supported the war. He voted for the resolution."

Clark: "He supported dealing with the problem, but not in the way the Bush administration did so."

[rantaway]

you misunderstand.

he worked for Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and W right? (i may be wrong)

CNN claimes (not that they haven't lied before) that he is still a registered repub and that he voted for W in 2000. i'm just trying to get my facts straight here and figure this guy out

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I repeat: did you read the original thread wherein it was mentioned that on 60 Minutes Clarke claimed "it is "outrageous" that W is running for re-election on the basis of strong leadership on national security, whereas he in fact did a poor job."?

I repeat: do you really think that anyone who makes a statement like that could possibly be, as you surmise, a "Bush supporter"?

I would encourage you at this point to read more and post less. This will be my last response to you for the time being.

[rantaway]

read that.

doesn't mean he didnt' support him in 2000. i am looking for facts (REAL FACTS) not opinions on this guy.

this is too important to me. if he has an agenda, i want to expose it. so far i haven't read much about him. God forbid, if he is right, i want to know that too.

[BlueAngel]

Great post with lots of ammunition. Thanks, Peach!

[Carolinamom]

Re: Jason Blair's 3000 book sales..........The dim-bulb publisher ran off 250,000 copies thinking the public was panting for info on this plagiarist.

[Coop]

If you're serious, then read Post #52. And read Condoleeza Rice's article in this morning's Washington Post. Your mind will be put at ease.

[Alberta's Child]

CNN claimes (not that they haven't lied before) that he is still a registered repub and that he voted for W in 2000. i'm just trying to get my facts straight here and figure this guy out.

I think that is standard practice whenever someone wants to enhance their credibility in a public forum like that. Don't believe a word of it.

I don't know if he voted for Bush or not -- but he's telling people he did in order to make himself more credible.

[Carolinamom]

Clarke was a civil service employee, thus continuously employeed during various adm. and not easily fired. Clinton had Promoted him; Bush Demoted him; Clarke tried to get a job w/Homeland Security but did NOT get it. Those facts + his now being a co-teacher w/Kerry advisor certainly make him less than creditable about the Bush adm. Gen. Alex Haig said today on Fox that it was evident that Clarke is "sucking up" for a JOB w/future Kerry adm.

[Peach]

It was very sensible, given that Iraq hid the terrorist behind the first WTC bombing, to ask Clarke to make SURE Iraq wasn't behind 9/11.

Also, in the book The New Jackals by Simon Reeve, it was noted that Iraq went on its highest state of alert with its military two weeks prior to 9/11 and Saddam sent his family into his most secure bunker where Saddam himself went and didn't emerge until mid-October.

[baseballmom]

Condi said this morning that Clarke was NOT invited to the first(post 9/11) meeting at Camp David, and was against the creation of the Dept.of Homeland Security. He wanted to be the top guy in counter terrorism, but he was demoted. The way of dealing with terrorism in the Clinton WH, had not been effective, and the Bush admin was taking a different path.

You are correct that Clarke worked during the Reagan, Bush(41) and Clinton WH's. And maybe he did indeed support GW in 2000. That doesn't change the fact that he was demoted after the election, and has not spoken up before, when he was interviewed by Woodward, and Minter for their books.

It looks like he has an agenda, namely to cover his butt, and to sell his new book. We'll soon know.

[rantaway]

thanks. that helps alot.

beginining to understand now

[iceskater]

Clarke was a 30 year veteran but he has a book to sell and is friendly with Richard Baer,a Kerry supporter,who may be in a Kerry cabinet if the very worst possible outcome happens

Bite your tongue (as my dear departed grandmother used to say) - we can't allow that outcome to happen.

[iceskater]

"Ann Compton reported live (from the White House) on the 7AM ABC radio news and she flubbed her lines."

Our morning radio guy alluded to this also but didn't elaborate. Now I'm really curious about what she said. She definitely has a liberal ax to grind.

[iceskater]

Excellent info Peach. Probably ought to let Rush and Hannity know so as to further skewer them with their own lies.

[hgro]

Wesley Clark, living proof of the fact that the West Point's system is faulty when a bird brain can graduate at the head of his class. Just goes to show what an Arkansas education can do for you.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I think the Dems' focus groups are perhaps lying to their benefactors - appeasing them for cigarettes and (taxpayer) $$$.

Lucky for us. This was a really bad idea to claim Clinton/Clarke were tough on terrorists, lol!

Good thread - passionate, informative. Thanks!

[YaYa123]

http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/143

[prairiebreeze]

Thanks for the recap. I actually tuned in to Today at one point to see if Al Qaeti Couric was wearing black but she wasn't on at that moment. I quickly returned to Fox.

Prairie

[Peach]

What Clarke wants us to forget - the links between AQ and Iraq:

Okay - here are just a FEW of the links between terrorism and AQ specifically and Iraq.

Read about what the press was saying in the 90's about the links between Iraq and AQ:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/946809/posts?page=1

Growing evidence of AQ/Iraq link:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/946997/posts

Saddam and Bin Laden vs. the World:http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,798270,00.html

Saddam link to bin Laden:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/866105/posts

The Al Qaeda connections:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/866105/posts

NYT - 1998 - OBL and Iraq agree to cooperate:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/985906/posts

Document links AQ and Iraq:http://tennessean.com/nation-world/archives/03/06/34908297.shtml?Element_ID=34908297

Iraq and terrorism:http://www.nationalreview.com/robbins/robbins091903.asp

WSJ - Iraq and AQ: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/987129/posts

Iraq and Iran contact AQ: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/981055/posts

Proof Saddam worked with AQ: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F04%2F27%2Fwalq27.xml

Saddam's AQ Connection:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/969032/posts

Terrorist killed in Iraq after refusing to train Al Qaeda terrorists:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/08/25/wnidal25.xml

Osama's Best Friend: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1007969/posts

Case Closed - OBL and Iraq agree to work together:http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/378fmxyz.asp

Terrorist behind 9/11 trained in Iraq:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1039898/posts?page=154

The Clinton view of Iraq/AQ ties: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/527uwabl.asp

Saddam's ties to terror: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1005579/posts

NYT - tape shows Wesley Clark tying AQ and Iraq: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1056113/posts