For Bush administration, help from an unlikely source

Newsday ^ | 03/23/04 | KEN FIREMAN

[Pikamax]

For Bush administration, help from an unlikely source

BY KEN FIREMAN WASHINGTON BUREAU

March 23, 2004, 8:54 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- When it really needed it, the beleaguered Bush administration found some succor Tuesday from an unlikely and potentially dangerous source: the commission investigating the 9/11 terror attacks.

Just as the administration was launching a frantic effort to fend off the allegations of former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke that it failed to take al-Qaida seriously before 9/11, the commission delivered a couple of priceless gifts.

The first was a new staff report revealing that the previous administration -- the one headed by some guy named Clinton -- had three opportunities in 1998 and 1999 to launch lethal strikes at Osama bin Laden but failed to pull the trigger. Each time, according to the report, senior officials overruled field operatives on the grounds that the intel was uncertain and the risk of "collateral damage" great.

The second came from two of those Clinton-era officials, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Defense Secretary William Cohen. Both responded to pointed questions from panel members about why they had not sought to attack al-Qaida more aggressively by pleading that the pre-9/11 political climate simply would not have supported such a policy.

[IncPen]

The predictable result has been a furious onslaught aimed at discrediting Clarke and his account. Administration officials have simultaneously sought to portray Clarke as "out of the loop" and yet culpable for the failure to scotch the terrorist menace. They accuse him of hypocrisy for failing to raise his concerns while still in government, partisanship for making them now in an election year, and vindictiveness arising from the fact that he was demoted.

Clarke's response is that such attacks seek to divert attention from the main issue: Bush's performance before and after 9/11. He told ABC that he expects it to go on. "I'm getting a bulletproof vest," he said.

His last quote is telling, and is a response that no doubt has the Clinton Camp thinking that an Arkancide would damage Bush...

[Mr. Jazzy]

"Clarke thus represents Bush's worst nightmare: an undeniable insider with no obvious history of partisanship who has challenged his performance on the one issue that he cannot afford to surrender."

What clap trap! Clarke is trying to say that when he was in charge of this stuff, everything was OK, and when he was demoted then things went to hell because the administration didn't want his opinion.

Any real examination will show that his tenure in office was marked by acts of terrorism against American interests on an almost regular basis!

Putz!

[Spotsy]

"I'm getting a bulletproof vest," he said.

Clarke's money would be better spent on a good psychiatrist, but he is suffering from Joe Wilson-megalomania syndrome.

Did you see Clarke's cool sunglasses today? I can't wait for the Vanity Fair layout.

[jwalsh07]

Clarke lied about Condie Rice. His credibility is now ZERO!

She gave interviews on Al Qa'ida and Usama bin Laden in the fall of 2000 and from all reports she was well versed.

His claims that she never heard of Al Qa'ida simply kills this anal sphincter.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

The first was a new staff report revealing that the previous administration -- the one headed by some guy named Clinton -- had three opportunities in 1998 and 1999 to launch lethal strikes at Osama bin Laden but failed to pull the trigger. Each time, according to the report, senior officials overruled field operatives on the grounds that the intel was uncertain and the risk of "collateral damage" great.

Window dressing, window dressing, blah blah blah. Boiled down to tis essence: Clinton had three opportunities to handle the very same menace Bush's critics claim he hasn't handled... and punted, three times out of three.

Ain't no way in hell to spin that puppy to the 'Rats advantage. :)

[Howlin]

They are going to let him TALK for two and a half hours tomorrow; center stage.

IMO, Richard Clarke has lived his whole life for this moment.

When he's done, nobody is going to believe a word he said, up to and including his claim that HE grounded the planes on 9-11.

[Colonel_Flagg]

WASHINGTON -- When it really needed it, the beleaguered Bush administration found some succor Tuesday

Boy, I sure am glad there's no such thing as media bias, especially in lead paragraphs of important news stories. < / sarcasm>

[jwalsh07]

He's toast. In all likelihood, after this thrashing, he will spend the rest of his life hating Bush and trying to abridge the First Amendment.

[Jorge]

Clarke lied about Condie Rice. His credibility is now ZERO!

Condi isn't the only one Clarke lied about. Wolfowitz told the Senate today in not so many words that Clarke had lied about him as well.

Clarke also lied when he claimed the offer of bin Laden by the Sudan to Clinton was a "fable". Clinton is on tape explaining why he didn't take them up on it.

I love it when these low-lifes try to smear Bush and it back-fires on them. It's poetic justice.

[AnAmericanMother]

But is anybody other than FR folks ever going to hear about it?

[jwalsh07]

I love it when these low-lifes try to smear Bush and it back-fires on them. It's poetic justice.

Me too Jorge. :-}

[NautiNurse]

Followed the 9-11 inquisition live today. If your screen name is faithincowboys, you were screaming that the sky was falling--just like Chicken Little.

Meanwhile, the rest of us savored the tactful responses of Sec'ys Powell and Rumsfeld, while gaping at the likes of a moron named Gorelick and a pin-striped snake named Ben-Veniste who battled for camera face time to spew Democrat talking points.

[cyncooper]

Just as the administration was launching a frantic effort to fend off the allegations of former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke

AKA refuting lies.

"Frantic"? Give me a break.

[cyncooper]

Wolfowitz told the Senate today in not so many words that Clarke had lied about him as well.

Clarke has a "creative memory", said Wolfowitz, as he pointed out factual errors in Clarke's tome that Wolfowitz hadn't been granted a copy of while reporters were calling him with quotes from the book and wanting a response.

[MNJohnnie]

WASHINGTON -- When it really needed it, the beleaguered Bush administration found some succor Tuesday from an unlikely and potentially dangerous source: the commission investigating the 9/11 terror attacks.

Just as the administration was launching a frantic effort to fend off the allegations of former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke that it failed to take al-Qaida seriously...

beleaguered?.....Just as the administration was launching a frantic effort?

Isn't it funny how NO one but the DNC "Newsmedia" sees things in these terms? I wonder how they are going to explain why their boy Kerry took an 8 point hit (Pro-Democ rat Newsweek poll) in the polls the last two weeks from this "belegured, frantic" Whitehouse?

[MNJohnnie]

Jorge said

Clarke also lied when he claimed the offer of bin Laden by the Sudan to Clinton was a "fable". Clinton is on tape explaining why he didn't take them up on it.

I love it when these low-lifes try to smear Bush and it back-fires on them. It's poetic justice.

AnAmericanMother replied

But is anybody other than FR folks ever going to hear about it?

Yep, read this story (link below). Bad news for Clarke. This guy is a Foreign Affairs correspondent for Fox News now. He has all ready made an on air open challenge to debate Lying Dick Clarke anywhere, anytime. Clarke is toast credibilitywise. Only the Hysteric Left who hate Bush will take a word Clarke says seriously not that all the facts have come out on him

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/3/22/223420.shtml

[Howlin]

Wolfowitz said "selective reporters" had the book, making his point, big time.

[AnAmericanMother]

Well, that's good to know.

[harpo11]

Hey, Senators, I'm giving you this piece of advice down and dirty. It's our lives. It's America's life. It's crunch time. The enemy wants America wiped off the chalk board of your acedemically spoilt minds.

President Bush is huntin' maggot terrorist scum down. Bringin' 'em to justice while all you guys do is whine and talk about it. As if you are helping to win this most vital and critical war on terrorism.

I'm just thankful that one man, our President Bush, has stepped valiently up to the plate and his massive and far reaching bat is blasting these murdering Islamobastards out of the world stadium.

All senators want to do is talk talk us until we are blue in the face and sputtering in aghast amazement at their lack of shock and awe. Well, go but on some cheerleading outfits for once and root and yell proudly for the USA and her brave Troops.