[kcvl]

Kyl questions attacks on Bush team in Clarke book


Billy House
Republic Washington Bureau
Mar. 25, 2004 12:00 AM


WASHINGTON - Richard A. Clarke's attacks on the Bush administration may help boost his book sales, but they are "not a full or fair assessment of the views I know he held," according to Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl.

Clarke, the former counterterrorism official with the administrations of Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, previously testified before a Senate subcommittee on terrorism and homeland security that Kyl heads.

"Dick Clarke appeared before my subcommittee during both the Clinton and Bush years, and I know his concerns about the government's response to terrorism long preceded the current administration," Kyl said.

Kyl said he is surprised Clarke is saving his sharpest rebukes for the Bush administration in placing the blame for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, rather than the Clinton team.

"Indeed, if we're going to start assessing blame for 9/11, then one must consider that the Clinton administration had eight years to confront the al-Qaida threat and the Bush administration less than eight months," Kyl said.

Kyl then extended this challenge: "Until Dick Clarke produces his detailed strategy memo that would have toppled the Taliban government in record time, captured or killed two-thirds of known al-Qaida leaders, bolstered dramatically intelligence-sharing here at home and assembled one of the greatest global coalitions in history to go after terrorists all over the world, I'll find it hard to believe he had a better plan for fighting terrorism than George W. Bush."

[NYCVirago]

Richard A. Clarke's attacks on the Bush administration may help boost his book sales, but they are "not a full or fair assessment of the views I know he held," according to Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl.

At least there's one Arizona Republican Senator who knows what's going on. The other one is too exhausted from playing footsie with Kerry to say anything.