Clarke Asked for the Cybersecurity Job (my title)

Frontline / PBS ^ | March 20, 2003 | Richard A. Clarke

[NonValueAdded]

In an interview for the Frontline feature on John O'Neill, Richard A. Clarke describes how he made the recommendations for the reorganization:

Q: [Frontline] "You tried to convince [John O'Neill], it has been written, to take your job. Can you tell me a little bit about that what happened?"

A: [Clarke] "Shortly after the Bush administration came into office, we were asked to think about how we organized the White House for a number of issues, including cybersecurity, computer security, homeland security, and counterterrorism. I was asked for my advice, and I proposed that the counterterrorism responsibility be broken off be a separate job, and that the cybersecurity job be broken off as a separate job. I said I had done counterterrorism for about a decade, and I wanted to start working on cybersecurity, which I think is terribly important. That was later approved by the president."

Also in that interview, Clarke says that in June, all of the agencies were alerted that something might happen:

Q: [Frontline] "A lot of people looked at Sept. 11, and said "Massive intelligence failure. Haven't seen an intelligence failure like this since Pearl Harbor." What's your opinion on that allegation?"

A: [Clarke] "I think it's a cheap shot. I think when people say, no matter what event it is, they say, "Oh, it was an intelligence failure," they frequently don't know what the intelligence community said prior to the event. In June 2001, the intelligence community issued a warning that a major Al Qaeda terrorist attack would take place in the next many weeks. They said they were unable to find out exactly where it might take place. They said they thought it might take place in Saudi Arabia.

"We asked, "Could it take place in the United States?" They said, "We can't rule that out." So in my office in the White House complex, the CIA sat and briefed the domestic U.S. federal law enforcement agencies, Immigration, Federal Aviation, Coast Guard, and Customs. The FBI was there as well, agreeing with the CIA, and told them that we were entering a period when there was a very high probability of a major terrorist attack. Now I don't think that's an intelligence failure. It may be a failure of other parts of the government, but I don't think that was an intelligence failure."

[NonValueAdded]

More of the paper trail on the many versions of Richard A. Clarke's story.

[NonValueAdded]

Make that interview date March 20, 2002.

[Texasforever]

It also points out his close connections to O'neil

[OldFriend]

Clarke's book is so full of lies and distortions there is no way at all to reconcile his book with his previous statements.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Can you imagine this nutcase as head of Homeland Security?

[Diver Dave]

"Shortly after the Bush administration came into office, we were asked to think about how we organized the White House for a number of issues, including cybersecurity, computer security,...

Hmmmmm. Begs the question, What did he know, when did he know it and what role did he play in the Clinton White House computer and telephone trickery.

[cwb]

Krauthammer pointed out today, how it was Clarke who was disappointed with Clinton's preoccupation with the Mid-East peace process and Kosovo, that led him to make some harsh comments about Clinton. Clinton couldn't possibly get a peace agreement if he was seen to be targeting one of the Muslim worlds heros and waging a war on Islam.

This is in stark contrast to Clarke's recent ravings about terrorism being a "top-priority" for the Clinton administration. Someone needs to ask Mr. Clarke if he is as disgusted with the war in Kosovo...which took time away from the war on terror, as he is with Bush's war in Iraq.

[Just mythoughts]

Clarke with his book and interviews and testimony yesterday, sent a world wide invitation to the "terrorists" that President Bush had given them an open door to attack us again.

The way the liberal partisans applauded him as the "second coming" yesterday seem not to be alarmed by his open invitation to "terrorists".

[OldFriend]

Clarke made the book available to the media and certain folks on the 9/11 commission BEFORE it was available to the public.

Anyone still saying the man has no political agenda.

[Just mythoughts]

"Clarke made the book available to the media and certain folks on the 9/11 commission BEFORE it was available to the public.
Anyone still saying the man has no political agenda."


Without a doubt is was to affect an election.

What I find even more repulsive is that this hearing with his testimony was played for a world audience, not just to the political audience of US.

When Clarke finished there was no doubt from what he claimed that the US was less secure than before 9/11. Now I do not believe that is the case, however, considering who the audience was in the world sure sounded like a welcome mat for "terrorists inc."

[Just mythoughts]

Sorry,

correction Without a doubt it was....

[cwb]

I couldn't believe these idiots applauded after Bob Kerrey had the nerve to chastize Foxnews for releasing a tape of Clarke's own words that run contrary to his testimony. If this doesn't show the partisanship of this commission (and crowd), than nothing will. Clarke is the same guy who said his plans sat on Clinton's desk from the 1998 bombings until the new administration decided to move them foward. Yet, the media finds nothing contradictory about this. Clarke didn't just pump-up the Bush administration, as he claims that was what his job was...he put the blame on the Clinton administration as Richard Miniter so aptly points out...and nobody asked him to do that.

[MEG33]

I found one glaring inconsistency here.He said even though he immediately thought AlQueda after 911,their minds were completely open.He named Hezbollah ,Hamas but doesn't mention Iraq.Here ,as he now accuses the President Bush of implying he must find an Iraq link,he doesn't mention it as a possibility thrown out there...hmmm

[hosepipe]

[ Can you imagine this nutcase as head of Homeland Security?]

Wonder how many other nut jobs are in the security appratus
NOW!...

[Just mythoughts]

"I couldn't believe these idiots applauded after Bob Kerrey had the nerve to chastize Foxnews for releasing a tape of Clarke's own words that run contrary to his testimony."


Fortunately, I missed that, however, read about it on FR.

These liberals seems to be following a plan. They set in motion a plan to use the new Homeland Security, against the President. Interesting now we find out that Clarke leaves government because he did not get a Deputy's position under that agency.

Now their plan can only work if the US gets attacked again, and what Clarke did with his book and testimony, especially after what happened in Spain, seems to be the signal to the world that US is less secure now than before 9/11.

Now if Fox news wants to they can dig out the segment done with Bridget Quinn(sp) morning segment, with a liberal democrat during the aftermath of Lott's foot-in-mouth in late December of 2002 or early January 2003.

This liberal was reacting and describing what Congress would do to give President Bush grief over Homeland Security, and part of the plan was they Congress would decide themselves who would receive the money. I have not seen these words repeated again, however, Gephardt did say much the same thing to the UNIONS of County City and State governments, shortly thereafter.

Time and time again I have heard President Bush remark about how the funding of this agency was done, delaying the priorities, such as "First Responders". He made these remarks last I heard at the Mayors conference early this year.

The only way what these lying crooked liberals plan works is if there is another attack, then they via Clarke and his book will say "WE TOLD YOU SO", President Bush has been tooooo consumed with Iraq to protect this nation.

[Howlin]

It also points out his close connections to O'neil

Exactly!

This guy has more "faces" than Sybil.

[MEG33]

This was about John,not Paul O'Neil,who died in the twin towers on 911.He was a good guy.

[Howlin]

What?

[Texasforever]

Oh ok. Thanks.

[Carolinamom]

Clarke's friend and co-teacher,Rand Beers, is also prone to lying as is shown in this Sept. 2002 article at marconews.com/beersperjury1.html. He had to "correct" SEVEN instances of perjury in his trial testimony.