[kattracks]

Clarke writes that Bush "grabbed a few of us and closed the door to the conference room" — an impetuous move, perhaps, but hardly the image that Clarke depicted on television, of the President dragging in unwitting staffers by their shirt-collars. The Bush in these pages sounds more ruminative than intimidating: "I know you have a lot to do and all, but I want you, as soon as you can, to go back over everything, everything. See if Saddam did this. See if he's linked in any way." When Clarke responds by saying that "al-Qaeda did this," Bush says, "I know, I know, but see if Saddam was involved. Just look. I want to know any shred....." Again Clarke protests, after which Bush says "testily," "Look into Iraq, Saddam."

Isn't what Clarke said in this interview either.

Because one of the things that surprises a lot of the public, I think, is that immediately after Sept. 11, the administration knew exactly who had done it. Was that why?

No. On the day of Sept. 11, then the day or two following, we had a very open mind. CIA and FBI were asked, "See if it's Hezbollah. See if it's Hamas. Don't assume it's Al Qaeda. Don't just assume it's Al Qaeda." Frankly, there was absolutely not a shred of evidence that it was anybody else. The evidence that it was Al Qaeda began just to be massive within days after the attack.

[Texasforever]

Clarke has to be publicly discredited and CBS made to retract the 60 minutes interview. Clarke has been bought. Bush had better not play softball with this one, his re-election depends on it. Let Condi testify under oath in public and then bring perjury charges against Clarke.

[MEG33]

That statement stood out because it's so different to what he says now.I think he better take index cards with him when he talks ,listing his previous statements.

He is looking like a school girl or boy,telling a tale and embellishing it for the audience.

[backhoe]

Cross-link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1104918/posts
The Clarke Effect- another Leftover from The Decade of Frauds
various FR links | 03-25-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[lainde]

bump!

[binger]

Interesting...

[Peach]

Commissioner Lehman said in the 9/11 Hearing that Clarke had worked with the commission privately and testified off the record for 15 or 16 hours and that his public testimony was in direct contrast to his private testimony!

He PLANNED this a year ago. He knew he was going to have his moment of fame. He testified privately saying one thing and testified publicly saying the polar opposite.

That is deliberate! Think about the planning involved in this...to work with the 9/11 Commission for a year telling them one thing privately...then come out with a book and testify to something else publicly. Amazing. And perjury, I would imagine.

[PokeyJoe]

Clarke supports Kerry, so given Kerry's flipping and flopping - I'm not surprised at Clarke's flipping and flopping.

[jocon307]

Time magazine, can you believe it? Only the NY Times is on his side now, lol.

[guitfiddlist]

A few minutes of cross-examination by even just a mediocre prosecutor would have this bozo weeping in the witness chair, shouting "Yes! I lied! It was actually the butler in the parlor with the candlestick!" (Or the Bubba in the Bathroom with the Cigar).