Kerry challenges Bush to prosecute Clarke if former anti-terrorism advisor lied - CBS

Yahoo! News ^ | 3/26/04 | AFP/Staff

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

NEW YORK (AFP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry challenged President George W. Bush) to prosecute former national security aide Richard Clarke if they can show that he lied about terrorism policy.

"My challenge to the Bush administration would be, if (Clarke) is not believable and they have reason to show it, then prosecute him for perjury because he is under oath, Kerry told CBS's MarketWatch.

"They have a perfect right to do that," said Kerry.

Republicans in Congress want to declassify testimony Clarke gave before Congress in 2002 that they claim is at odds with accounts critical of the administration in the aide's recently published book.

Clarke, a counter-terrorism advisor to three presidents, published a book this week entitled "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror," in which he claims the Bush administration failed to heed warnings of the September 11, 2001 attacks and then focused its attention on Saddam Hussein) rather than al-Qaeda.

He repeated the allegations under oath in testimony before a congressional committee.

The charges prompted an aggressive response from the White House, amid apparent concerns that they could undermine the president's re-election bid in November.

[Eva]

Did you see the Frontpage article, if not I'll find a link.

[RGSpincich]

"They have a perfect right to do that," said Kerry.

Ahh, the first half of the next flip-flop is born.

[mylife]

No I missed it..Link it up

[OldFriend]

My guess is that his vote for McCain was a vote AGAINST Bush. Many dems did that around the country where there were open primaries.

[Ruth A.]

I counter-challenge that Kerry should announce that Clarke is tapped for National Security Advisor if he feels he is believable and has the nation's interests at the forefront.

[PhiKapMom]

I agree with you. It gets even more bizarre -- the following turned up in my email:


http://www.goodharbor.net/sides/goodharborconsud.html

Go to the above site to see Clarke's security consultin company and email him if you like. Of its pricipals the only guy with any military exeperience is one guy who served as a Navy corpsman.
My guess is that Dick is embittered over recently losing out on bidding for a government security contract.And when you see the staff of his consulting firm it's easy to see why.
As you dig into his client list you find he is closely associate with Sandy Berger and the the Clinton Crooks who now work for shill artists-Lehman Brothers.This is a left wing cabal for certain.

[PhiKapMom]

You guys are doing great -- keep the heat going and scorch him but good come October!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for your comments!

[kellynla]

I honestly don't think Kerry will make it to November...
I think Ketchup has more Kerry-on baggage than Delta Airlines. LOL

[LaGrone]

I figure someone from the Administration is searching every piece of paper Clark had his name on. Look for this idiot to be major road kill by the end of next week. The jerk (Clark) has no morals or class! Bush and company will steamroll him.

[PhiKapMom]

LOL!!! I think you are right! If he does, it will be a blowout!

[Salamander]

"Mole"?

[Eva]

An Open Letter to John Kerry

[section9]

No, he won't be roadkill until Rice herself kills him. That's what I think the Bush people are doing. Put Condi on 60 Minutos now, to whet the public appetite. Put her in public testimony later to nail Clarke's balls to the plywood board later.

ONLY public testimony can do that. The Bushies have to allow suspense to build up first, however. Condi will have to play coy for a while whilst the Dems get all anxious, fill the air with charges, and overreach, as is their wont. Part of what Rove wants to do is to wait until Kerry piles on with the rest of them, then spring the trap while Condi nails Clarke's gonads to the plywood board.

She'll use Jesus nails, too. It will be ugly. Trust me; the day will come, sooner rather than later, when John Kerry will flee from the very name "Richard A. Clarke".

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[SuziQ]

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry challenged President George W. Bush) to prosecute former national security aide Richard Clarke if they can show that he lied about terrorism policy.

What a grandstander. Bush can't prosecute him if he lied before a Congressional Committee! Wouldn't Congress have to come after Clarke for that?

[Keith]

If I were the White House, I would make the point that John Kerry needs to read his Constitution so that he knows the parameters of the power of the office he is seeking. Only CONGRESS can seek perjury charges against Clarke. He needs to do his homework...

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"Kerry challenges Bush to prosecute Clarke if former anti-terrorism advisor lied "

I'm for it!

LOL and if Bush does it, then Kerry better not go hunting with Clark EVER! Then again Clark could fix our little Kerry problem for us and that poor "SOB" Secret Service guy. heehee
kidding (maybe)

[cyncooper]

Clarke claims to be a republican!!!!

I don't believe he did.

The most he could come up with was voting for McCain in the 2000 presidential primary. I surmise as an effort to oust Bush as the Republican nominee and not out of love for McCain.

At any rate, can you cite your assertion that he claims to be a Republican?

[rewrite]

Kerry is a doofus....and yes, that's an insult to doofuses everywhere!

[cyncooper]

Richard Clarke is not a Democrat.

And you base your statement on what?

All evidence says he is.

Clarke will be exposed as having lied while a member of the Bush administration.

No, Clarke will be exposed as lying ABOUT the Bush administration.

The lies won't be his earlier committee statements. It will be this 9/11 commission hearing where he was under oath where he lied and stabbed the Bush people in the back.

As to why Kerry said this? Because he doesn't really think there will be follow-through but he realizes it is becoming obvious Clarke's credibility has been destroyed, so being the band wagon hopper that he is, Kerry has climbed aboard with nary a thought to Clarke's work on Kerry's party's behalf. "Challenges Bush to prosecute". What a pompous ass Kerry is.