Clinton Denies Taped Bin Laden Admission, Blames 'Misquote'

NewsMax.com ^ | April 9, 2004 | Carl Limbacher

[Carl/NewsMax]

During his private interview with the 9/11 Commission on Thursday, ex-President Bill Clinton denied that he told a New York business group in 2002 that he turned down an offer from Sudan for Osama bin Laden's extradition to the U.S., according to 9/11 Commissioner Bob Kerrey.

"Bill Clinton said yesterday that, that was a misquote," Kerrey told WDAY Fargo, North Dakota radio host Scott Hennen, in an interview set for broadcast on Monday.

A transcript of the exchange between Hennen and Kerrey was read on the air by national radio host Sean Hannity late Friday. It shows that the 9/11 Commission was unaware that Clinton's bombshell admission that he spurned the bin Laden offer had been recorded by NewsMax.

After Kerrey said Clinton had denied the quote, Hennen said, "But wait a minute - I heard it in his own voice. I've heard him say it. I have the tape of him saying just that."

"Really?" said a perplexed Kerrey. "Well, then - ship it to me, because Clinton said yesterday [in private 9/11 testimony] that he didn't have a recollection of that."

Clinton made the bombshell admission to the Long Island Association on Feb. 15, 2002. Though the LIA videotaped his appearance, the group has refused requests for copies from NBC News, Fox News and NewsMax.

Though NewsMax has the only publicly available recording of Clinton's remarks that day, they were also reported by Newsday the next day.

Transcript of Clinton's admission:

We'd been hearing that the Sudanese wanted America to start dealing with them again.

They released him. At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America.

So I pleaded with the Saudis to take him, 'cause they could have. But they thought it was a hot potato and they didn't and that's how he wound up in Afghanistan. [End of Excerpt]

To hear ex-President Clinton make the admission that he denied making to the 9/11 Commission, Click Here.

[Destro]

Well Destro, wouldn't it have made sense to at least pursue it? Of course!! The right way is the way Bush team negotiated with the Taliban after 9/11 - i.e. we talked to the Taliban as we prepared to go to war. Clinton just talked - no counter plan just in case we failed.

[Incorrigible]

Bump! Looking forward to see how this story develops!

[techcor]

Bump!

[tonyinv]

Thats not the point. We would not have had enough "evidence" against the 19 hijackers pre 9/11 either. Condi clearly stated that there was no actionable intel.

But thats not enugh for the libs. They are the ones who posit the theory that had we gone into afghanistan in the summer of 2001 that that would have stopped 9/11. They are the ones who started the "only if" game.

Today they have no problem using shaky intel to justify some sort of action pre 9/11. But back then when Clinton could have clearly taken out UBL, they themselves needed alot more evidence and proof.

Its the double standard that they shouldn't be allowed to get away with. Dont give them the benefit of the doubt that they ruthlessly refuse to afford President Bush.

[aShepard]

"Oh, you mean THAT Bin Laden. I thought that you asked about Been Loaded, and I don't recall having tooo much to drink."

[I still care]

Hey it worked for Gennifer Flowers tapes, right? The VRWC forged them, according to Clinton.

The commission makes me nauseous. They kept talking about how accommodating he was during the interview. Clinton likes the sound of his own voice. The more he talks, the more he obscures. But you can't believe a word he says.

[small voice in the wilderness]

You're kidding, right?!? Develops? It's not what clinton said then, it's what he believes today, that's all that matters. But remember, that's just for today. And then there's always your tomorrow. That's for what he PLANS to say.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Uh oh. Better watch out for 'Nixonian' 'right wingers' breaking into the Newsmax offices and stealing those tapes. < / sarc >

[Chewbacca]

Syphilis must be causing him memory loss.

[aruanan]

"Really?" said a perplexed Kerrey. "Well, then - ship it to me, because Clinton said yesterday [in private 9/11 testimony] that he didn't have a recollection of that."

Kerrey, you friggin moron, you don't know by now that "I don't have a recollection of that" in Bill Clinton's mouth means "I did it and won't admit it but won't deny it"?

[Cold Heat]

ROFL!

Clinton is such a twerp!

It is amazing that the commissioners did not know of this recording!

But then, they are not really looking are they.............(statement, not a question)

[beckett]

Guy just can't stop lying. He's a victim of the Autoprevaricate Syndrome, a heartless disease that afflicts millions yearly, robbing them of the capacity to tell their loved ones how much they love them.

If you know someone with Autoprevaricate Syndrome call this number and get help now: 1-800-BULL****

[savedbygrace]

I would agree with you if I had seen any mud being thrown on Clinton.

[Cold Heat]

LOL!

Glad to see ya go!

:-)

[lugsoul]

How can that not be the point? Why would billyjeff's refusal of the alleged offer be of any significance at all if we couldn't do anything with him?

As far as pre-9/11 goes, you are missing the point. At that time, we DID have proof that OBL had attacked us - the embassy bombings at a minimum. We even tried to cruise missle him. But prior to the embassy bombings I still haven't heard anyone say anything that would justify us taking him down.

I don't see the divide as January 2001 (i.e. Clinton / Bush). The divide is August 1998. Before that, we had no knowledge that he had attacked us. After that, we did.

I am downright amazed how this issue has become so politically charged, on both sides, that people won't deal with the facts.

[beckett]

Let's not forget that Kerrey is the guy who once said of Clinton, "He is an especially good liar." Looks like he just got more proof of that in front of his own commission.

[kcvl]

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[Wild Irish Rogue]

The Commissioner's don't know about Clinton's recorded admission ?? ???

Even my dog knows about Clinton's admission.

What else don't they know about ??

Maybe if Kerrey spent less time at The Hair Club for Men and more time doing research, he might have a clue.

This panel is so politicized that they cannnot see the forest through the trees.
Their report is already so tainted,it's worthless.

[lugsoul]

"We would not have had enough "evidence" against the 19 hijackers pre 9/11 either."

Come on. We had photos of two of them at an al Qaeda planning meeting. We would've traced their funds, tapped phones, etc - would've been an easy conspiracy case to put together.

Think Lackawanna Six.

[tomball]

Sudan wanted the US help and aid.  They kicked Bin Laden out in '96 due for many reasons -  Here are some links that may help explain why they wanted him out.  http://www.freeworldnow.com/Bin%20Laden%209-12-2001.htm

Bin Laden terrorist profile from 1998:  http://www.emergency.com/bldn0798.htm

BBC 1998 Article where Sudan Denies Bin Laden Links:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/161440.stm

NewsMax story referenced above in this post:  http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2002/7/2/221350

Drudge article dated Nov. 2001 regarding Sudan and their request for US help:  http://www.drudgereport.com/matt91h.htm

Here is 2001 account of Sudan - states Bin Laden Not Welcome (and info on the Aspirin Factory Bombing):  http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=27084

 

The bottom line is, these terrorists were at war with the United States, its soldiers, citizens, and allies at home and abroad on an annual basis from 1992 through present.  The Clinton administration did nothing about it then, and he is lying about having no recollection about it now.    Had he and his administration not been so self absorbed, 911 would have never occurred.