Kerrey Details Clinton's Bin Laden Denial to Commission

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/4/9/224229.shtml ^ | Apr. 09, 2004

[Maria S]

It what could turn out to be his most outrageous falsehood yet, ex-President Bill Clinton has told the 9/11 Commission that he never admitted passing up a chance to have Osama bin Laden arrested - even though his words were caught on tape.

As NewsMax.com reported Friday afternoon, 9/11 Commissioner Bob Kerrey revealed the Clinton denial to WDAY Fargo, North Dakota radio host Scott Hennen for an interview set for broadcast Monday.

NewsMax.com has obtained a full transcript of Kerrey's comments to Hennen, a portion of which was first publicized by national radio host Sean Hannity. The transcript shows the Nebraska Democrat had no idea when he questioned the ex-president that his denial is provably false:

HENNEN: Bill Clinton, in his own words, at a fundraiser in 2002, talked about being offered, from the Sudanese, Osama Bin Laden. And he said, and I quote: "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."

KERREY: He told us yesterday that, that was a misquote.

HENNEN: I have heard it in his own voice! I have heard him say it. I have the tape of him saying just that.

KERREY: Really? Well, ship it to me. Because he said yesterday that he didn't have a recollection of that.

HENNEN:: Wow. Because again, this isn't somebody recalling this. This is Bill Clinton saying it, at this fundraiser, when he was asked a question from someone in the audience.

KERREY: Was that in Long Island?

HENNEN: Yes, in 19 - eh, in 2002

KERREY: He - there were actually two references. That one, [where] he said that he didn't understand. I think he said, "I didn't understand the question. I didn't understand what the facts were. I didn't have a good recollection of what was going on." But he has since checked it and has altered his answer.

HENNEN: So he's now saying there never was an opportunity where the Sudanese actually offered . . .

KERREY: Right.

HENNEN: . . . bin Laden to us and we tried to get the Saudi's to take him and all that.

KERREY: That's right.

HENNEN: Boy.

KERREY: Regardless of what his answer is, I believe that early on if we understood the threat, that, ah, there were many moments early on, especially in the Clinton administration, when action could have been taken that wasn't taken to render both bin Laden and his chief military operators [no longer a threat to the U.S.]. And we didn't do it.

They thought, look, by the way, it's reasonable to presume that it was a great success to get him from the Sudan to Afghanistan, out in the bush in Afghanistan. That was not a friendly place for bin Laden to be going anymore. [End of Excerpt]

NewsMax.com gratefully acknowledges the help of WDAY's Scott Hennen in obtaining the transcript.

[Maria S]

I ran thru search and didn't find; surely this was posted earlier somewhere!

[Vermonter]

Here's an earlier discussion

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1114669/posts

[Sacajaweau]

From a Madlady Albright interview. I believe she was asked why Bubba didn't take Usama when the offer was made. Her reply was a simple "I don't know".

I think it was a Russert interview, about a year ago.

[A.A. Cunningham]

denial

[Paul Atreides]

Amazing, how they all bend over and take it for Bubba, when he would hang his own mother out to dry, if it would give him some advantage.

[Paul Atreides]

KERREY: He - there were actually two references. That one, [where] he said that he didn't understand. I think he said, "I didn't understand the question. I didn't understand what the facts were. I didn't have a good recollection of what was going on." But he has since checked it and has altered his answer.

Do you mean that the most intelligent, most "nuanced" man on this Earth didn't understand the facts? I thought this was the compartmentalizing President, who could have several different scenarios going on at one time.

[backhoe]

Audio Link:
http://newsmax.com/audio/BILLVH.mp3

[mylife]

I heard him say it on television!

he said he didn't feel that they had legal grounds to apprehend bin laden!

This from a man who thought asking what "the meaning of 'is' is, was a viable legal position!

[Sacajaweau]

I believe Usama had a bounty on him at this time.

[4integrity]

Albright....I simply don't know....

can you imagine the media uproar if Colin Powell or Condi Rice gave this response.

[GailA]

btt

[cardinal4]

It amazes me too. It has to be blackmail, I cant imagine anyone willingly falling on a sword for the toon..

[Sacajaweau]

Clarifying previous posting: The bounty was on Usama. I didn't express that correctly.

[Reactionary]

In my more cynical moments I think Clinton's "hands off" approach to bin Laden wasn't a mistake. I don't attribute good intentions to Clinton, liberals in general, or to that witch, Hillary.

On the contrary, I believe that they hate America.

[Paul Atreides]

Given the Bubba/Hitlery habit of screwing over people, I guess it was the safest answer she could have given.

[Sacajaweau]

I believe there is also a speech with Clinton saying that he was "obsessed" with Usama (After 9-11, I believe).

Boy, when you can't tell the difference between Usama and Monica, you have a problem. Concentrate Bubba!!

[YaYa123]

Look at the lies Kerrey is telling himself.

first he said Clinton was misquoted, then he says Clinton had no recollection of it. Which one, Kerrey?

And brothers and sisters, if Kerrey (and the commission) didn't know what Clinton had said, why were they questioning him about it?

[Paul Atreides]

It reminds me of the reporter, riding to Kerry's rescue, to say that he misquoted him, about the foreign leader endorsements. Trouble was, Kerry ran with the ball about not naming the leaders.

[canuck_conservative]

Bill Clinton is an admitted perjurer.

Why should anyone believe anything he says?!

[astounded]

Paul:

He could have two scenarios going on at the same time - provided one entailed fellatio delivered while he was talking on the telephone. What a lying bastard Clinton is. Everyone who voted for him should hang his head in shame.