Clarke's contradiction may dampen attack on Bush; Barbara Boxer and Charles Schumer BUSTED!

CNSNews.com | June 1, 2004 | Scott Wheeler

[Sun]

Clarke's Contradiction May Dampen Dem Attack on Bush By Scott Wheeler CNSNews.com Staff Writer June 01, 2004

(CNSNews.com) - As Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess, two senators may need to revise one of their harshest critiques about the Bush administration's actions in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, especially now that Bush critic Richard Clarke has contradicted one of his own key statements.

It turns out that President Bush and other top members of his administration had nothing to do with the decision to let members of Osama bin Laden's family depart the United States in the days immediately after 9/11, despite the suggestions of Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer of California and Charles Schumer of New York.

Clarke, the former White House counter-terrorism official and author of a recent book blasting the Bush administration's handling of intelligence leading up to the terrorist attacks, told The Hill newspaper last week that he gave the go-ahead for two members of the bin Laden family and other Saudi nationals to leave the U.S.

"It didn't get any higher than me," Clarke told The Hill . "I take responsibility for it. I don't think it was a mistake, and I'd do it again."

However, back in March, testifying before The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission), Clarke described a different scenario regarding the attempts by the Saudis to depart the U.S. "The request came to me and I refused to approve it," he said at the time.

Clarke's original comments helped Boxer to apply more public pressure on the Bush administration.

"Who in the administration authorized the Saudi Arabian flights ... who did this?" Boxer demanded to know on May 18. "Why would the Saudis want to get out of the country?"

In September of 2003, long before Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission, Boxer and Schumer had already seized on the issue involving the bin Laden family.

"I have sent a letter to Andrew Card, the (White House) chief of staff, asking how this happened, what was the justification, what safeguards were taken, and what are we doing to make sure it doesn't happen again," Schumer proclaimed.

The New York senator suggested that the Bush administration had acted irresponsibly.

"On September 12th and 13th, hundreds of Saudis were able to take flights home back to Saudi Arabia when no one else could fly. I couldn't fly. Senator Boxer couldn't fly," Schumer said. "But relatives of the royal family, including two members of the bin Laden family, were allowed to get on airplanes and go back to Saudi Arabia.

"Now, Dick Clarke, at our Judiciary (Committee) hearing yesterday, said that the FBI approved each person and said they would be okay to go. How the heck did the FBI know on September 13th that none of these people were either involved in terrorism or, at the very least, be needed for questioning?" Schumer asked.

Republican strategist Cheri Jacobus told CNSNews.com that she wonders how Democrats will change their strategy, in light of Clarke's recent admission.

"What Boxer and Schumer do with this new information will tell a lot about their agenda" Jacobus said. But she added that Clarke, in reversing himself and accepting responsibility for approving the flights to Saudi Arabia, has made it impossible for the Democrats to use the issue against President Bush.

The contradiction also discredits Clarke's views on other matters related to 9/11, Jacobus said. Clarke's criticism of the president and his administration were heavily publicized by many in the media when the book, Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror , was published. Clarke followed up the release of his book with two days of testimony before the 9/11 Commission.

Jacobus said she wonders whether Boxer and Schumer were really more interested in scoring political points than in national security. "Do Schumer and Boxer still want accountability since it no longer serves their political agenda?" she asked.

But in a bitter election year, all issues are subordinate to politics, Jacobus added.

"Is their agenda to get to the bottom of things and find out what really happened? Or is it a political agenda where if the wrong person gives the wrong answer they will simply ignore it and be hypocrites?" Jacobus asked.

Schumer and Boxer were unavailable for comment on Friday.

[doodles2]

Claarke lied about an event that occurred near where I live; the capture of a terrorist bomber. If he had even bothered to read the local papers he could have come closer to the truth. Instead he just followed the Clinton style of making up his own story and the media as well as democrats in Congress jumped on it and quoted him numerous times.

[Sun]

The Republicans just aren't good street fighters. I wish they would toughen up!!

[cricket]

"The Republicans just aren't good street fighters. I wish they would toughen up!!"

. . .too true; but this is rediculous. This soundbite has been used and abused for months by every rat Dem. . .we did not have to wait for Clarke to come up with the truth that Bush did NOT do something that the Dems are making a field day with.

[visualops]

bump

[cricket]

"Clarke lied about an event that occurred near where I live; the capture of a terrorist bomber. If he had even bothered to read the local papers he could have come closer to the truth. Instead he just followed the Clinton style of making up his own story and the media as well as democrats in Congress jumped on it and quoted him numerous times."

In our dreams we can imagine the 'Times' cover; 'Clarke BUSTED - by the truth'. . .

But dreams are not where it's at in Washington these day. . .and truth, is difficult to find. It does not have to be this difficult for Repubs.

[God luvs America]

Guess this puts a damper on Michael Moore-on's new lie flick.

[cricket]

"If any of these Dems ever apologized for wrong information, I'd faint."

. . .being a Liberal, means never having to say you're sorry.

And you won't ever hear them; certainly not in this world for sure.

[TomGuy]

Yeh, the Pubbies play better as the minority party than the majority party. They seem lost; don't know what to do. And the Dems, who are the minority party, are running roughshod over them---and they don't even realize it.

[Sun]

Guess I struck a nerve.

I posted this on another board and one liberal just said "poorly written" and another said: "Personally I never had a problem with them being swept out of the country. I thought it was perfectly reasonable. Especially after what happened to Arabs after OKC."

I just love it when I strike a nerve with them. Hope that doesn't mean I'm mean.

[Outraged]

"It didn't get any higher than me," Clarke told The Hill . "I take responsibility for it. I don't think it was a mistake, and I'd do it again."

However, back in March, testifying before The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission), Clarke described a different scenario regarding the attempts by the Saudis to depart the U.S. "The request came to me and I refused to approve it," he said at the time.

[TomGuy]

Especially after what happened to Arabs after OKC

I suppose this is referring to the Murrah bombing. I fail to understand the reference, though. Nothing happened to Arabs after OKC (Murrah). Initially, there was talk of foreign terrorism. Then, a communique from 'someone' in Washington said to 'kill' that. [Conjecture is that that 'someone' was one Jamie Gorelick who was building the wall between the FBI and CIA to stop any investigations in to Clinton-China fundraising and 'activities.']

[Sun]

Yes, it was referring to the OKC bombing.

Can you remember where you got your info. re: Jamie Gorelick? Very interesting.

[Mo1]

Jacobus said she wonders whether Boxer and Schumer were really more interested in scoring political points than in national security. "Do Schumer and Boxer still want accountability since it no longer serves their political agenda?" she asked.

Oh I think we all know the answer to that question

[Sun]

Even Boxer and Schumer know the answer to that question. But the tough part is to make the useful idiots see the truth.

[TomGuy]

Can you remember where you got your info. re: Jamie Gorelick? Very interesting.

I don't have the specific links because many threads were going on for Gorelick-911Committee. Then Jayne Davis released her book about the Murrah bombing. Gorelick's named showed up in several articles, since she was Deputy Atty General at that time (IIRC). Gorelick also had something to do with the CIA. Someone in one of the threads referenced that "someone from Washington sent the message out of 'kill' any official investigating into any foreign connections."

I did a google search on freerepublic.com for Gorelick and Murrah. These are some of the results:

Oklahoma City, TWA Flight 800, and the Gorelick connection
... terrorism: "Kill it." OKC was covered up. From this statement, the implication is
that Gorelick had more than cursory involvement. The morning of the Murrah ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1118798/posts - 69k - Cached - Similar pages

Oklahoma City, TWA Flight 800, and the Gorelick connection
... They also tried to kill the Pope when he ... JURY INVESTIGATION > The Mysterious Jamie
Gorelick Phone Call ... bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah > Building, prosecute ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1118671/posts - 74k - Cached - Similar pages

Document: Oklahoma City Bombing Was Taped
... JAYNADAVIS; JOHNDOE2; MCNALLY; MCVEIGH; MURRAH; MURRAHBUILDING; NICHOLS ... Davis does
not document Gorelick's role in ... investigation into Islamic terrorism: "Kill it ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1120599/posts - 56k - Cached - Similar pages

[lawdude]

"Can he be held in contempt for lying to the commission?"

This is the lie, the Commission comment was the truth (Dem spin)!!!

[Happy2BMe]

Barbie Boxer leading the war on terrorism - ping!

Boxer, Feinstein worth millions

[Smartass]

At one time Barbara Box personal checks were bouncing. Like
every liberal-socialist in office, she found her way to
the water hole!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

What a LYING Weasel !!!

Clarke, the former White House counter-terrorism official and author of a recent book blasting the Bush administration's handling of intelligence leading up to the terrorist attacks, told The Hill newspaper last week that he gave the go-ahead for two members of the bin Laden family and other Saudi nationals to leave the U.S.

"It didn't get any higher than me," Clarke told The Hill . "I take responsibility for it. I don't think it was a mistake, and I'd do it again."

However, back in March, testifying before The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission), Clarke described a different scenario regarding the attempts by the Saudis to depart the U.S. "The request came to me and I refused to approve it," he said at the time.

Who wants to bet this NEVER sees a court ????