You mean there's another Dick Clark?
Posted on 06/26/2004 11:44:10 PM PDT by ambrose
local6.com
Clarke Calls Iraq War 'Enormous Mistake'
POSTED: 10:12 PM EDT June 26, 2004 UPDATED: 10:25 PM EDT June 26, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The invasion of Iraq was an "enormous mistake," costing untold lives, strengthening al-Qaida and breeding a new generation of terrorists, former White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke said Saturday.
"We did exactly what al Qaida said we would do -- invade and occupy an oil-rich Arab country that wasn't threatening us in any way," Clarke said before giving the keynote address at the American Library Association's annual convention in Orlando. "The hatred that has been engendered by this invasion will last for generations."
Clarke, who wrote "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror" earlier this year, said the United States will lose the war on terrorism if it loses the battle of ideas against extremists in the Middle East. Clarke was a counterterrorism adviser to the past three presidents
"We won the Cold War by, yes, having good strong military forces but also by competing in the battle of ideas against the Communists," Clarke later told the librarians. "We have to do that with the jihadists."
But the United States' ideological credibility has been undermined by revelations of the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison and the release of documents that showed U.S. government attorneys conducted a legal analysis of what constituted torture, Clarke said.
"What happened at that prison was legally a war crime," Clarke said. "It pains me to realize now as we read these documents that American government lawyers were writing opinions about what torture was."
Clarke took issue with some elements of documentary-maker Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911." The movie depicts how the Bush administration allowed Saudi nationals and members of Osama bin Laden's family to leave the United States days after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Saudi nationals were not allowed to leave until the FBI cleared them of posing any danger or having any knowledge of Osama bin Laden's whereabouts, Clarke said.
"This has become a tempest in a tea pot," Clarke said. "After 911, I think the Saudis were perfectly justified ... in fearing the possibility of vigilantism against Saudis in this country. When they asked to evacuate their citizens ... I thought it was a perfectly normal request."
Clarke added that while he agrees with many things Moore stands for, making this incident a big part of the movie was "a mistake."
Clarke now knows where his bread's buttered, and that'll be the crowd he panders to from here on out. Cha-ching.
So Dick Clarke, still worried that the Iraq war might distract us from cyber terror and perhaps the y2k+5 bug?
I think Richard Clarke is one big enormous mistake of a person. Creep.
"We won the Cold War by ... having good strong military forces but also by competing in the battle of ideas against the Communists... . We have to do that with the jihadists."
Yes, I can just see a hostage saying "I have a great idea, put down that sword you are planning to use to cut off my head!"
That'll do it
Dick, Dick, Dick......time to take your head out of your ass, ass, ass. One doesn't engage in a "war of ideas" with religious-cult fanatics who vow to kill every non-cultist on earth. Rather, one kills them before they kill us.
(CHICAGO) The American Library Association (ALA) will host a special benefit screening of "Fahrenheit 9/11" for members and attendees at the 2004 Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, 10 p.m. in the Orlando Convention Center Auditorium.
We should have done what Clinton did ...get a blow job and blow up an asprin factory?
Clarke could use a day out in the sun. He has a very bad case of light deprivation from being under that rock ......... causing mental illness and perpetual simmering anger.
Oh yeah, they were just all love and kisses before our 2003 invasion, such as on 9/11/2001?!
What a freaking joke of a man (ooops, lifelong bachelor) Clarke has become...
Man, he is still p*ssed about losing that job, isnt he?
He's right. I hate the jehadis, I hate clark and democrats for whom he pimps.
Who is Richard Clarke? Wasn't he some guy with his 15 minutes months ago? He's in the same spot at Lewinsky now, anything for attention, a glimpse of the frenzy that's forever lost.
The "Enormous mistake" was Pres. Bush's failure to apply boot to ass to all the Clinton holdovers.I am convinced that were it not for 900 or so FBI files in dem hands alot of these guys would be convicted of treason and executed or jailed for life.
Time to play Wack-A-Mole.
They've finally run out of lying, America-Hating weasals and they're forced to recycle?
He is one of ABC's WOT consultants. My goodness, Richard Clarke, the man who can't get enough of himself, just had to be picked up by one of the most anti-Bush networks, didn't he?
Fifteen minutes isn't enough for Dickie. He wants to squeeze out as much face time as he can.
The US will loose the war because of self serving men like Clark.
Red6
Clarke is in Orlando? Is there a chance Disney will be making another anti Bush movie? Moore seems to be making money for them. I am hoping the GOP voters will go to some other vacation spot this year.
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