"My own personal view on the cover-up is that Clinton didn't want to deal with global terrorism, or with the growing necessity for dealing with Saddam Hussein."
Yes...and the reason for this is because Clinton came into office with one major priority: Mid-East Peace between Israel and Palestine. That is why even after the first WTC attack in 1993, it wasn't Arabs he went after...but Christians at Waco.
"By 1998, the issue had become so urgent..."
Yep...finally, after the 2 embassy bombings Clinton had to do something. And while he tepidly declared his war on terrorism...it only lasted two weeks, so he could get the peace-talks back on track. Clinton never dealt seriously with these threats because he was afraid such acts would alienate the very Arab support he was seeking in the Israel/Pali conflict.
I'd guess that OKC was just too juicy an opportunity for partisan political advantage for Bubba and the Rats, especially at a point when the Republicans had just taken over both houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years. Recall how Clinton and his spin machine implied that everyone from Gingrich to Limbaugh was responsible for the "far right wing" terrorism at OKC. If it had come to light that it was really Saddam behind OKC, Clinton and the Rats would have been sunk permanently. Hence, the cover-up.
Clinton had one face for terrorists.
Christian, white, blowing up abortion clinics.
Anything that didn't fit the profile got handled like jay walking.