[Dat Mon]

Heres a little piece of Tom Clancy type conjecture to chew on...

It could be that the WH got snookered when they made this 'hypothetical' 'gentleman's agreement' with the Clintons and the DNC before the commission got off the ground.

The WH didn't know the scope of Able Danger, or didn't realize that Atta had been fingered as a result of it. Perhaps the Clintons had forgotten as well. The WH certainly was aware of Gorelicks role in establishing the wall...evidenced by Ashcrofts testimony later on. Nevertheless, they made a cold calculated deal with the Dems...a deal which Ashcroft certainly opposed.

After Ashcrofts testimony, and with the blog focus shifted to the 'wall'...there was an Oh $hit moment...Sandy (and/ or Clarke) recalled the handwritten notes...and in panic the Clintons put Sandy and his trusty socks to the task.

They weren't particularly concerned about Sandy getting caught and landing in jail. The Clintons figured that the WH, out of embarrassment perhaps that they had gotten conned, (and with politicians on both sides of the aisle NOT wanting the extent of the Able Danger fiasco to be made public)...would not push the issue with Sandy and would cop a plea with him once they discovered exactly what he did take.

So thats were we are now...

Is it logical...I think so...did it happen that way...who knows??

[Peach]

Much as I like and respect the president, I would have a hard time believing he'd get snookered by Clinton. And if he did, shame on him.

But I think your scenario makes sense.

I still think that the president admonishing Ashcroft for mentioning The Wall and Gorelick's role in it to the Commission was the wrong thing to do.