Posted on 09/24/2006 5:22:39 PM PDT by MikeA
Clinton to Chris Wallace: 'You Got That Little Smirk on Your Face and You Think You're So Clever'
WASHINGTON (Sept. 24) - In a combative interview on "Fox News Sunday," former President Clinton defended his handling of the threat posed by Osama bin Laden, saying he tried to have bin Laden killed and was attacked for his efforts by the same people who now criticize him for not doing enough.
"That's the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now," Clinton said in the interview. "They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try, they did not try."
Clinton accused host Chris Wallace of a "conservative hit job" and asked: "I want to know how many people in the Bush administration you asked, 'Why didn't you do anything about the Cole?' I want to know how many people you asked, 'Why did you fire Dick Clarke?"'
He was referring to the USS Cole, attacked by terrorists in Yemen in 2000, and former White House anti-terrorism chief Richard A. Clarke.
Wallace said Sunday he was surprised by Clinton's "conspiratorial view" of "a very non-confrontational question, 'Did you do enough to connect the dots and go after Al Qaida?"'
"All I did was ask him a question, and I think it was a legitimate news question. I was surprised that he would conjure up that this was a hit job," Wallace said in a telephone interview.
Clinton said he "worked hard" to try to kill bin Laden.
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"We contracted with people to kill him. I got closer to killing him than anybody's gotten since," he said.
He told Wallace, "And you got that little smirk on your face and you think you're so clever, but I had responsibility for trying to protect this country. I tried and I failed to get bin Laden. I regret it, but I did try and I did everything I thought I responsibly could."
The interview was taped Friday during Clinton's three-day Global Initiative conference.
On NBC's "Meet the Press," also taped Friday and aired Sunday, Clinton told interviewer Tim Russert that the biggest problem confronting the world today is "the illusion that our differences matter more than our common humanity."
"That's what's driving the terrorism," he said. "It's not just that there's an unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict. Osama Bin Laden and Dr. al-Zawahiri can convince young Sunni Arab men, who have - and some women - who have despairing conditions in their lives, that they get a one-way ticket to heaven in a hurry if they kill a lot of innocent people who don't share their reality."
09-24-06 18:35 EDT
The grinding and clanking you hear, and the bad smell that accompanies the sound, are from the Great Clinton Lying Machine starting up.
Dick Clarke wasn't FIRED!!!!
You are exactly right..it was his job. I remember him saying just that to all of us..that the attack on the Cole would be answered....but all of the sudden, Clinton did nothing except attend his dalliances in the Oval Office... all of this on Clinton's watch!! So much for his attention to the security of the American people.!!
Exactly. Just like his minions trying to shut down "Path to 9/11". It didn't make him look like a victim. It made him look guilty as all heck. Furthermore, I doubt journalists like being "intimidated" into asking the "right" questions like that any more than ABC like Bill attempting to sensor their movie. We all saw how well THAT went for Bill. He just managed to create a stink and get higher viewership than there would have been if he has just left it alone.
Once again, I think Bill's age and health are catching up with him. His game has sucked lately.
The last time I saw him pointing his finger like that was when he lied directly to the American people saying he did not have sex with Ms. Lewinsky and we all know he was lying then so isn't he lying now? You betcha!!
Too bad Clinton isn't running. He probably left behind some material for great campaign soundbites.
Cuuuckoooo! Cuuuckoooo!
I saw Chris Wallace talking about this...Clinton to Chris Wallace: 'You Got That Little Smirk on Your Face and You Think You're So Clever' Chris Wallace said it was more shock and surprise on his face as the large man Clinton was angry and right up in his face!
I gotta tell you this was the most unPresidential I think I've ever seen any former President. I was truly shocked with my jaw dropping to the floor watching this man disassemble on TV. It was really embarrassing to watch.
Excellent thanks! Some scumbag Democrat apologist today brought up Wag the Dog only she was lying and defending Clintoon!
intimidate ALL other reporters. Premptive strike across the bow.
Hey Billy, this is the beginning of the end for you and that thing you married.
Somebody needs to photoshop the pic with Cruise on Oprah's sofa. Bubba's face over Cruise's, and Wallace sitting in Oprah's place. Pleeeasse.
You may be onto something--this could be Clinton's "YYEEEEAAAAARRGGGHHHH!" Deaniac moment.
the size of the ALL you refer to is tiny - most are already "intimidated" because they worship the clintons politically.
Clinton staged that the explosion for intimidation against any and all interviewers.
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