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Giuliani Defends Clinton on 9/11 Efforts
AP ^ | Sep 27 8:06 PM US/Eastern | MATT SEDENSKY

Posted on 09/27/2006 5:38:21 PM PDT by Vision

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani defended Bill Clinton on Wednesday over the former president's counterterrorism efforts, saying recent criticism on preventing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is wrong. Political bickering over which president _ Clinton or George W. Bush _ missed more opportunities to prevent the attacks has been escalating since Clinton gave a combative interview on "Fox News Sunday" in which he defended his efforts to kill Osama bin Laden.

"The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don't think he deserves it," Giuliani said in response to a question after an appearance with fellow Republican Charlie Crist, who is running for governor. "I don't think President Bush deserves it. The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists _ the Islamic fanatics _ who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice challenged Clinton's claim that he did more than many of his conservative critics to pursue bin Laden, and she accused the Democrat of leaving no comprehensive plan to fight al-Qaida.

Giuliani said he believed Clinton, like his successor, did everything he could with the information he was provided.

"Every American president I've known would have given his life to prevent an attack like that. That includes President Clinton, President Bush," the former mayor said. "They did the best they could with the information they had at the time."

Giuliani also said a recently declassified report that said the Iraq war had become a "cause celebre" for Islamic extremists demonstrated the need to continue the fight there.

"The jihadists very much want a victory in Iraq. They feel that if they could defeat us in Iraq they will have a great victory for terrorism," Giuliani said. "What that should do is organize us to say if they want a big victory in Iraq then we have to deprive them of that victory."

Giuliani said he was "very interested in considering" a run for president but would not make a decision until after the November election.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bergergate; bj; bjclinton; buffoons; chinesecampaignmoney; clintonistas; cristprogay; fakerepublicans; letbinladengo; liarinchief; nationaldisgrace; panderingwifebeater; perjury; politicalsuicide; progaycrist; rinos; stainonbluedress; stainonovaloffice; suckmycigar; thissealsthedeal; whatdidbergersteal; whileclintonslept; whydidbergersteal; yougotmyvotenot
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To: SDGOP

Hehee, if he ever thought about running for President he just screwed himself with that tripe. Buh-bye Rudy.


21 posted on 09/27/2006 6:04:04 PM PDT by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: Vision

Nothing surprising here. They are two of a kind. The surprise would be if the RINO scumbag didn't defend the Democrat scumbag.

Giuliani is the "Character Doesn't Matter" wing of the Party's pride and joy. Hopefully, that wing is so small he's held his last public office.


22 posted on 09/27/2006 6:05:58 PM PDT by SUSSA
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To: JennysCool

I have so many things I'd love to go off on you for, but you seem like a nice lady so I'll just let go.

Rudy will never be president. I hope that doesn't disappoint you. It will be better for everyone if we stop talking about him in '08.


23 posted on 09/27/2006 6:08:23 PM PDT by Vision ("As a man thinks...so is he." Proverbs 23:7)
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To: Vision

He also defended Bush. You gotta remember, this is an AP headline, and they'll spin it anyway they want to.


24 posted on 09/27/2006 6:10:19 PM PDT by popdonnelly
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So are you all going to give him the Lieberman treatment? Sounds like many are no better than the Dems they criticized when they ganged up on him. Just making an observation...


25 posted on 09/27/2006 6:10:55 PM PDT by oolatec
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To: JennysCool

I'm not blaming klintoon for 9/11 directly (although if he had any true leadership genes he may have been able to stop it), I am blaming him for endangering America by lying about what he did and didn't do (all for personal satisfaction and a legacy)!

LLS


26 posted on 09/27/2006 6:11:09 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Preserve America... kill terrorists... destroy dims!)
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To: oolatec

Are you sure that was an observation? He's not running for anything. And if you mean for the Presidency in '08, then yes, he's unfit.


27 posted on 09/27/2006 6:12:47 PM PDT by Vision ("As a man thinks...so is he." Proverbs 23:7)
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To: Vision
"The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don't think he deserves it," Giuliani said in response to a question after an appearance with fellow Republican Charlie Crist, who is running for governor. "I don't think President Bush deserves it. The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists _ the Islamic fanatics _ who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it."

I interpret that statement as intentionally or not equating the job Clinton did on terrorism with the job Bush has done. That is ludicrous. Most everything Clinton did in office was related to his own political survival. Bush has put the country's survival ahead of his own political survival.

28 posted on 09/27/2006 6:17:23 PM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: LibLieSlayer
I'm with you on that! I'm not saying Clinton doesn't bear responsibility for the lax policies that allowed bin Laden to flourish, but I reserve the blame for 9/11 for bin Laden, the perpetrators, and their fellow travelers.
29 posted on 09/27/2006 6:19:12 PM PDT by JennysCool
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To: syriacus

Don't blame Bill, blame Hill, and get ready to blame Chelsey.


30 posted on 09/27/2006 6:19:16 PM PDT by DManA
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To: Vision
The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists _ the Islamic fanatics _ who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it."

I happen to agree with Rudy on this. Clinton is a slimeball for lying about what really happen and trying to shift the blame to Bush, but I put 100% of the blame on the Islamafascist.

31 posted on 09/27/2006 6:20:32 PM PDT by Always Right
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To: Vision
What may seem shocking on FR, is great politics from a rare Republican who would be able to win in 2008.

His quote: "The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don't think he deserves it. I don't think President Bush deserves it. The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists - the Islamic fanatics - who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it."

Read it and realize what he is saying. He is saying that ISLAMIC FANATICS are solely responsible for 9/11. Not an American President- whether Clinton or Bush.

Anyone here argues with that?

Clinton, in my opinion didn't do what he needed to do for the threat we faced. Neither did Bush. Neither prevented 9/11.

The Bush Administration and the Clinton sycophants are trading accusations. Giuliani is calling a time out and focusing on the real culprits.

And then he adds support for the Iraq war that must be won.

We may have a very low opinion of Clinton but he is highly popular nationwide. The nominee has to win the Nation.

If you are looking for a someone who will watch his every word to get the nomination but then badly lose the general, Giuliani is definitely not your candidate.

32 posted on 09/27/2006 6:20:35 PM PDT by Sabramerican (Bush Doctrine- Old: Fight terrorists. New: Cease fire with terrorists.)
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To: Vision

Fearless forecast: Before next winter's snow melts, Rudy will have formally rejoined the Demo-flock.


33 posted on 09/27/2006 6:23:55 PM PDT by Tenniel (Never explain. Your friends don’t need it, and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. – E. Hubbard)
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To: Vision

Perhaps Rudy could be the terrorism czar.


34 posted on 09/27/2006 6:25:17 PM PDT by maxter
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To: Vision

Showing support for Bill Clinton are the least of Rudy's flaws. Support for big government, abortion, illegals and gay rights are much bigger reasons why he should never be President.


35 posted on 09/27/2006 6:36:44 PM PDT by BW2221
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To: BW2221

are = is


36 posted on 09/27/2006 6:37:15 PM PDT by BW2221
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To: Vision

so I guess those posting here believe that George Allen will come out and blame Bill Clinton for 9/11. Anybody here think that is going to happen?

(sound of crickets...)


37 posted on 09/27/2006 6:39:12 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: oceanview

George Allen will break his back to please the media; I don't think he's fit. But it's either him or Newt in '08.


38 posted on 09/27/2006 6:45:16 PM PDT by Vision ("As a man thinks...so is he." Proverbs 23:7)
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To: JennysCool
Clinton was not derelict, distracted, or asleep with his Middle East policies. The Clinton-Albright-Berger troika's deliberate policy toward Muslim extremism was to accept and appease them. In their view this was the way to a peace settlement between Israel and Arafat that would secure our oil supply and get Bubba the Nobel Peace Prize he so desperately wanted.

That is the reason for their meek response to Muslim terrorism. That is the reason they fought a war to make Europe safe for Muslim terrorists. That is the reason Berger had to commit felonies to cover their tracks.
39 posted on 09/27/2006 6:57:07 PM PDT by BigBobber
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To: Vision

Rudy is just trying to be diplomatic. Maybe he was caught off guard with a reporter's question.

If he ends up running against Hillary, the clintons will stab him in the back. They are the lowest and will stop at nothing to destroy their opponents. She came across as a witch today with her comments against Bush.


40 posted on 09/27/2006 7:04:29 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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