Freeh: I Turned to Bush After Clinton Blocked Khobar Terror Probe

Newsmax ^ | Tuesday May 20, 2003; 9:32 a.m. EDT | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[cody32127]

In a blistering indictment of his old boss's negligence in fighting the war on terrorism, former FBI Director Louis Freeh charged Tuesday that ex-President Clinton was so unhelpful during his agency's investigation into the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that he had to turn to former President Bush.

Writing in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, Freeh described the Clinton White House as "unable or unwilling to help the FBI" gain access to key witnesses in the Khobar case because it feared exposing the role of Hezbollah and its state sponsor, Iran.

"The only direction from the Clinton administration regarding Iran was to order the FBI to stop photographing and fingerprinting official Iranian delegations entering the U.S. because it was adversely impacting our 'relationship' with Tehran," Freeh complained.

"The FBI recommended a criminal indictment that would identify Iran as the sponsor of the Khobar bombing," the one-time top G-man revealed. "Finding a problem for every solution, the Clinton administration refused to support a prosecution."

In yet another stunning admission, the former FBI Director said that he was so frustrated by President Clinton's refusal to help that he sought out Clinton's predecessor, who, though out of office for more than three years, promptly took action.

"After months of inaction, I finally turned to the former President Bush, who immediately interceded with [Saudi] Crown Prince Abdullah on the FBI's behalf," Freeh revealed.

"Mr. Bush personally asked the Saudis to let the FBI do one-on-one interviews of the detained Khobar bombers. The Saudis immediately acceded."

Thanks to Bush's intercession Freeh said his agents were given "direct access to the Saudi detainees."

"This was the investigative breakthrough for which we had been waiting for several years," the former FBI director proclaimed.

Explaining why news of Bush's role in helping the FBI while Clinton sat idle had remained a secret all these years, Freeh explained that the 41st president, "typically disclaimed any credit for his critical intervention."

The prosecution and criminal indictment for the Khobar Towers bombers, "had to wait for a new administration," he noted.

Of Bush's son, Freeh observed, "This is a president who is serious about fighting and winning the war on terrorism."

[Grampa Dave]

Wow, thanks for posting this great article by Freeh.

Would you please post it as separate thread and ping me and others.

I want to bookmark this and get going across the internet and to my email lists.

Thanks again!

[Libertina]

I read it took two YEARS before Clintoon met with his NA Security advisor. What an irresponsible juevenile excuse for a man.

[sarasota]

You've got his number. His "era" represents the end (I hope) of brazen mismanagement.

[Cicero]

I too always thought Freeh was basically a decent guy, who took the FBI job out of dedication to duty and then found himself in an impossible position.

Toward the end, I'm convinced, Freeh refused to resign even though clinton forced him to do intolerable things because he knew that if he resigned his replacement would be far worse. He stuck it out because he was loyal to the country.

[Gritty]

Freeh described the Clinton White House as "unable or unwilling to help the FBI" gain access to key witnesses in the Khobar case because it feared exposing the role of Hezbollah and its state sponsor, Iran.

Criminal negligence or negligent criminals?

Freeh reports, you decide!

[mewzilla]

I wonder why Freeh didn't go to Congress about the obstructionism coming from the Toon WH? Surely the oversight committees should have known about this? Did they?

[Travis McGee]

The count of times that the CIA director saw Clinton in the White House compared to the number of times he saw Arafat is interesting. I believe it was about 3-10.

[Wolfstar]

The last administration's attendance to its duty never rose to the level of missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity!

[ruoflaw]

clinton came to hate Louis Freeh and said that Louis Freeh was a big disappointment to him (because Freeh stood his ground against clinton).....to this day he still hates Louis Freeh and I think it is because he couldn't corrupt him.

[BIGZ]

Mighty tough talk from a perfect lady.

[rwfromkansas]

wow

This won't get anywhere of course despite the media loving Freeh when he was in office.

[miloklancy]

Honestly Freeh has never really impressed me much. What with his refusal to bring the FBI into the information age with his aversion to computers. However this certainly makes me think more of him. This is also more evidence of the failed foreign policy of the Clinton Presidency. Essentially Clinton and his cronies have no ground to stand on, in criticizing our current President's foreign policy. Clinton refused to do anything about Middle Eastern terrorism and terror attacks. Instead he just wanted some clever photo ops with terrorists like Yasser Arafat, under the guise of peace in the Middle East. This story also shows how crucial it is that Republicans be in office to administer the continued War On Terrorism.

[Pagey]

Writing in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, Freeh described the Clinton White House as "unable or unwilling to help the FBI" gain access to key witnesses in the Khobar case because it feared exposing the role of Hezbollah and its state sponsor, Iran.

I have to go and read that whole article. Mr. Freeh really should write the tell-all book about Bill Clinton and his complicity in terrorist attacks. Please Mr. Freeh, "Just Do It".How he's kept his mouth shut this long, I'll never know.

[DuncanWaring]

...as "co-President" ...

"We are the President."

[mewzilla]

Ping. Here's the FR thread I saw this morning. Hope this helps.

[VOA]

bump

[gulfcoast6]

A rope unravels one strand at a time. More of his 'slaves' should step forward and tell it like it really was.

[krunkygirl]

BUMP
more people need to read this

[The Westerner]

Iran is the #1 state sponsor of terrorism against the U.S. Some think it should have been our first target after 911.

[The Westerner]

Clinton's briefs were his primary concern, but not the briefs you mention.