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ROBERT NOVAK - 'LOSING BIN LADEN'
Townhall ^ | 9/1/03 | Robert Novak

Posted on 09/01/2003 3:41:03 AM PDT by Elkiejg

WASHINGTON -- On Oct. 12, 2000, the day of the devastating terrorist attack on the USS Cole, President Clinton's highest-level national security team met to determine what to do. Counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke wanted to hit Afghanistan, aiming at Osama bin Laden's complex and the terrorist leader himself. But Clarke was all alone. There was no support for a retaliatory strike that, if successful, might have prevented the 9/11 carnage.

This startling story is told for the first time in a book by Brussels-based investigative reporter Richard Miniter to be published this week. "Losing bin Laden" relates that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Secretary of Defense William Cohen, Atty. Gen. Janet Reno and CIA Director George Tenet all said no to the attack. I have contacted enough people attending the meeting to confirm what Miniter reports. Indeed, his account is based on direct, on-the-record quotes from participants.

Miniter, who was part of the Sunday Times of London investigation of Clinton vs. bin Laden, has written a bitter indictment of the American president (its subtitle: "How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror"). But by the time of the Cole disaster with only weeks left in his presidency, Clinton had focused on the terrorist threat. The problem of the Oct. 12 meeting was the caution common to all councils of war. Arguments by participants sound valid, but collectively they built a future catastrophe.

Al Qaeda's bombing of the billion-dollar U.S. destroyer fulfilled Dick Clarke's prediction of the terrorists seeking U.S. military targets. Hours after the attack, Clarke presided over a meeting of four terrorism experts in the White House Situation Room. He and the State Department's Michael Sheehan agreed this almost certainly was bin Laden's doing, but the FBI and CIA representatives wanted more investigation.

That deadlock preceded a meeting of Cabinet-level officials that same day. Clarke proposed already targeted retaliation against bin Laden's camps and Taliban buildings in Kabul and Kandahar. At least, they would destroy the terrorist infrastructure. A quick strike might also get Osama bin Laden. "Around the table," Miniter writes, "Clarke heard only objections." As related by Clarke, the meeting exemplified ministerial caution.

Atty. Gen. Reno, told by the FBI that the terrorists were still unidentified, argued that retaliation violated international law. Reno and the CIA's Tenet wanted more investigation. Secretary of State Albright is quoted as saying that with renewed Israeli-Palestinian fighting, "bombing Muslims wouldn't be helpful at this time." (Albright later told Miniter she would have taken a different position if she had "definitive" proof of bin Laden's involvement.)

Defense Secretary Cohen's position at the meeting is most surprising. The only Republican in the Clinton Cabinet was architect of missile attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan after the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Africa. Clarke remembers Cohen saying the attack on the Cole "was not sufficiently provocative" and that heavy bombing of Afghanistan might cause upheaval in neighboring Pakistan. When I contacted him, Cohen said he did not recall this meeting but that "certainly I regarded the Cole as a major provocation."

The State Department's Sheehan, formerly with Special Forces and now with the New York City Police Department, did not blame Bill Cohen. "It was the entire Pentagon," he told Miniter, adding he was "stunned" and "taken aback" by the lack of Defense Department desire to retaliate. After the meeting, Sheehan told Clarke, prophetically: "What's it going to take to get them to hit al Qaeda in Afghanistan? Does al Qaeda have to attack the Pentagon?"

At the Cabinet-level meeting, only Dick Clarke wanted retaliation. Indeed, he was viewed as a hothead, always demanding bombs away. So much pain has been inflicted, and so much blood has been spilled since then, that the meeting has faded from the memory of its participants -- until stirred up by Clarke in Miniter's book.

Less than a month after the Cole disaster, CIA analysts had concluded bin Laden was behind it (though the FBI was still clueless). Osama bin Laden had virtually claimed credit for the most successful attack on a U.S. naval vessel since World War II. He and his gang had escaped to plan greater misery for America.

......................................

Losing bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror
Miniter, Richard

Order Losing bin Laden now and we will ship it to you as soon as it is released by the publisher on September 2, 2003.

Years before the public knew about Osama bin Laden, Bill Clinton did. Bin Laden first attacked Americans during Clinton's presidential transition in December 1992. He struck again at the World Trade Center in February 1993. Over the next eight years the archterrorist's attacks would escalate killing hundreds and wounding thousands -- while Clinton did his best to stymie the FBI and CIA and refused to wage a real war on terror.

Why?

The answer is here in investigative reporter Richard Miniter's stunning exposé that includes exclusive interviews with both of Clinton's National Security Advisors, Clinton's counter-terrorism czar, his first CIA director, his Secretary of State, his Secretary of Defense, top CIA and FBI agents, lawmakers from both parties and foreign intelligence officials from France, Sudan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as on-the-scene coverage from Sudan, Egypt, and elsewhere.

For eight years the archterrorist waged war on America, and President Clinton did virtually nothing . . .

Losing bin Laden is a dramatic, page-turning read, a riveting account of a terror war that bin Laden openly declared, but that Clinton left largely unfought. With a pounding narrative, up-close characters and detailed scenes, it takes you inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and within some of the deadliest terrorist cells that America has ever faced. If Clinton had fought back, the attacks on September 11, 2001, might never have happened. In Losing bin Laden you'll learn:

The new evidence that Clinton knew about Sudan's offers to arrest bin Laden -- but ignored them in order to focus on the 1996 presidential election

Why Clinton even refused to receive Sudan's vital intelligence files on bin Laden's network

How Clinton scuttled a secret offer from the United Arab Emirates to arrest bin Laden -- and also rejected a plea from Yemen for help in capturing the terrorist

Revealed for the first time: how Clinton and a Democratic Senator stopped the CIA from hiring Arabic translators -- while phone intercepts from bin Laden remained untranslated

Drawn from secret Sudanese intelligence files: bin Laden's role in shooting down America's Black Hawk helicopters in Mogadishu, Somalia -- and how Clinton manipulated the news media to keep the worst off America's TV screens

The warning that Clinton missed -- a week before the deadly shoot-out in Somalia

How Clinton's top officials first learned about bin Laden -- but did nothing

The-never-before told story of the Saudi government attempt to assassinate bin Laden

The real reason Clinton refused to meet with his first CIA director

The untold story of bin Laden's five declarations of war on the U.S. from October 1996 to May 1998 -- threats Clinton ignored

How Clinton ignored intelligence and offers of cooperation against bin Laden from Afghanistan's Northern Alliance

The 1993 World Trade Center attack: Why Clinton refused to believe it had been bombed; why the CIA was kept out of the investigation; and how one of the FBI's most trusted informants was actually a double agent working for bin Laden

Disproved, once and for all: the liberal myth that the CIA funded bin Laden

The untold story of a respected Congressman who repeatedly warned Clinton officials about bin Laden in 1993 -- and why he was ignored

How the Predator spy plane -- which spotted bin Laden three times -- was grounded by bureaucratic infighting

Plus much more, including appendices of secret documents and photos, as well as the established links between bin Laden and Saddam Hussein's Iraq

Richard Miniter appears regularly on Fox News to discuss terrorism, and has written for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, National Review, and many other publications.

Losing bin Laden is a story -- and one hell of a lesson -- that the reader will never forget.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: binladen; clintonlegacy; janetreno; losingbinladen; louisfreeh; madelinealbright; richardminiter; robertnovak; traitorclinton; williamrodhamcohen; x42
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Comment #1 Removed by Moderator

To: Elkiejg
I just hope this book gets the press it deserves.
2 posted on 09/01/2003 3:45:19 AM PDT by BushCountry (To the last, I will grapple with Democrats. For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at Liberals.)
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To: BushCountry
This book will get the press it deserves, but only if Americans who cherish their freedom and security go out and buy this book. One or two million sold copies will destroy the Clintons and send those vermin traitors and their treasonous Democrat Party back into the black hole from whence they came. Just think of all the American blood spilled becasue Bill Clinton was too wrapped up with Monica Lewinsky to protect America and Americans. He should be tarred and feathered publicly and than dispatched with a sentance doled out to traitors! America, you better wake up. The whole Democrat Party needs to be destroyed at the ballot box!
3 posted on 09/01/2003 4:06:44 AM PDT by JLAGRAYFOX
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To: BushCountry
Madeleine Albright, Secretary of Defense William Cohen, Atty. Gen. Janet Reno and CIA Director George Tenet all said no to the attack.

Coulter nailed it; they are gutless, cowardly and incapable of leadership to the end!

When I saw there would be no response to speak of on the part of America to the Cole bombing I threw my hands in the air and actually said out loud "that's it, when they can stike at and kill your people like this and you do nothing then you're DEAD. In 11 months, on my birthday as it happens, we found out exactly what would happen. And make no mistake we got on our knees and begged these animal followers of the bogus prophet to whack us good!
4 posted on 09/01/2003 4:13:40 AM PDT by TalBlack
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To: Elkiejg
Atty. Gen. Reno, told by the FBI that the terrorists were still unidentified, argued that retaliation violated international law.

They should have been identified as Christian wackos so Reno would ok sending in napalm strikes.

5 posted on 09/01/2003 4:24:52 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: Elkiejg
Where is the picture of Clinton playing the sax while the Twin Towers burn?
6 posted on 09/01/2003 4:25:36 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: AmericaUnited

7 posted on 09/01/2003 4:33:07 AM PDT by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trackball into the Sunset...)
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To: Elkiejg
The real reason Clinton refused to meet with his first CIA director

I'm curious about this one in particular. I believe Woolsey got two or three meetings during his entire tenure as Director.

When some nutball crashed his Cessna onto the WH lawn, the joke was "That was Jim Woolsey trying to get an appointment."

8 posted on 09/01/2003 4:38:28 AM PDT by angkor
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To: Elkiejg
Now, now, now... all you tin-foil hatted lunatics, I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all these charges against the Clintons...

Why Clinton even refused to receive Sudan's vital intelligence files on bin Laden's network... hey, Bubba was busy having phone-sex!

The real reason Clinton refused to meet with his first CIA director... I bet he refused to pay the $50K campaign contribution requested for every meeting with Bubba.

How Clinton ignored intelligence and offers of cooperation against bin Laden from Afghanistan's Northern Alliance... hey, there were Interns to diddle! What do you expect?!

Drawn from secret Sudanese intelligence files: bin Laden's role in shooting down America's Black Hawk helicopters in Mogadishu, Somalia -- and how Clinton manipulated the news media to keep the worst off America's TV screens.... Oh, c'mon! That's the old canard of the liberal bias in the media... Joe Conasen and Al Franken have cut down all these arguments...

How Clinton's top officials first learned about bin Laden -- but did nothing ... These people had other priorities, such as backing up Bubba in his time of need with their "I believe the President" claims after the one and only cabinet meeting in 1998. After all, one has to have priorities.

9 posted on 09/01/2003 4:47:21 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds
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To: Elkiejg
Hindsight is 20/20, of course. However, Al Qaeda attacked us several times over the course of a decade, all throughout Clinton's two terms in office. The Cole bombing was not an isolated incident.

And that's the point. The fact is, the kindest way to describe the Clinton administration's response to Al Qaeda is "incompetent".

But I think "treacherous" is much closer to the mark. Let the truth be known!

10 posted on 09/01/2003 5:04:49 AM PDT by Imal (The World According to Imal: http://imal.blogspot.com)
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To: TalBlack
Yeah, America really needed a good president back then. Too bad we didn't elect one.
11 posted on 09/01/2003 5:11:32 AM PDT by Imal (The World According to Imal: http://imal.blogspot.com)
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To: Elkiejg
America better think again about whether it only was about sex and if sex is not an indulgent behaviors and structured life of hedonism when fighting terror is needed.
12 posted on 09/01/2003 5:14:56 AM PDT by JudgemAll
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To: angkor
Sadly, I saw Woolsey repeat that joke on Fox News within the past couple of months. I will say though, he certainly wasn't laughing about it.

Revealed for the first time: how Clinton and a Democratic Senator stopped the CIA from hiring Arabic translators -- while phone intercepts from bin Laden remained untranslated.

I'm wondering if the above mentioned Democratic Senator (underlined in the article) is Mrs. Clinton.

13 posted on 09/01/2003 5:24:07 AM PDT by Quilla
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To: Elkiejg
BUMP
14 posted on 09/01/2003 5:27:54 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Dr. Scarpetta
Anyone have posting privileges over at DU? Maybe they would be interested in reading about this new book about their idols.
15 posted on 09/01/2003 5:28:56 AM PDT by Elkiejg
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To: Elkiejg
Heck, they're all over here this morning, so they have gotten their "heads-up."

(Or maybe "heads-out.")

16 posted on 09/01/2003 5:34:15 AM PDT by niteowl77 (If you aren't still praying for our troops, then you had best take it up again.)
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To: Elkiejg
Secretary of State Albright stated the attackers of the Cole should not be targeted for a strike because of their religion, they were Muslim just like the Israeli Jews (Palestinians). I find this amazing! Everytime she opens her mouth, she says something non-sensical. Some one tell me why Bill Clinton gets a pass on all things? The Rosenburgs didn't and they did less.
17 posted on 09/01/2003 5:48:29 AM PDT by HankReardon
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To: Elkiejg
Hopefully, this author will be on radio shows. (What is DU?)
18 posted on 09/01/2003 5:51:52 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Imal
Voters such as I gave our vote to Ross Perot which allowed the career criminal, sell out to the Chi-Coms traitor to win the election with only 43% of the vote. Never again from me!
19 posted on 09/01/2003 5:52:43 AM PDT by HankReardon
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To: TalBlack
Why didn't Bush get us ready to attack Afghanistan for the Cole bombing as soon as he was inaugurated?
20 posted on 09/01/2003 5:53:33 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (Inconceivable!)
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