Clinton Discounts 1999 Report That Warned of Possible Suicide Hijackings Into Federal Buildings

Associated Press ^ | May 17, 2002 | B.J. Reyes

[tomball]

 

HONOLULU (AP) - Former President Clinton said Friday he knew about the dangerous potential of Osama bin Laden but discounted reports that a 1999 analysis should have alerted his administration to a terrorist attack on the scale of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The analysis warned that members of bin Laden's al-Qaida organization could hijack an airliner and fly it into government buildings like the Pentagon on suicide missions.

"That has nothing to do with intelligence," said Clinton, who was in Hawaii on a two-day stopover en route to East Timor. "All that says is they used public sources to speculate on what bin Laden might do.

"Let me remind you that's why I attacked his training camp and why I asked the Pakistanis to go get him, and why we contracted with some people in Afghanistan to go get him, because we thought he was dangerous," he said. "But that's not the same thing as having intelligence about specific things."

The Bush administration has asserted that no one in government had envisioned a suicide hijacking before it happened.

"That was a report by a congressional research service and the Library of Congress using public information and it basically says he's a dangerous guy that might do a lot of things," Clinton said. "So we tried to get him. That doesn't have anything to do with what the intelligence people, the CIA or the FBI, tell the administration.

"That's why I did everything I could to get bin Laden, because I thought he was a dangerous man," he said. "And as we've seen, he is."

President Bush on Tuesday named Clinton to head a delegation representing the United States at the inauguration of East Timor President-elect Xanana Gusmao. East Timor, a former Indonesian territory, separated from Jakarta in 1999 during Clinton's term.

AP-ES-05-17-02 2311EDT

[ET(end tyranny)]

"That's why I did everything I could to get bin Laden, because I thought he was a dangerous man," he said. "And as we've seen, he is."

The why didn't you (clinton), taken bin laden, when he was offered to you on a silver platter??????

[swheats]

Is there any way to leave him in East Timor?

[Numbers Guy]

There is something to be gained by bringing up Clinton's inaction then letting him defend himself: The most rabid Bush-bashers are Clinton-lovers. In fact, they're more interesting in defending Clinton than they are in attacking Bush. Given that Clinton had similar intelligence and did *far* less than Bush, they can't very well attack Bush and defend Clinton at the same time. They'll have to make a choice and, given a choice, the kneepad crowd will lay off Bush in order to defend Clinton.

[Republic]

If billy clinton asked other nations to go get bin laden like he says he did above, WHY didn't he take bin laden into custody when the country of Sudan in Africa OFFERED bin laden to the United States on clinton's watch? I mean....bill clinton is responsible for the master architect of 9/11 being free to plot and plan his murderous sprees.

[LasVegasMac]

Just more BS from the biggest TURD we have seen to date.

LVM

[Thumper1960]

"That's why I did everything I could to get bin Laden, because I thought he was a dangerous man," he said. "And as we've seen, he is."

Then why, "Mr." Clinton, didn't you take bin-Laden when the Sudan offered him to you on a silver platter???????

Clinton is an ass! A lying ass!

[stratman1969]

Hold your noses 'cause the bull is flowing from Bubba's lips!!!! He admits he discounted the report, so why isn't he getting the flack from the media?

[shadowman99]

I notice he didn't discount the 1995 report.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Just more BS from the biggest TURD we have seen to date.

I don't know. Toss up between him and his wife. Two floaters in the pond full of scum.

[jaz.357]

......" I DID NOT HAVE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THAT TERRORIST,,MR.bin LADEN"....

[tubebender]

"Let me remind you that's why I attacked his training camp and why I asked the Pakistanis to go get him, and why we contracted with some people in Afghanistan to go get him, because we thought he was dangerous," he said. "But that's not the same thing as having intelligence about specific things."

I can hear RUSH imitating this useless blob using his own words.

[deadhead]

"Then why, "Mr." Clinton, didn't you take bin-Laden when the Sudan offered him to you on a silver platter??????? Clinton is an ass! A lying ass!"

I concur. Clinton didn't have the courage to deal with bin laden and Iraq, IMHO

[lakey]

"Who me?" Why, sure, bubba, we know you never lie.

[Political Junkie Too]

Let me remind you that's why I attacked his training camp...

Yes, please, remind me again why?

-PJ

[Mia T]

What did he know. . . and when did he know it ?

by Mia T

5.17.02

 "The instant that second plane hit, I said to the person with whom I was speaking, 'Bin Laden did this.' I knew immediately. I know what this network can do."

bill clinton

more

[snooker]

Funny how Bubbafucco knew bin Laden was a bad dude, and he was trying to get him, even attacked his tent, but couldn't find the guts to take him out when offered his head on a silver platter by Sudan. Can't have it both ways.

Maybe if Bubba wasn't so focused on closing the mythical 'gunshow loop hole', he might have found time to defend the country's citizens from slaughter.

[Prodigal Son]

D'oh!

[harpo11]

Why didn't a reporter ask him why he did not create an agency like President Bush did to share information with all agencies to secure our nation, or federalize airline baggage inspectors, or arm airline pilots, or do anything that would show that he was actively involved with more than his waggling and trigger happy finger?