Why Clinton failed to stop bin Laden

USA Today Front Page ^ | 2-11-02 | Susan Page

[Kay Soze]

Osama bin Laden was emerging as a terrorist as Bill Clinton was inaugurated as president.

The Saudi exile would be implicated in the first World Trade Center bombing, which occurred a month after Clinton took office. Bin Laden would contribute to the Somali debacle that scarred the president's first use of military force abroad. His al-Qa'eda network would kill more Americans in two bombings in Saudi Arabia and at two U.S. embassies in East Africa, and nearly sink a Navy warship in the final months of Clinton's term.

[ohmage]

Maybe it was because US security wasn't at stake.

In the sense that Yugoslavia never attacked us nor threatened to attack us.

The KLA had/have quite a drug business going. That might have impressed clinton.

[Travelgirl]

But the president's inner circle -- Albright, Berger and Defense Secretary William Cohen among them -- agreed that basic question was never answered with enough certainty to order special operations forces deployed or missiles launched.

clinton's inner circle, like himself, had no military experience.

[ladyinred]

Albright is lying, as is everyone from the former administration who tries to pretend that terrorism was a priority. Too much information has been out there saying the opposite by insiders. Clinton was not interested in the subject, unless of course, they were the ones carrying it out against their enemies.

[PogySailor]

Some Clinton partisans say any criticism that not enough was done before Sept. 11 should be shared with President Bush, who had been in office for 8 months when the attacks took place. Bush also didn't order retaliation for the Cole bombing, although the investigation in Yemen continued on his watch. The argument for retaliation presumably grew stronger as evidence mounted of bin Laden's involvement, they say.

"We started the investigation in October," Albright says. "We arranged the diplomatic aspects of it. The election was in November. We did what we could with the time we had. What has happened since?"

Oh gag me!

[PogySailor]

Oop's. Left off the rest of my post!

What has happened since? Let's see:

• endless FL recounts that dragged the election into December.
• Patisan snipeing at every turn
• Dragging out appointments to executive branch postions

Just to name a few....

[Ajnin]

It was BORTAC, the Border Patrol's equivelent to a SWAT team theat ended up going isnide the house to get Elian Gonzales. I'm not exactly a big fan of BORTAC or SWAT teams, however I'm interested in knowing how you would have handled the situation. Imagine yourself prior to the event. You get a page to meet in a certain area. You are told that your are going to have to go into a hostile situation that may erupt into violence involving firearms and numerous demonstrators. Your mission is to extract a Cuban illegal immigrant who's father is still in Cuba. What are you going to do?

[nutmeg]

This in USA Today, no less!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

BUMP!!!!!

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Darn, you took the words right out of my mouth!

[Enterprise]

"It was BORTAC, the Border Patrol's equivelent to a SWAT team theat ended up going isnide the house to get Elian Gonzales. I'm not exactly a big fan of BORTAC or SWAT teams, however I'm interested in knowing how you would have handled the situation. Imagine yourself prior to the event. You get a page to meet in a certain area. You are told that your are going to have to go into a hostile situation that may erupt into violence involving firearms and numerous demonstrators. Your mission is to extract a Cuban illegal immigrant who's father is still in Cuba. What are you going to do?

You have essentially posed two questions in your hypothetical. You start out by asking how I would have handled the situation, indicating that I have input and choice. But since there is no choice in what follows, then I follow my orders and go in.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

How about allowing the one year time span called for in the 1996 Cuban Immigration Act?

[kcvl]

bttt

[Enterprise]

The one year time span should have been adhered to, but that was a decision which had to be made at higher political levels. It was disregarded in favor of an expedient abuse of police powers, and I still believe the raid was disgusting. Admittedly, the officers at the lower ranks could not have raised such an issue, as their role was limited to "only following orders."

[DuncanWaring]

... the officers at the lower ranks could not have raised such an issue, as their role was limited to "only following orders."

Surely you jest!

Refusal/resignation was certainly an option.

Remember Nuremburg?

[DuncanWaring]

It's interesting how the Clinton Administration could muster a virtual army of Federal Agents and military personnel complete with tanks and aircraft to totally destroy the lives of 80 men, women and children in Waco, yet couldn't give the Rangers one tank or other badly needed support in Somalia.

You've answered your own question.

Tanks and other support weren't available in Somalia because they were all in Waco.

[Polybius]

Bring on the investigation, Hillary!

[windchime]

Please note the date on the USA Today article. It predates the current Bush attack; consequently, altering its relevance to the position the paper might be taking on this issue today (and the objectivity with which it would be presented).

[Elkiejg]

When we list the terrorist attacks on USA why do we always eliminate OKCity? WE KNOW, and so does the FBI, that this was with the help or Arabs. I suggest we add OKCity to the list.

[Enterprise]

I raised the "only following orders" in response to the option of the one year rule. The officers had no option to bring up immigration rules in the context of serving a search warrant. Could they have refused? Certainly! But, they didn't.

[F16Fighter]

"We can look back and say Osama Bin Laden didn't get weaker, he got stronger," during Clinton's tenure says Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the top Republican of the Senate Intelligence Committee... [Under Clinton] We felt we had to fight him [Bin Laden] with Marquess of Queensberry rules," said Bob Graham, D-Fla., Chairman of the Armed Intelligence Committee.

'Nuff said about Clinton's penchant for making the U.S. vulnerable to terrorism during his administration. Only the usual cowardice, lack of resolve, and aiding and abetting of America's enemies can be expected from any Democratic leadership.

And who can forget Jimmy Carter, who besides his role as "useful idiot" recently in Cuba, managed to give the Panama Canal away, hence giving Red China a foothold in North America.