Ex-Bush VP: Clinton 'Policy Breach' Left U.S. Vulnerable to 9-11 Attacks

NewsMax.com ^ | June 4, 2002 | Carl Limbacher

[Carl/NewsMax]

Former Vice President Dan Quayle said Monday night that the lack of a firm policy to deal with terrorism during the Clinton administration was more responsible for leaving America vulnerable to the 9-11 attacks than any FBI or CIA intelligence failures.

"I don't believe 9-11 happened because of an intelligence breach," Quayle told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."

"I think it was really a policy breach. It was the inaction of the previous administration, by and large, that al Qaeda -- and bin Laden in particular -- thought that they could hit the United States, and there would be a retaliation maybe of a cruise missile but nothing more than that," he explained.

The comments make the former vice president, who served under President Bush's father from 1989 to 1993, the highest ranking former U.S. official to suggest that the Clinton administration should get the lion's share of the blame for not preventing the 9-11 attacks.

Quayle also insisted that President Bush would have struck back more forcefully against al Osama bin Laden after earlier terrorist attacks on U.S. interests, taking action that could have averted 9-11.

"I can assure you if a USS Cole or an American embassy that had been hit under President Bush's watch, there would have been a different response," he said. "And I really think that bin Laden.... thought that he could hit us (on 9-11) and that the response would not be that much."

The former vice president also suggested that political correctness played a key role in allowing the 9-11 hijackers to elude U.S. anti-terror watchdogs, even after valuable intelligence on al Qaeda suspects was forwarded to Washington from the FBI's Phoenix and Minneapolis offices.

"This was, clearly, a situation where the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. (said), 'Oh, well, we can't do that. We might be getting into racial profiling,'" Quayle said. "'We might be doing something else, getting into wiretapping when we really don't have probable cause.'"

Appearing on the same show, former FBI assistant deputy director Daniel Coulson blamed a Clinton executive order for the failure of U.S. intelligence agents to infiltrate al Qaeda terror cells.

"The first thing you have to remember is that (Clinton) issued an executive order that said.... you can't use an individual who has terrorist connections in order to develop information about terrorist organizations, which is a huge bungle."

Coulson said the Clinton executive order, "defies reason, it defies logic, and it's not consistent with the law."

"Every day in a criminal case, we use unsavory characters," he explained. "We use people that are murderers to find other murderers. And that puts a great burden on the CIA, and it impedes their abilities to do their job."

[eureka!]

I agree, sadly. 1993 was the year this war should have started....

[Retiredforever]

Rush Limbaugh mentioned yesterday that the Saudi's offered to turn Osama bin Laden over to the United States twice during the Clinton administration -- and the offer was rejected both times.

[hchutch]

I sure hope the Perot voters are happy with themselves...

[eureka!]

I am sure they are not. Nobody is, except the most twisted leftists and those that don't care to learn...

[wny]

This, of course will get zero coverage by the networks this evening. But if Quayle had said "I think it was really a policy breach. It was the inaction of THIS administration..." then it would be the lead story on CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC, MSNBC. And it would be on the front page, above the fold, of the NY Times, the LA Times, Washington Post and the other liberal propaganda sheets.

[chiefqc]

Here's hoping that the klinton's, both pervert willya and crusty hellary, have the nightmares that they justly deserve. Reliving the sounds of the screams and the visions of people jumping out of the towers windows.

But I'm almost certain that this will not happen, they are way beyound that stage. They are both morally bankrupt.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Oh those Perot/quitter/'sit at home'/'bitter that a conservative utopia wasn't instituted in one fell swoop' types are back, audibly sighing with relief and inwardly almost gleeful that they've think they've found their latest excuse to not vote Republican. In denial as usual, with a myopic view that ignores reality and blows a few things they don't like way out of proportion. Running on emotional hysteria, they espouse ridiculous world views that defy logic. Chicken Little so-called conservatives, no different than Kitty Genovese's neighbors.

[Quilla]

Nightmares! I don't think so. The Clinton's are dreaming about reclaiming the White House. Both of them are raking in the big bucks from non-existent book deals, speeches to fools (and their money), skimming off of political action committee funds, and not paying the first legal bill or personal expense. When it comes right down to it, money is what bought Billy Clinton's first presidential election and they plan on buying one for Hilly too. Now I'm gonna have nightmares.

[Coop]

God bless Dan Quayle. I'll be waiting for the NY Times headline on this one.

[yendu bwam]

God bless Dan Quayle. I'll be waiting for the NY Times headline on this one.

Yeah, it'll be on page 23 - one paragraph near the bottom. Headline will be something like: Quayle Plays Politics with 9/11 - - In actuality, nobody but nobody deserves more blame for 9/11 than President Clinton. The man knew perfectly well of the threats, and he completely abrograted his responsibility to protect and defend our country. Though the news media can't say this, history will judge him correctly - and Clinton knows that perfectly well.

[bigdog]

Mr. Squat, you're right on target.

But-

Hope you have your fire proof suit on. 'Cause here come the flames.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

"I agree, sadly. 1993 was the year this war should have started...." - I disagree. This all started in 1979 - Jimmy Carter's administration. With the Tehran hostage situation, the radical muslams declared war on the U.S. We ignored them and they grew. Clinton added gas to the fire by his mitilary response or lack thereof. Just like WWI and WWII wern't really over until the wall came down, this war will not really be over until the enemies of the U.S. are completely defeated. We cannot do it alone, but we will not get any help at this stage. It is our turn to be the target. 1993 was not the year it started, it was the year it should have ended.

[1Old Pro]

It doesn't surprise me a bit that the Liberals in politics and the media made Qualying Quayle their top priority.

Dan Quayle WOULD HAVE LIVED UP TO HIS CONSERVATIVE VALUES and that scared libs to death. Thus, they knew they had to pull out all the stops to convince Americans that Dan was a dim-bulb lightweight.

Quayle is just the opposite, a true conservative who would have been perhaps the only potential presidental candidate to REALLY carry the Reagan torch. So sad....

[eureka!]

Good points. While I was thinking in terms of terror on our shores and the WTC bombing, and not to just bash the worthless and corrupt Clinton...

[Kathleen]

In actuality, nobody but nobody deserves more blame for 9/11 than President Clinton

..and his amnesic co-president.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Now you're talking! Thank GOD for former VP Quayle! At last, the hammer is hitting the nail on the head.

Clinton is the Culpable Culprit and deserves charges of treason, arrest, and imprisonment or worse.

[alrea]

Yeah, it'll be on page 23 - one paragraph near the bottom. Headline will be something like: Quayle Plays Politics with 9/11 - - In actuality, nobody but nobody deserves more blame for 9/11 than President Clinton. The man knew perfectly well of the threats, and he completely abrograted his responsibility to protect and defend our country. Though the news media can't say this, history will judge him correctly - and Clinton knows that perfectly well.

But they tell us Dan Quail nest can't even spell Al Quaida.

[alrea]

"The first thing you have to remember is that (Clinton) issued an executive order that said.... you can't use an individual who has terrorist connections in order to develop information about terrorist organizations, which is a huge bungle."

This message is brought to you by the committee to consider Senator Clinton of New York for President.

[bray]

Who cares about scapegoating an ex-impeached President? Go after the real dangers and that is Dame clinton and Janet Reno who loathed the CIA/FBI/Police/Military. Those are the two that caused 911 and need to be ousted. Why didn't Janet Reno/Dame clinton capture terrorists in the same fervor she captured a 10 yr old refugee??? Why did we sell our secrets to China and then hide the truth? Why did Reno and the JOD cover up the possible details of the Oklahoma bombing? That one looks more and more like the first WTD bombing?? Why did they release and honor so many terrorists?? These are the questions that can damage the current DemonicRat leaders.

Pray for GW and the Truth