Clinton: At Least I Prevented Bin Laden Attacks

NewsMax ^ | Sunday June 16, 2002; 9:49 a.m. EDT

[flamefront]

Ex-president Bill Clinton suggested this week that his administration had a better record at stopping terrorist attacks than President Bush's, telling an interviewer who asked about pre-9-11 CIA and FBI intelligence failures, "At least in my time, more of these things were prevented than occurred."

"I spent an enormous amount of time on this when I was president," Clinton told Fox News Channel's Rita Cosby in comments broadcast Saturday night. "We must have talked about (Osama) bin Laden several days of every week for the last few years I was president. We did a lot of work on it."

Clinton continued:

"I think the facts will probably come out as they should and then people can draw their own conclusions. And I think, when the Congress completes their work, then I might want to say something. But I think right now we shouldn't."

Then, as if to underline the fact that bin Laden's most devastating attack on the U.S. came after he left office, the ex-president observed, "All I know is that, at least in my time, more of these things were prevented than occurred. And we tried to stay on top of them and did the best we could."

Clinton's apparent finger pointing came despite obvious efforts to restrain himself, and he repeatedly suggesting that leaders should withhold comment until congressional 9-11 probers were finished.

"I think that we should wait for them to draw their conclusions and get all the evidence out, then the rest of us, if we have anything to say, we can say it," he told Fox News, adding, "We have succeeded to a remarkable degree, since Sept. 11, to not let this thing become a partisan issue."

But in the next breath Clinton made the argument that "at least in my time" he had stopped most terrorist attacks.

While offering tacit support for Bush's massive effort to reorganize homeland security, the ex-president was critical of one aspect of the plan.

"I do know that neither the CIA nor the FBI is in any way affected by this. And that's where all the intelligence work is done and that's where all the questions have been raised that are being looked at by Congress."

"They're not at all affected by the reorganization," he complained.

But Clinton also had praise for U.S. intelligence gatherers, telling Fox News, "The people who do this work have actually been pretty good at preventing a lot of things."

To illustrate that fact, he reiterated again, "When I was president, far more terrorist incidents were prevented than actually occurred."

[flamefront]

I think some here might like to comment.

Curious to me that all these Dem-Clinton items come out jsut before an election, again.

[Aaron_A]

Good ole Bubba...still smoking those funny cigars?

[sinkspur]

Clinton is an admitted liar.

Never, EVER, believe an admitted liar.

[cardinal4]

What about WTC 1, Al-Khobar Towers,the Military Advisory group in Riyadh,two embassy bombings,and the USS Cole?

[mewzilla]

Well, let's see...

He didn't prevent the 93 WTC bombing, the African Embassy bombings, the Khobar towers bombing, the Cole bombing. And any plane crashes that might have really been terrorist bombings. Or OKC. And he certainly did nothing that would have helped prevent 9-11.

Not a record I'd want to lay claim to, Billzo.

[LarryM]

I don't think anyone believes a word he says.

[Miss Marple]

I saw this walking waste of skin last night. David Dreier was on as a rebuttal (which I think is funny...a member of Congress is all we needed for rebuttal). Dreier is on the Intelligence Committee and was biting his tongue..said the truth will come out in due time.

By the way, Clinton's hair looks a little thin, his nose looked like it was made out of putty, and his left eye was even droopier than usual.

I am SO glad he is no longer president!

[bmwcyle]

"I did better job covering them up. I was good at that." What Bill Clinton really said.

[gunnedah]

Yes Billy Bob has a lot to brag about.The Marine barricks and the USS Cole.Both of these were know in advance and especially the USS COLE and he sent them into port knowing this.Plus his administration is the one that tore the FBI,CIA and INS all to hell.It is a known fact 9 out of 10 people in Clintons Administration could not pass a security check and so him and his wife almost dismantled national security because of not wanting his fellow criminals to be checked out and cleared.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I seem to recall him being the mastermind behind the terrorism at Waco.

[wai-ming]

I am SO glad he is no longer president!

I wish he never was.

[truthandlife]

I think Clinton is involved with the whole strategy of the Democrats in Congress. He knows there will appear to be some damning information against Bush and the media will help on this one. Clinton is a very sick individual and I hope the Republicans in Congress are digging up enough information that will show Clinton was the true culprit behind 9/11.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The lies go on and on and on and on and on and on and on.

[Recovering_Democrat]

that is too funny. but appropriate for the thread.

[Bogey78O]

Khobar was Air Force. Minor point but i feel like being picky.

[goodnesswins]

Idiot Clinton - the fool just opened Pandora's box.....and we (Conservatives) can NOW openly rebut his comments.....without being accused of "attacking" HIM.....this could be interesting.

[habs4ever]

Jesus, the lies keep piling up.And when he has the nerve to go that partisan, you KNOW that it's because 9/11 is HIS legacy.He always spins his tales based on his competency, and its his most vulnerable area.Call him a cheat, rapist,fraud, it rolls off his back, but nail him as the incompetent boob he is and he spins the Big Lie.He oozes failure.

[Stentor]

I am almost speechless.

[umgud]

Shouldn't this have been posted under "Humor"