Powell Blasts Gore on Bin Ladengate Scandal

NewsMax.com ^ | 6/30/02 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Responding to former Vice President Al Gore's criticism on Saturday of the Bush administration's handling of the war on terrorism, Secretary of State Colin Powell blasted the Clinton-Gore administration for not accepting a deal for Osama bin Laden's extradition from Sudan negotiated by Pakistani-American businessman Mansour Ijaz in the late 1990's.

"Perhaps that's what Vice President Gore should have been talking about - what happened on their watch as opposed to the progress we've made on our watch," Powell told "Fox News Sunday," after being asked about Ijaz's claims.

In a Sunday Washington Post op-ed piece, Ijaz and former U.S. ambassador to Sudan Tim Carney detailed the Clinton administration's mishandling of both Sudan's bin Laden offer and overall U.S. relations with the country. In another reference to the Ijaz-Carney piece, Powell said the Bush administration had made progress, "not only in Afghanistan but, I would also submit, in Sudan."

"We've recently sent a presidential emissary to Sudan," Powell told "Fox News Sunday." "Sen. Jack Danforth, he's had very successful trips there. We now have a policy with respect to Sudan that will start to move them in the direction of cooperating with us in the campaign against terrorism."

Powell cited the Clinton-Gore bin Ladengate scandal after the former vice president slammed the Bush administration for failing to capture the 9-11 terrorist mastermind.

On Saturday Gore told a crowd of Democratic Party faithful, "They haven't gotten Osama bin Laden or the al Qaeda operation and they have refused to allow enough troops from the international community to be put into Afghanistan to keep it from sliding back under control of the warlords."

Before making reference Mr. Ijaz's allegations, Powell called Gore's remarks "patent nonsense" adding, "I notice the previous administration didn't even make a serious try (to get bin Laden)."

With his comments on Sunday, the Secretary of State becomes the highest ranking Bush administration official to endorse Mr. Ijaz's claims, which have been all but ignored by the mainstream news media except for the occasional op-ed column authored by the Pakistani-American businessman himself.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ijaz has come under fierce attack from the Clinton administration and their supporters in the press.

In a May radio interview, for instance, Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri called Ijaz "a liar" and "a crackpot." (See: DNC Spokesgal Trashes Key Bin Ladengate Accuser)

Clinton friendly media reporters like the New York Times' Judith Miller and NBC newswoman Andrea Mitchell have explained their own decisions not to cover Ijaz's claims by saying he lacks credibility. Miller said she established Ijaz's lack of credibility by contacting former Clinton administration sources.

In May, Ijaz told radio host Sean Hannity that he, Mr. Carney and the chief of Sudanese intelligence would be willing to give sworn testimony on bin Ladengate but had not yet been called by Congress. (See: Bin Laden-gate Witness Dares Dems: Depose Me on Clinton 9-11 Cover-Up)

Earlier this month, Ijaz told radio host Don Imus that former Clinton administration officials had mounted a campaign to block his testimony. (See: Bin Laden-gate Accuser: Ex-Clinton Officials Trying to Silence Me)

But with Powell's tacit endorsement, the bin Ladengate accuser's story it may be more difficult for congressional investigators and the press to ignore.

In their Sunday Washington Post op-ed piece, Ijaz and Carney added new details to their account of the Clinton administration's bin Ladengate intelligence failure:

"After offering to hand bin Laden over to U.S. authorities, Sudan expelled him..... Sudan gave U.S. authorities permission to photograph two terror camps. Washington failed to follow up. In August, (Sudan) sent an 'olive branch' letter to President Clinton through Ijaz. There was no reply.

"By election day 1996, top Clinton aides, including (National Security Advisor Sandy) Berger, knew what information was available from Khartoum and of its potential value to identify, monitor and ultimately dismantle terrorist cells around the world. Yet they did nothing about it."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Al-Qaeda
Al Gore
Bush Administration
Clinton Scandals
Media Bias

[rohry]

"LIEBERMAN: I've got a feeling those may be Republicans. We're going for Independents and Democrats."

No Joe, those weren't Republicans. Portsmouth (where the show was broadcast from) is the most liberal city in NH. They voted overwhelmingly for Gore in 2000.

[SteamshipTime]

Take THAT!

[mombonn]

I call that 'pretty bold talk'.....for Powell.

It's incredibly bold talk, period; and about time. I do believe President Bush has decided to take off the gloves.

Just remember, clintbilly and cronies, - DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!

Viva Bush/Cheney!

[A Navy Vet]

Mr. Ijaz is one of the most articulate, self-confident, credible talking heads I've seen lately. I completey believe his story, not to mention he has documentation.
He is succinct and knows his subject matter just like the ex-special forces military advisor on Fox with the goatee.

[Stultis]

[Andrea] Miller said she established Ijaz's lack of credibility by contacting former Clinton administration sources.

Oh, no, did she really say that... out loud?! LOL! What prevented her head from exploding?

[rintense]

Your forgot one word...

Amen, and 'bout FRICKIN time.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Maybe he is always playing a role in a high-stakes "good cop/bad cop" routine.

That is, pretty much, the job description for the position of "Sec. of State." We forget because for 8 years we had Mad-one Halfbrite playing "giveaway." Little miss, "I believe the president" was actually too stupid to actually play complex games like good cop, bad cop...

Seeing someone who KNOWS a little about roles and game playing, is actually, a little refreshing.

KUDOS to Sec Powell, I would say the two comments, were pretty much direct hits. The libbies are going to have to be careful regarding their approach to interviewing this guy... he's not as dumb as Maddy was.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That is a very good article, not complementary to the CIA though.

I think we ought to put it up under its own thread for discussion!

[Endeavor]

"They haven't gotten Osama bin Laden or the al Qaeda operation and they have refused to allow enough troops from the international community to be put into Afghanistan to keep it from sliding back under control of the warlords." - Al Gore

"They" haven't gotten Bin Laden? Shouldn't that be "We" Al? Are you really so stupid and insufferable as to state in plain English that it's Bush who hasn't gotten Bin Laden, rather than, we Americans, who haven't gotten him yet? Aren't we supposed to be united together in this war on terrorism? Or are you just another democrat trying to capitalize on the War on Terror for your own political gain? What an *sshole.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Two points need to be reiterated:

1. From the very beginning, President Bush (Lord that sounds good) has said, It ain't about Osama and the success or failure of this mission will not be judged by that. By the way just how does Algore now Osama is still alive. (Wiretap time)

2. Algore would rather have UN troops set up for target pratice in an occupied region rather than training the people how to take care of their own while beginning to taste freedom.

In addition, I think I read in another post Condi refering to Algore's talk as a "campaign speech". If the administration continues with that stragegy, Algore will be marginalized in short order.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I must say, those are the best comments I have EVER heard from Collin Powell. Some more of this kind of action and I might start thinking he's halfway OK.

[CyberAnt]

Her statement is so ludicrous! You don't ask a liar in chief about the credibility of someone else; good grief!

[jwh_Denver]

If that doesn't silence the jackals on the Left, nothing will

Nothing shuts up the commie libs. You've been around long enough to know that. We all have.

[steve-b]

Clinton friendly media reporters like the New York Times' Judith Miller and NBC newswoman Andrea Mitchell have explained their own decisions not to cover Ijaz's claims by saying he lacks credibility. Miller said she established Ijaz's lack of credibility by contacting former Clinton administration sources.

Lord knows, those "former Clinton administration sources" are the world's leading authorities on lack of credibility.

[rwfromkansas]

I wonder if the media will consider the former ambassador to Sudan as an "unreliable source." It isn't just Ijaz saying this now, but a former Clinton official!!!!

This is huge.

[AntiDemocrat]

The same Al Gore that was Vice President?

The very same Al Gore as Vice President who was running for the Office of the Presidency on October 12, 2000---when Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the USS Cole - that was sent into enemy Yemeni waters by the Clinton/Gore Defense Dept unescorted?

That Al Gore...has NO room to criticize anyone.

He had the perfect opportunity to win the Election in 2000 (a mere 3 weeks after the attack) IF he had had the cajones to get Clinton to go after the terrorists that killed our young sailors. Sailors BTW... that were Black, Hispanic and White - more importantly...AMERICAN.

Al Gore and those from the Left who idolize him are pansy twits. I'm embarrassed to say that he even held the title of VP. He is a wimp that has NEVER apologized to the parents of the dead sailors - for the lack of retribution from both he and Bill Clinton - against those Al-Qaeda terrorists that killed our young sailors just a few weeks before the election.

Democrats hatred for the military was obvious when they refused to do anything when our soldiers were killed in Mogadishu, the Khobar Towers, the two African embassies and later the attack against our own naval ship in Yemen. Democrats make me sick.

[McLynnan]

Way to go Colin, who would have thought? Sounds like the Bush administration has put the wooden one on notice. If he wants to campaign on his administration's record, they'll lay all the sordid details on the table.

[VOA]

I must say, those are the best comments I have EVER heard from Collin Powell.
Some more of this kind of action and I might start thinking he's halfway OK.

I work with a pretty liberal Democrat.
He got to hear Powell do a presentation at the meeting of a major institution
involved in science sometime in April (IIRC).

His evaluation of Powell? "Wow, what a guy! If he ever runs for President, I might just
cross the line!"

As much as I and some other Republicans may have legitimate reservations about Powell
(as much as we respect him for his military service), it's probably a good thing to
listen to Ronald Reagan.
"Thou shalt not criticize another Republican."

I heard him on Fox NewsSunday today...Powell was sharp edged and had the laser-sword thing going!

[rwfromkansas]

Yeah.....just Newsmax quoting the Washington Post. Heck, most of Newsmax's stories aren't even that, but are simply transcripts of what is on tv...:)

[VOA]

Democrats hatred for the military was obvious when they refused to do anything when our
soldiers were killed in Mogadishu, the Khobar Towers, the two African embassies and
later the attack against our own naval ship in Yemen. Democrats make me sick.

AntiDemocrat,
You should be working for the Bush2004 Campaign.
You've summed up the biggest gap in Al Gore's tin-plate armour.

If only he'd prodded Clinton to go on the war path against bin Laden and Co. after
the USS Cole bombing (or before)...fat, complacent Americans might still be taking
trips to the top of the WTC Towers, slightly bored servants would be walking the halls
of the newly-renovated section of The Pentagon (not trying to escape death).

Gore says he's going to "let it all hang out" in his next run...

That's what anyone who believe in freedom and RIGHTEOUSLY avenging the people
sacrificed on 9-11 should also do...

"It was time for him to go in 2000; 9-11 showed us he shouldn't come back to the scene of
the crime made possible by his idle mind."