Wonder who did Bill Clinton's research for his infamous interview on Fox News Sunday?
There were quite a few factual inaccuracies (to be kind) that Clinton spewed forth (he couldn't go after Bin Laden after the Cole bombing because the CIA hadn't signed off on it yet? - please, they work for you, not the other way around - and the Clinton Justice Department indicted Bin Laden in 1998, giving Clinton all the authorization he needed for any kind of action he wanted). And Clinton constantly referring to Richard Clarke's book to defend himself makes me think that he hasn't even read it. In his book, it's Clarke against the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration - the world revolves around Richard. Furthermore, Clarke wasn't demoted by the Bush Administration. He remained the "Terrorism Czar", whatever that was, until he didn't get the Number Two position in the Department of Homeland Security. He then quit in a huff.
But the funniest thing part of the whole Clinton interview was when he accused Wallace of doing a conservative hit job on him at the urging of many unnamed Bush Administration officials. Chris Wallace is about the last person in the world who could be forced into doing the Bush Administration's bidding.
Incidentaly, while the Left seems proud of Clinton's performance that morning, the last time I saw Clinton lose his temper that way, make those same facial expressions, raise his voice in the same manner, and wag his finger in the same way - was when he denied involvement with Monica Lewinsky on national TV. And how did that work out for him? There is a way of responding to an allegedly antagonistic accusation forcefully, sternly, and effectively (not to mention Presidentially). Clinton's performance wasn't it. While it appealed to the DailyKos and democraticunderground folks, it revealed a very insecure and unpresidential man prone to emotional outbursts.
Actually, I think that he could have hit that question posed by Chris Wallace right out of the park using humor, seriousness, and charm - all qualities that Clinton has in abundance. All he had to do was list what he did do, and close with what I am certain that he does feel (well, I hope he feels) - that of course in retrospect he wishes that he had done more, and that he's certain that Bush feels the same way. Instead, he seems intent on keeping alive the canard that Bin Laden was at the top of his agenda and that he did everything he could to get him. That's simply a lie.
The fact is, neither the Clinton Administration during its time nor the Bush Administration during their time before 9/11 took Al Qaeda and Bin Laden as seriously as they should have. Not through neglect or malfeasance, but primarily because at the time it was impossible for all of us (myself included) to imagine that such a barbaric attack as hijacking and flying full passenger airliners into occupied buildings could be done by fellow human beings on American soil. Now we know, and the past should only be used as something that we all should learn from, not blame people for. That's the lesson that Clinton had an opportunity to give us all on Fox News Sunday that morning, but didn't.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. To believe that Pres.Clinton nd Pres. Bush share the blame for the 9/11 attack is outrageous.The 9/11 commission was too kind to P.Clinton.He failed to answer nd react to Usama declaration of war against the US.He Ignore him, made usama very angry for clinton arrogance.Clinton failed our country domestically nd internationally regarding vicious attacks. I'll list his failures to protect our citizen. Waco tragedy, Oklahoma murder of 300+ children an adults, by a handful of domestic militia terrorists,1993 world trade center attack by the muslims,US embassies of kenia/tanzania attack by muslims,hundreds of locals and american killed by muslims,clinton failed to help israel nd the palestinian crissis because of his bias toward Israel pressured by the jews not to side w/palestine. North Korea shame, n. Korea blackmailed this weak pres. nd his allies nd got screwed by an evil insane man, Clinton spent billions nd billions to keep n Korea happy, these billions were supossed to help the n. Korean that were dying of starvation _2 millions of them did cause this evil korean used all the resources clinton gave him to empower his army and his nuclear ambitions, how about the cry for help from somalia? Pres. clinton was too busy with his personal life to worry about those underpriviledge human beings dying by the millions. Democrats wants a change as many said the 90's were peaceful times nd want the good times to come back. The Democrat congress is in complete denial, can anybody tell me what the democrats did to help our president to find solutions nd reform our intelligence which was the reason clinton gave for failing our country to protect us. Their vote was always to benefit the terrorist nd most of them voted against serious issues related to prevent terrorism in our country. I wonder how many times republican are elected to clean the mess democrats leave after they govern our country.... TO THE TRUE AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY CAN U SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2 PARTIES?Democrats motivation is power nd money republican motivation is to work side by side with those who care for a better, dignified nd proud US. It looks like the clintons have been a course to our country's future. If democrats wins the election in Nov. This will probe how wrong the antiamerican move was and it will become the most painful lesson american will learn. The present USA has regained the respect of those we care, our economy is great,unemployment the lowest ever,most important we haven't been attacked by terrorists in and out of our country. Most american have become very shalow nd weak,actually they are being influenced by no other but the worst nd misleadng individuals without morals and values who are convincing our great USA of America,that is ok to be socialists, because liberalism is a version of socialism. I cry very often for our beloved USA. I'm a mother and grandmother who trully cares for our future generations. Also democrats call pages working for congress, children many american believe them,and so believed the media in general. These are no children for our country's sake these are young adults who knows the difference between right nd wrong. And Democrats made americans believed that this children 7/8 years old were being abussed.because they were pure nd innocents... WAKe.UP AMERICA! JUST BE FAIR ND JUDGE PEOPLE FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS not for the damage they are doing to our beloved AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. If any democrat has the courage to defend themselves with the truth... PLS I BEG U TO DO SO. THANKS,A Grandmother who prays every day to dear GOD,to ptotect my granchildrens, they are too young to know what is being done to Our America ...PLS help me to save our children nd grandchildren, they deserve better.
frecsia ferrara at 11:57PM on Oct 13th 2006
2. What planet and school did you come from? In all of the ranting you did not once mention the people of the gulf coast(Americans and not Somalian or North Koreans) that were left to die and wonder where the help was coming from. Oh what a great job "BROWNIE" did.!! It has been stated that we all under estimated Osama. No one expected them to hijack planes loaded with people and fly them into the Trade Centers. That had not been a mode of operation from them. As for being respected by people around the world, why do you think the top British commander has stated they need to pull their troops out of Iraq? Because terrorism WORLD WIDE has increased in British territories. I have spoken to a friend of my son's who has been to Iraq and injuried and he said not to believe all you see and hear. That those people hate us! As for the democrats all wanting money and power you are blind. Who do you think elected The idiot in the white house. Big business: Oil companies (of which he is in the biz),pharmaceutical companies. Which I might add sued South American companies that tried to make and distribute cheaper AIDS drugs to under priviliged people. All because it was cutting into their profits. AIDS deaths world wide are on the increase. Our paltry aid money of 15 billion(of which only half has been distributed)is a drop in the bucket of what is needed. I voted for Ronald Reagan and am proud to say it. He made me proud to be an American again. But George "born with a silver foot in his mouth" has not accomplished anything close to what Mr. Reagan accomplished for America. I am sure he would like to be remembered that way, but it ain't happening Scooter. George ran on the ticket of less government and we have never had so much government shoved on us before, what with illegal wiretapping without a subpoena to all of the sex scandals sure does make me proud to say I am a God loving Democrat. Next time do a little research before you go on a tear of President Clinton. Its time for a change. After living in Texas for 20+ years and under the thumb of "George" I only hope and pray he does not come back to Texas. He needs to go to Connecticutt his home of birth for a while.
PamSimmons at 5:39PM on Oct 14th 2006
3. The news over reacted to the Clinton interview!! When I saw it, Clinton merely emphasized what many Americans were thinking -- why are we questioning Clinton on why he didn't get Usama Bin Ladin when Bush has been publicly targeting him for all these years and failed? Bin Ladin hadn't been officially linked to any terrorist theats at that time, now he is.
President Bush chose instead to go into Iraq to settle old scores while letting the the people Sudan and Darfar slip into genocide and total terror. Africa is a mess, yet he chose to divert all our resources to fight in an questionable war.
Saddam was a horrible man, and cruel to his people, yet he was supported by the Reagan administration. (Yeah, I'm that old).
Yet he was not involved in 9/11, and would not have been. Why? Because he was a secular leader and the religious extremists were as much a threat to him as to us. Now the people of Iraq are living in fear again, but they don't always know who the enemy is.
Bush should have had a more complete plan before engaging in this type of war. Too bad he didn't study history or social science, many lives would have been spared.
mary maccrrery at 8:57PM on Oct 14th 2006
4. PUHLEEESSSE BILL CLINTON WENT AFTER OSAMA WITH A VENGENCE, UNTIL THE REPUBLICANS CLAIMED HE WAS OBSESSED WITH IT. IF THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO OUT TO GET BILL CLINTON , AND REFUSED HIM AT EVERY TURN HE MIGHT JUST HAVE FINISHED THE JOB.
WHY DO YOU NOT MENTION THE FACT THAT YOUR LIL OLE SHRUB HAD OSAMA CORNERED IN TORA BORA AND HE PULLED OUT SO HE COULD GO TO IRAQ TO GET ALL OUR BOYS KILLED.
I CANT BELIEVE YOU WOULD GO TO SOMALIA, I CAN STILL HEAR THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS SCREAMING THAT HE IS JUST WAGGING THE DOG TO COVER UP THE INVESTIGATIONS THEY WERE DOING ON HIM. I ALSO CAN STILL HEAR YOUR POSTER BOY TOM DELAY BRAGGING THAT THEY WERE SO EFFECTIVE THAT THEY SHUT CLINTON DOWN ON EVERY TURN, HE BRAGS ON TV THAT THEY WERE SO EFFECTIVE THAT THEY DID NOT PERMIT HIM TO SIGN ONE THING WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE. SOUNDS LIKE REAL GOOD GOVERNING TO ME BY A REPUBLICAN LED CONGRESS. I GUESS THAT WHY THE PUBLIC IS SO UPSET NOW, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT EVEN THO YOU SEEM TO BE LOOSING THE ELECTION THAT YOU WILL JUST STEAL IT THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST FEW ELECTIONS. YOU COULDNT CARE LESS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY NOT WANT YOU, YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND S T E A L THE ELECTION. I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM WELL OFF ENOUGH THAT I DONT CARE WHICH PARTY IS IN OFFICE.
BROCK at 1:31AM on Oct 15th 2006
5. Can't understand why people would STILL defend the Bush Regime. Doesn't it bother you that you are pledging allegiance to a COURT APPOINTED president who lied and led us into an illegal war that has killed over 600,000 innocent Iragi citizens and nearly 3,000 US troops and seriously injuring 20,000 more? READ your Constitution!! In a runoff for President it goes to the Senate to decide. Itdoes not go to the Supreme Court. Unless your brother is governor of the state in question. So, before you start hitting Clinton and defending the Republicans and the war. Remember, the White House counts on the American people to be uninformed and easily led---and you are. But more than that, I'm beginning to believe that people in this country are just too stupid. How else do you explain approval ratings still in the 30s. They should be at 0! Wake up! Wake up before we do get bombed again and bfore any more of our citizens die in Irag and Afganistan.
nv at 2:32PM on Oct 16th 2006
6. Clinton was NOT the one with the longstanding history of personal and business dealings with the Bin Ladin family stretching back before his presidency. Anyone with a web browser and a little bit of horse sense can look up Arbusto, Harken(which means 'pay attention', by the way) oil, and Spectrum 7.
Harken to W's connections to AlQueda members, Enron, business partnership with Osama's brother, and the accusations of insider trading of W's Harken stock. Harken to the fact that these events started in the decades prior to his presidency, some even during his Vice-Presidency.
Most of all, Harken to the fact that George made money when his business failed, but the Bin Laden family lost money. That would make me angry. Maybe even angry enough to fly a plane through his house.
9-11 was aimed at Bush, not America. The sooner we get him out of the White House, the safer we'll all be.
Joseph Brenner at 4:59PM on Oct 21st 2006