WP/Pincus-Milbank: Framework of Clarke's Book Is Bolstered

[kskiska]

Sunday, April 4, 2004; Page A01

When Condoleezza Rice appears Thursday before the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, President Bush's national security adviser will have the administration's best opportunity to rebut her former employee's stinging critique of Bush's terrorism policy.

Since former White House counterterrorism chief Richard A. Clarke charged March 24 that the Bush White House reacted slowly to warnings of a terrorist attack, his former colleagues have poked holes in his narration of the early months of 2001 and have found evidence that Clarke elevated his own importance in those events.

The most sweeping challenge to Clarke's account has come from two Bush allies, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Fred F. Fielding, a member of investigative panel. They have suggested that sworn testimony Clarke gave in 2002 to a joint congressional committee that probed intelligence failures was at odds with his sworn testimony last month. Frist said Clarke may have "lied under oath to the United States Congress."

But the broad outline of Clarke's criticism has been corroborated by a number of other former officials, congressional and commission investigators, and by Bush's admission in the 2003 Bob Woodward book "Bush at War" that he "didn't feel that sense of urgency" about Osama bin Laden before the attacks occurred.

In addition, a review of dozens of declassified citations from Clarke's 2002 testimony provides no evidence of contradiction, and White House officials familiar with the testimony agree that any differences are matters of emphasis, not fact. Indeed, the declassified 838-page report of the 2002 congressional inquiry includes many passages that appear to bolster the arguments Clarke has made.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48455-2004Apr3.html

[kskiska]

1. Kick!

:kick:

[Gloria]

2. KABOOM!

eom

[Mz Pip]

3. Of course

Clarke is telling the truth.

All Condi can do is spin. Hope she gets dizzy and throws up on someone.

MzPip
:dem:

[Occulus]

5. Ya know, though,

most of the time these days I feel like I'm on a Tilt-a-Whirl; we all seem to spin with her.

At least, those of us who've paid the price to ride the ride.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. Pincus is one of the best journalists around nowadays

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. So will Frist now get up on the House floor

demanding a probe into Condi's lies. Oh that's right she didn't lie, because she wasn't under oath? Well, let's see what happens Thursday, I'm sure Frist will have plenty of lies to probe after that.

[elperromagico]

8. Don't you know that Republicans never lie?

Frist will investigate a Republican's lies the same day Al Roker reports about the blizzards in Hell.

[oasis]

7. kick

[DeepModem Mom]

9. kick

[truthisfreedom]

10. i think frist really screwed the rethugs by using the "perjury" word about

Clarke. the result will be that the Democratic congresspeople will have the ice broken to use the same terminology with respect to sleezy rice.

[MaineDem]

11. I just saw Clarke's Hardball appearance

(Thank goodness MSNBC replays these on the weekends.)

Clarke is amazing. He doesn't stoop to speculation and seems to base all his statements on the facts instead. He's amazing and very believable.

[enough]

12. kick (nt)

.

[goforit]

13. Hmmmm.......The WH had Clark's book since Oct. 03. What pages

and information did the WH edit???

I wonder if Clark would ever elaborate on those specifics?