GOP Blames Clinton for Iraq Intel Lapse

[jbfam4]

GOP Blames Clinton for Iraq Intel Lapse
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-intelligence-debate,0,6624208.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines
By Associated Press

February 12, 2004, 12:39 PM EST


WASHINGTON -- In a sign of how Republicans may try to quell criticism of prewar intelligence in Iraq, the head of the House Intelligence Committee tried Wednesday to direct blame to the Clinton administration.

Rep. Porter J. Goss, R-Fla., said he heard a 1998 speech in which then-President Clinton warned that something must be done about Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction.

"Unfortunately, he did not complete that task before his term expired," Goss said at a Capitol Hill press conference.

Goss said the Clinton administration gutted intelligence assets in the 1990s and today's intelligence analysts "did the best they could with what they had."

[fjc]

1. I hope they stick with this "strategy"....

all the way back to Crawford, Texas.

[onebigbadwulf]

2. Do they also "blame" Clinton

for fixing Bush Sr's mess? IE cleaning up all the WMD programs?





No of course not. Let's not give the guy credit.

[efhmc]

3. Ho-hum. What 's new? How's the weather where you are? Rainy and cold

here.

[madrchsod]

4. ahhhhh, the other guy did it

can`t blame me...does any adult in the united states believe that bush is not responsible for what has happened since 2000? remember i said adults....

[BigBigBear]

5. In a sense, he's right

Clinton disarmed Iraq, not Bush. He did it through sanctions, no-fly zones, punitive surgical bombing and pressure on the UN to keep inspectors there. Powell knew it - he admitted as much in his now-infamous 2/01 remarks.

That should be the response.

[lovedems]

6. La la la la la.

(Fingers in my ears) I can't hear you!

This is soooooo old.

I wish Clinton would make a public statement (or at least Albright) and put these idiots to shame. Clinton is a hell of alot smarter than Rove and I wish he would slam them.

[Luvpurp]

12. Even better

Clinton should challenge Bush to a debate on the "intelligence mess". Interestingly enough with the same gutted intelligence the Clinton administration avoided being attacked by Al Queda (sorry but you can't count the '93 attack) and avoided going to war with a country on a wild goose chase for WMD. I would pay to watch!

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Luvpurp!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[RobertSeattle]

7. Sun Rises in East, Sets in West

[StClone]

8. In all fairness

Clinton or a person appointed by Bill should come back for eight years and straighten this mess out.

[Adams Wulff]

9. Enough.

Why can't these chowderheads get it through their thick skulls the quality of your intelligence doesn't matter if you're going to ignore it anyway.
This administration was told by the outgoing Clinton administration that their biggest challenge abroad was Al-Quaida.
The Bush administration IGNORED that directive, and didn't hold their first terrorism meet and greet until August of 2001, one month before 9-11.
I don't blame faulty intelligence, I blame the hubris and arrogance of this administration.
I mean, why wouldn't you listen to an administration that thwarted a huge terrorist attack in December, 1999 (the millenium plot).
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/trail/inside/
Intelligence sure looked good at that point.

[Old and In the Way]

10. Maybe the Republicans will decide to investigate?

They seem to have lost their taste for this under Bush.

[Grins]

11. Goss is right. It was Clinton's fault...

Of course, Goss has to admit that Clinton's CIA Director was GEORGE FRIGGIN' TENET - the same Tenet that is the current CIA Director, who admitted he screwed up the "16 little words", and should be fired for the WMD disaster by HIS CURRENT BOSS!!! Don't hold your breath on that one. (Except you Congressman Goss, hold your breath until you pass out and stop making stupid statements.)

Well Goss, you got an argument why Great Leader keeps an incompetant?

And, by the way you moran, "Under the Clinton administration, fighting terrorism became a national priority. Counterterrorism funding doubled. Force was used against Osama bin Laden and Iraq. Multiple terrorist plots were stopped, including plans to blow up tunnels and the United Nations headquarters and to strike U.S. targets during our millennium celebrations. Al Qaeda cells were rolled up in more than 20 countries. Dozens of important terrorist fugitives were apprehended.

Where were Republican leaders then? Some were busy opposing key efforts to strengthen laws designed to combat terrorists. Others criticized significant counterterrorism funding requests." (Steve Ricchetti, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, Washington Post, February 22, 2003; Page A25)

[Skittles]

13. again, if Clinton left the country in SUCH a mess

why did President (sic) Bush take the ENTIRE MONTH OF AUGUST 2001 OFF FOR VACATION ?????

[BadGimp]

14. Blame it on

CLENIS

[icymist]

16. The problem with this type of reasoning

is that, it is becoming clear, is that the sanctions which were in place during the Clinton administration were working. Iraq was being contained and was no threat to the US until the neo-cons decided to attack it.