Clarke resignation letter to Bush (Smoking Gun)

[dutchdemocrat]

I thought I would throw this up for comment. Does not seem to match the book and is doing some damage to his credibility.

[kaitykaity]

1. Pro forma verbage.

This is just typical 'not burning my bridges' stuff.

[Sugarbleus]

2. I think so too...might even be some "hidden" meaning in it too. n/t

[Scairp]

10. I agree

What should he have written, "You fucked up good and I'm outta here"? No, of course not. You choose your words carefully when submitting a resignation in which a reference may be needed later.

[Skip Intro]

3. maybe Larry King will ask him about it tonight

I'd like to hear him comment on it, but I don't see how it does any damage to the claims in his book that are backed up by witnesses and documents, etc.

[fearnobush]

4. This is the only way out. If not, he would have ended up as a

victem of some mysterious accident blamed on human error, much like Sen. Paul Wellstone's plane crash.

[5thGenDemocrat]

5. It's standard boilerplate

"Gotta go. Now's a good time. It was nice working with you. You're a swell guy. Love and kisses, Dick."
John
I mean, what would you expect Clarke to say? "You were a miserable, cowardly son-of-a-bitch"? Bad form, that.

[HydroAddict]

6. Two things...

1. Notice it ends with "continuing threats". He could easily have said something to the effect of "diminished/remaining threat due to your leadership".

2. Shrub apologists have used the cyber-security angle as further "out-of-the-loop" evidence. However, he didn't take that role till after 9/11. I haven't read the book yet, so don't quote me on that. Just read it in an article.

I admit, the whole "you showed courage, determination, yadda, yadda, kiss ass, kiss ass" remarks are somewhat disparaging, but necessary if he was to avoid immediate character assination. This bought him the time to write the book, IMO.

[FrankBooth]

7. This has the same relevance

As George Bush Sr.'s quote praising Joe Wilson. Doesn't really mean much in March of 2004.

[Robin Hood]

8. It says, Please don't kill me.

Standard boiler plate resignation letter.

[RamboLiberal]

9. Not at all inconsistent with his book

He did in the first chapter praise Bush's leadership that day. Clarke wrote that it was he who advised Cheney to tell Bush to stay out of DC even though he knew the President wouldn't like it. He says Bush called from Offut and said he was returning to DC as soon as AF1 was refueled. The only criticism he made was a mild Bush seemed tenative and off-stride during speeches from Booker Elementary and Brooksdale but was strong in the evening speech. He had no problems with Bush day of 9-11, his problem was before and after.

Notice how his letter praises Bush only for that day? Clarke played it well in this letter.

[jburton]

11. Standard resignation letter

Do a little butt kissing, etc. Basically saying "give me a good review if somebody calls to check my references" and not burning bridges.

[Memekiller]

12. Shows Clark clearly avoided Bush's handling of terror...

This is the quote being sent around:

"I will always remember the courage, determination, calm, and leadership you demonstrated on September 11th."

Makes it sound like Clarke thought Bush did a wonderful job dealing with terrorism. But it ommits this part: "..., first on the video link from SATCOM and later in the day in the PEOC and the situation room."

Pretty narrow and specific, don't you think? Also notice how he specifies the joys of briefing Bush on cyber security, not terrorism.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. He also brings up Bu$h

in the situation room. He seems to be setting Bu$h up for his account of Bu$h's appearance the next day in the situation room, when he got in Clarke's face to come up with a memo about Iraq.

[RainDog]

14. Who hasn't written a letter of resignation, playing nice

while on the inside, secretly wishing the son-of-a-bitch boss would spontaneously combust??

please.

[snippy]

15. The White House claims Clarke lied in this letter.

The White House has said repeatedly that Clarke was not in the Situation Room with Bush on 9/11, that Clarke has no credibility, and that he should not be believed.

[Plaid Adder]

16. This means nothing.

This is just Clarke trying to leave on good terms with people. Resignation letters are like that. Rarely do you ever see one that begins, "Dear Incompetent Fraud, I can no longer put up with the daily humiliation and disgrace that is my portion as your hapless subordinate," or ends with "So, in conclusion, fuck you and the horse you rode in on." Satisfying though it might be to write them that way, professional etiquette dictates that your resignation letter be a polite fiction in which you pretend that you are leaving to 'spend more time with your family.'

Desperate as the WH is right now I don't see them making much use of this letter. It would make them look pretty stupid.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. Nothing but a standard resignation letter that everyone uses when...

...leaving a job on your own terms.

"Damage his credibility"?? LOL.