Giuliani for President?
How slanted is the Associated Press when writing about the Democrats? Today, they posted an article by Matt Sedensky titled, “Giuliani defends Clinton on anti-terror”. Yet, when you read the article it doesn’t contain ONE QUOTE from Giuliani defending Clinton! Here’s the quote:
“Every American President I’ve known would have given
his life to prevent an attack like that. That includes President
Clinton, President Bush…they did the best they could with
the information they had at the time.”
So Giuliani gave each political side a safe answer, he certainly didn’t defend what Clinton did or didn’t do. But since we are on the subject, let’s look at what Clinton failed to do during his presidency when he was at the helm and had the responsibility for protecting the American Public.
I love reading the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal. 1) Because it’s very accessible during the day, and 2) The articles are VERY informative. Richard Miniter is a regular contributor and he does not mince words when it comes to leveling the playing field and informing the general public on what actually happened or what actually was said by a politico in the mainstream media. So, I’m borrowing his article from yesterday titled,
“What Clinton Didn’t Do…”
-“38 days after Clinton was sworn into office, al Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center.
(He never visited the site during all that time!)
- By the end of Mr. Clinton’s first year as President, al Qaeda had apparently attacked twice.
(The attacks would continue for every one of Clinton’s years in office!)
- 1994, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad (who would later plan 9/11 attacks) launched “Operation
Bojinka” to down 11 US planes simultaneously over the Pacific. A sharp eyed Filipina police
officer foiled the plot.
(The American response: increased law-enforcement cooperation with the Philippines.)
- 1995, al Qaeda detonated a 220-pund car bomb outside the Office of Program Manager in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia killing five Americans and wounding 60 more.
(The FBI was sent in to investigate)
- 1996, al Qaeda bombed the barracks of American pilots patrolling the “no-fly zones” over Iraq,
killing 19.
(Again, the FBI responded.)
- 1997, al Qaeda consolidated its position in Afghanistan and bin Laden repeatedly declared war
on the US. February of that year bin Laden told an Arab TV network: “If someone can kill an
American soldier, it is better than wasting time on other matters.”
(No response from the Clinton administration.)
- 1998, al Qaeda simultaneously bombed US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224,
including 12 US diplomats.
(Clinton ordered cruise-missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan in response.)
- 1999, the Clinton administration disrupted al Qaeda’s Millenium plots, a series of bombings
stretching from Amman to Los Angeles. This was due mostly to the work of Richard Clarke,
a NSC senior director who forced agencies to work together.
(The Millennium approach was short lived. Over Mr. Clarke’s objections, policy reverted to
the status quo.)
- January 200, al Qaeda tried and failed to attack the U.S.S. The Sullivans off Yemen. (The
boat sank before reaching the target.) But later in October, an al Qaeda bomb ripped a hole
in the hull of thte U.S.S. Cole, killing 17 sailors and wounding another 39.
(No response from the Clinton Administration.)
Side note: When Mr. Clarke presented a plan to launch a massive cruise missile strike on al
Qaeda and Taliban facilities in Afghanistan, the Clinton cabinet voted against it. After the
Meeting, a State Department counterterrorism official, Michael Sheehan, sought out Mr.
Clarke.
(Mr. Sheehan asked Mr. Clarke: “What’s it going to take to get them to hit al Qaeda in
Afghanistan? Does al Qaeda have to attack the Pentagon?”)
There is more to Mr. Clinton’s record- how Predator drones, which spotted bin Laden three times in 1999 and 2000, were grounded by bureaucratic infighting; how a petty dispute with an Arizona senator stopped the CIA from hiring more Arabic translators. Clinton did not fully grasp that he was at war. But it is better to learn it from studying the Clinton years than reliving them.”
Yeah, now I can see why Clinton went ballistic when being interviewed by Chris Wallace on Fox news earlier in the week. No one wants their documented, archived, personal mistakes to bite them in the butt on national television! Do we really want another “Clinton” in the White House in ’08? (I think not!)
“Every American President I’ve known would have given
his life to prevent an attack like that. That includes President
Clinton, President Bush…they did the best they could with
the information they had at the time.”
So Giuliani gave each political side a safe answer, he certainly didn’t defend what Clinton did or didn’t do. But since we are on the subject, let’s look at what Clinton failed to do during his presidency when he was at the helm and had the responsibility for protecting the American Public.
I love reading the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal. 1) Because it’s very accessible during the day, and 2) The articles are VERY informative. Richard Miniter is a regular contributor and he does not mince words when it comes to leveling the playing field and informing the general public on what actually happened or what actually was said by a politico in the mainstream media. So, I’m borrowing his article from yesterday titled,
“What Clinton Didn’t Do…”
-“38 days after Clinton was sworn into office, al Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center.
(He never visited the site during all that time!)
- By the end of Mr. Clinton’s first year as President, al Qaeda had apparently attacked twice.
(The attacks would continue for every one of Clinton’s years in office!)
- 1994, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad (who would later plan 9/11 attacks) launched “Operation
Bojinka” to down 11 US planes simultaneously over the Pacific. A sharp eyed Filipina police
officer foiled the plot.
(The American response: increased law-enforcement cooperation with the Philippines.)
- 1995, al Qaeda detonated a 220-pund car bomb outside the Office of Program Manager in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia killing five Americans and wounding 60 more.
(The FBI was sent in to investigate)
- 1996, al Qaeda bombed the barracks of American pilots patrolling the “no-fly zones” over Iraq,
killing 19.
(Again, the FBI responded.)
- 1997, al Qaeda consolidated its position in Afghanistan and bin Laden repeatedly declared war
on the US. February of that year bin Laden told an Arab TV network: “If someone can kill an
American soldier, it is better than wasting time on other matters.”
(No response from the Clinton administration.)
- 1998, al Qaeda simultaneously bombed US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224,
including 12 US diplomats.
(Clinton ordered cruise-missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan in response.)
- 1999, the Clinton administration disrupted al Qaeda’s Millenium plots, a series of bombings
stretching from Amman to Los Angeles. This was due mostly to the work of Richard Clarke,
a NSC senior director who forced agencies to work together.
(The Millennium approach was short lived. Over Mr. Clarke’s objections, policy reverted to
the status quo.)
- January 200, al Qaeda tried and failed to attack the U.S.S. The Sullivans off Yemen. (The
boat sank before reaching the target.) But later in October, an al Qaeda bomb ripped a hole
in the hull of thte U.S.S. Cole, killing 17 sailors and wounding another 39.
(No response from the Clinton Administration.)
Side note: When Mr. Clarke presented a plan to launch a massive cruise missile strike on al
Qaeda and Taliban facilities in Afghanistan, the Clinton cabinet voted against it. After the
Meeting, a State Department counterterrorism official, Michael Sheehan, sought out Mr.
Clarke.
(Mr. Sheehan asked Mr. Clarke: “What’s it going to take to get them to hit al Qaeda in
Afghanistan? Does al Qaeda have to attack the Pentagon?”)
There is more to Mr. Clinton’s record- how Predator drones, which spotted bin Laden three times in 1999 and 2000, were grounded by bureaucratic infighting; how a petty dispute with an Arizona senator stopped the CIA from hiring more Arabic translators. Clinton did not fully grasp that he was at war. But it is better to learn it from studying the Clinton years than reliving them.”
Yeah, now I can see why Clinton went ballistic when being interviewed by Chris Wallace on Fox news earlier in the week. No one wants their documented, archived, personal mistakes to bite them in the butt on national television! Do we really want another “Clinton” in the White House in ’08? (I think not!)
posted by Troy M. Stirman | 12:26 PM
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