Clinton Clashes With Fox Newsman

(CBS/AP)  In a combative interview on "Fox News Sunday," former President Bill Clinton defended his handling of the threat posed by Osama bin Laden, saying he tried to have bin Laden killed and was attacked for his efforts by the same people who now criticize him for not doing enough.

"That's the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now," Clinton said in the interview. "They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try, they did not try."

Clinton accused host Chris Wallace of a "conservative hit job" and asked: "I want to know how many people in the Bush administration you asked, 'Why didn't you do anything about the Cole?' I want to know how many people you asked, 'Why did you fire Dick Clarke?"'

He was referring to the USS Cole, attacked by terrorists in Yemen in 2000, and former White House anti-terrorism chief Richard A. Clarke.

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Public Eye: The Clinton-Fox News Tussle
Calculated Strategy or Genuine Outrage? What Do you Think?

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Wallace said Sunday he was surprised by Clinton's "conspiratorial view" of "a very non-confrontational question, 'Did you do enough to connect the dots and go after al Qaeda?"'

"All I did was ask him a question, and I think it was a legitimate news question. I was surprised that he would conjure up that this was a hit job," Wallace said in a telephone interview.

Clinton said he "worked hard" to try to kill bin Laden.

"I authorized a finding for the CIA to kill him," Clinton said. "We contracted with people to kill him. I got closer to killing him than anybody since."

He told Wallace, "And you got that little smirk on your face and you think you're so clever, but I had responsibility for trying to protect this country. I tried and I failed to get bin Laden. I regret it, but I did try and I did everything I thought I responsibly could."

The interview was taped Friday during Clinton's three-day Global Initiative conference.

[ajhiv]

My opinion is that Bill Clinton was one of the worst leaders that the United States has had in the office of President. The interview on CBS just reinforces my opinion and I hope all who saw his reaction will believe he is anti - american. I pray each night that his wife doesn't achieve her selfish goal to be the President of this great country.

Sincerely,
Andy

[paulaws22]

i just wish that fox would interview President Clinton regularly, so that people could learn the real truth on a regular basis.

[amoreena-2009]

There is a big difference between *** around with the assistant and *** the entire country. bin Laden has not been found. 50,000 Iraqis dead. 3,000 Americans dead and thousands more injured/maimed. Now Iraq and Iran are run by Shiites, which cannot be good for Israel. And what have we gained?

[amoreena-2009]

Whitewater is #1 as far as you are concerned? What the heck does that have to do with bin Laden? If Republicans had not wasted millions of dollars, months worth of time and far too much energy on Whitewater or Lewinski then maybe Clinton could have worried more about what was truly important. The war in Iraq is a farce. No WMDs. No means of supporting themselves. Creating MORE terrotists, not less. All while *** us into trillions of dollars of debt. That is what is #1. Is it 2008 yet?!! Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush are the three stooges and Americans are just sitting idly by while they make us the fools of the world. If you are not pissed off you are not paying attention to the world at hand. I pray for McCain or a Democrat to take over soon! I am glad Clinton stood up to the "fair and balanced" Fox News crew.

[dstanley_gvl]

Thankfully "former" President Clinton.....said he had responsibilty for protecting this country from Al Queda. Between WHICH visit to the White House by Monica Lewinsky did he work on that?

And when he pointed at Chris Wallace and tells him to to wipe that 'smirk" off his face it was with the SAME finger he waved at the American people and "swore" that he didnt have "***" with Monica. How many parents would "buy" that line from their teenager?

[emeralds222]

Um... who is the enemy?

Another human?

Peace does not begin by viewing others as "the enemy" Hence, "Axis of Evil" simply antagonizes others.

[ronniehm]

Oh, you're one of those people who counts words in old books. Yeah, I guess it says. "love thy ENEMY." It's clearly a hate manual. I suppose if I weren't an atheist I'd know what the other 349 references are, but I suspect looking them up would be a "waste of time." P.S. You're still weird.

[emeralds222]

What is interesting to note: Christians use the word hate more than any other group in the U.S.

Perhaps that is because it is mentioned in their brainwashing bible over 150 times. The word "enemy" over 350 times.

No you are not a bigot for not "hating" someone.

Perhaps you just haven't lived outside of the Box and while in there can't do much for future generations. Did you ever hear of the term: "waste of space"?

[ronniehm]

OK, so now I'm a bigot for not hating someone. You're weird.

[emeralds222]

Common Sense:

When your children want to know about their future, Global Warming, The tactfulness of our current administration that has us a shame to the world, the DEBT this country is in... What filter are you using? What excuses are you giving? Did I mention Republican or Democrat? Are you trying to confuse our youth further?

Yes, in fact, I am right. Not perfect.... just right on these accounts. While Fundamentalists are snooping around bedrooms, our country is LOSING BIG TIME. Keeping your head in the sands of bigotry contributes to our countries very sad state of affairs.

Clinton made sense, Bush makes no sense. Trillions of dollars later..... Monica Lewinsky is the number one issue in many of the brainwashed minds. ...Let's see.... Does that make sense?