Rice: Clinton Claims 'Flatly False'

Secretary Of State Challenges Ex-President's Record On Fighting Terror

(CBS/AP)  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice challenged former President Bill Clinton's claim that he did more than many of his conservative critics to pursue al Qaeda, saying in an interview published Tuesday that the Bush administration aggressively pursued the group even before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"What we did in the eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years," Rice said during a meeting with editors and reporters at the New York Post.

The newspaper published her comments after Mr. Clinton appeared on "Fox News Sunday" in a combative interview in which he defended his handling of the threat posed by Osama bin Laden and said he "worked hard" to have the al Qaeda leader killed.

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

Rice disputed his assessment.

"The notion somehow for eight months the Bush administration sat there and didn't do that is just flatly false — and I think the 9/11 commission understood that," she said.

Asked about Mr. Clinton's comments Tuesday, President Bush declined to comment.

"I don't have enough time to finger point," he said at a joint White House news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Rice also took exception to Mr. Clinton's statement that he "left a comprehensive anti-terror strategy" for incoming officials when he left office.

"We were not left a comprehensive strategy to fight al Qaeda," she told the newspaper, which is owned by News Corp., the same company that owns Fox News Channel.

In the interview, Mr. 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?"'

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

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Rice portrayed the departure of former White House anti-terrorism chief Richard A. Clarke differently, saying he "left when he did not become deputy director of homeland security."

The reference to the Cole related to the attack on the USS Cole in 2000.

The interview has been the focus of much attention – drawing nearly 1.2 million views on YouTube and earning the show its best ratings in nearly three years.

Rice questioned the value of the dialogue.

"I think this is not a very fruitful discussion," she said. "We've been through it. The 9/11 commission has turned over every rock and we know exactly what they said."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton saw it differently.

"I just think that my husband did a great job in demonstrating that Democrats are not going to take this," she told Newsday Monday.

Wallace said Sunday he was surprised by Mr. 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.

[akalen]

After reviewing the statements made by President Clinton, I believe what he said. So I am again in the disappointing position of concluding that Condoleezza Rice is not telling the truth. It must be so difficult for her to represent our country around the world when she must lie to support this administration, thereby demonstrating her lack of integrity.

[negonerv]

Early in the Clinton Administration, Anti-Terrorism expert Richard Clark was upgraded to a cabinet position and they let him join regular meetings of the National Security Council's Principals Committee. Then in January of 2001, new National security adviser Condoleezza Rice "downgraded" Richard Clarks position, and no longer let him come to those meetings. In early 2001, Cheney was named as the head of a new anti-terror task force and he never called a meeting at all until after 9/11.

[luvny-2009]

Nice try Condi...the majority of the US has had enough of the lies and coverups. How does it feel to be a puppet?

[texaswriter]

CondaSleaza is and always has been a complete and utter liar. She has NEVER demonstrated the leadership, dignity, intelligence or integrity of her position. I'm almost as ashamed of her (especially as a woman - leaders as intelligent, poised, and forthright as Madeleine Albright are too few and far between) as I am of our court-appointed pretzeldent. It's disgusting to me how shameful this administration behaves and the weak-minded way she constantly lies to cover for these frat-boy idiots is beyond my comprehension. She is clearly as soul-less as them. I'm looking incredibly forward to the change that voters will be bringing in November. I only wish I could vote out all the criminals Sleaza works for...including her lying self. Readers, I BEG you to FACT CHECK her claims.

[nynative1340]

It's hard to believe Rice anymore. She's just another one of the Bushie neocon liars. The fact is that Bush hated Clinton and wasn't going to listen to his debrief. That and the fact that Bush doesn't read (his daily briefs) contributed significantly to 9/11.

Maybe too much alcohol in those early years ate up his brain cells...

[brownclint]

It's very obvious she's lying. It's also obvious that Fox News has never asked Bush the same questions they asked of Bill Clinton. If you believe anything this woman says, contact me about purchasing my ocean front property in Arizona.

[mac17241]

I am very disappointed in Mr. Clinton's tactics to suggest that Mr. Wallace's questions were a "conspiratorial view" of "a very non-confrontational question, 'Did you do enough to connect the dots and go after al Qaeda?"' Mr Clinton did not use the best judgement in his answers or did he to use it for the benefit of his party by conjuring up the notion of a conspirancy to defame the republicans. Clinton's anger was not professional to the least. Mr. Wallace was shocked and I was to hear the response by Mr. Clinton. If Mr. Clinton did all he could of done then why was he angred by this question?

[energyecon]

Bush took over 90 days of vacation between his inauguration and 9/11 - revealing Condi's story for the fairy tale it is.

[ademeyer]

Its a full time job trying to figure out what the truth is in government these days. Who's lying? What are the facts? I find I have to go all over the 'net, checking sources, comparing stories. I'm glad Clinton finally told his side of the events, but it makes me even more uncertain who to trust, since Sec. Rice now disputes his comments. I find myself remembering back to Clinton presidency, when he stepped into the Serbian/Bosnian mess which was resolved without losing a single American soldier. Looking at actual events, not suppositions and what if's, I would say Clinton's approach to foreign affairs was more effective than Bush's.

[wadyaknow]

She may be the biggest liar in the country. The hate-radio scum are saying "Clinton had a meltdown". Nonsense! Bush had the meltdown with Matt Lauer. Even Lauer said that he thought Bush was gonna go at it with him.
I can't believe how many Americans are so stupid that they still believe that Bush and cronies are on the level. I can't believe the mainstream press is going along with these massive drops in the price of oil as a natural market cycle. Nonsense - China and India did not stop using oil. This iasn't a normal seasonal adjustment!
This is price manipulation which has been done by handfuls of people in steel, oil, coal, railroads...before!

[energyecon]

LINK TO CLARKE MEMO AND NO RESPONSE BY RICE

snip

The January 25, 2001, memo, recently released to the National Security Archive by the National Security Council, bears a declassification stamp of April 7, 2004, one day prior to Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission on April 8, 2004. Responding to claims that she ignored the al-Qaeda threat before September 11, Rice stated in a March 22, 2004 Washington Post op-ed, "No al Qaeda plan was turned over to the new administration."

Two days after Rice's March 22 op-ed, Clarke told the 9/11 Commission, "there's a lot of debate about whether it's a plan or a strategy or a series of options -- but all of the things we recommended back in January were those things on the table in September. They were done. They were done after September 11th. They were all done. I didn't really understand why they couldn't have been done in February."

snip

Clarke asked on several occasions for early principals meetings on these issues, and was frustrated that no early meeting was scheduled. No principals committee meetings on Al Qaida were held until September 4th, 2001.

snip

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB147/index.htm

[ronniehm]

I guess we'll just ignore the fact that Clinton would have no way of knowing what Bush tried to do regarding bin laden before 9/11. A minor detail.

[thoughthound]

It's delightful to see that so many people posting see through the web of lies constantly espoused by this presidency. I too gleefully dream of the day they will be ousted and American can get "back on track" toward its ideals and true ambitions; however, note that oil prices are dropping precipitously - and right before election time. Also, keep in mind that serious irregularities continue to emerge each election with electronic voting machines. And finally, wait for Rove's October/November surprise: Whether they trot out Bin Laden in chains or "fail to predict" some attack, I am deeply skeptical they will allow themselves to be democratically removed from power. Cheney and Bush want more than power, they want a legacy of power and control by their narrow, radicalism. We not torture, if we see that we've lost the democracy come November, the Constitution is dead.

[perception5]

One thing we KNOW to be true and that is Clinton is a LIAR......... no one can deny that. I would believe someone like Rice, who grew up in the segregated South thanks to "white southern Democrats, to be the one telling the truth. Bottom line is the American people don't trust Bill Clinton or his "enablers" our "free left-wing press" pals. Expect a flurry of phony stories and doctored photos from these liars as we approach the November elections.

[thoughthound]

Luckily history will treat Clinton very, very kindly indeed. Bush, very very poorly indeed. No one can conrol that fact. The "Lewinsky scandal" will end up where it belonged all along, as a personal failure and a matter of dangerous exploitation by the Right.

[mrcassidy19]

I am suprised to see that our country is so full of people that can't think for themselves. Everyone wants to believe a president who lied to congress, cheated on his wife with a teenage staffer in the oval office, was involved with more shady deals than any president in history aside from Nixon, and I am not even sure of that. I do know that it is very hard to take over a business unit of a corporation and turn it around in 90 days, it would be impossible to turn a country around in 90 days, yet you all want to believe that somehow the Bush administration should have prevented 9/11. Think again Clinton had 4 years to do it and didn't do a thing. OPEN YOUR EYES.

[mperkel]

One thing we KNOW is true is that Bush is a liar. Under Clinton we had peace and prosperity. Bush is trying to turn America into Nazi Germany. Bush was clueless and incompetent and let 9/11 happen.

[tpistil]

This administration is and was asleep at the wheel. If you do some basic research you will discover the truth - a good starting place is Richard Clarke's book "Against All Enemies". Clarke is a respected anti-terrorism expert (and republican) who worked for both Bush administrations as well as Clinton. CBS news had a good article from 2004 which gives you a good sense of what was going on then and how the priority was wrongly placed on Iraq: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/19/60minutes/main607356.shtml

[l002263]

America has turned on it's head. There is no more decorum. We turn on the TV to watch supposed leaders spew vile at one another. There really was a time when no one would think of acting-out like this. I do not blame Clinton for his show of anger. His personal life was a mess throughout his term, but I believe his tact and diplomacy kept us a lot safer than we are now. Bush and his administration have their very own agenda, and I believe their agenda has nothing to do with the citizens of this country. How sad is this? He truly reminds me of a dictator and he scares me, to be perfectly honest.

[adventurepa]

Both failed at estimating the resolve of the terrorists. Also there capabilities. Let's not make that mistake again.

[omg69]

Bill Clinton worries more about his legacy than he does about what he did or didn't do for this country while he was President. He has shown that while his intentions were good, his policies were faulty. He balanced the budget, but stripped the military to do it. He made accords with Iran and North Korea, but knew full well that they would be violated. He treated terrorism like a law enforcement issue. His legacy will be shown in history to be a failed Presidency.

[scratch3232]

Why cant I compare this adminstration to another facist regime. Dont I have a right to? Where did free speech go? Is CBS afraid? Why cant I call a spade a spade? Hmmmm gets scarrier every day. Dont go quietly into the night CBS SCREAM IT!

[cathaleen]

Mr. Clinton wasn't the first and won't be the last politician to cheat on his wife. That's why prosititution is booming in DC. That's not the point, we shouldn't be arguing amongst ourselves
on what Clinton did or didn't do or what Bush did or didn't do. Let's get all these geniuses to put their heads together and deal with our present problem - how to stop another attack!

[scratch3232]

Everyone SHUT OFF YOUR TVS and read the news! Get it from outside sources (out of the US) and check ours againts the rest of the worlds. OPEN you eyes we are being manipulated by ALL inside our country,they ALL lie.If you read enough,the truth eventually rises to the top and the garbage ends up on FOX.

[emtak1]

Semeantics...

These Democratic and Republican leaders are showing there true nature, and lack of ability by focusing on yesterday's mistakes. Its all blood-under-the-bridge now.

What matters most to this resident of the home of the free and brave is how we are being led right now, at this very moment?

You can be sure thats what the trooper out in Iraq and Afghanistan is griping about under his breath while he's on patrol isn't what happened 5 years ago.

CBS's gave some great insight into the current executive's outlook on the war on terror during an interview with the Secretary of State.

Rice said she felt she was helping lay the foundation for security in the Middle East through our actions there.

Which, of course, could be just another way of saying " In two years I'm out of here and the rest is up to you America."

Way to sweep the mess you made under the rug, Condy.

[flsunflower]

Oh Please. Who can take a man seriously who lies under oath and never saw the inside of a jail cell? Clinton is a compulsive lier and finger pionter. He has NEVER taken responsibility for his own actions and never will. He would rather blame others for his own short comings!

[lapat1]

I consider myself a middle of the road person, able to choose canidates by their records rather than republican or democrat. Obviously, times have changed. The fighting and lying by both parties, in an effort to make the other canidates look incapable take presidence over what is good for our country. What a shame. When I was in High School, I remember being told, The United States will not be destroyed by other Countries, they will distroy themselves. It suprised me then, but now I understand. This wonderful country is in fact being torn apart by politicians.
What went wrong, we had everything, a good heart, a willingness to help other countries. People who were in need always could look toward is as a strong fair Nation who would not hesitate to help. Now it seems like, once an election happenes, all that changes. We have given up the ability to work together. I am so discusted with both parties. Because of their bickering, lying and just plain refusal to help each other instead of using every mistake to try to help themselves, we are becoming a country of whiners, and always, always, digging to find dirt in order to "Stir the Pot". My wish is that in my lifetime, we will find a better way!!! We fought for our freedom only to have a goverment system like this!!!!!!

[ronniehm]

I hope Clinton will produce that comprehensive strategy to fight al qaeda that he left for Bush. It would be our best evidence that Bill was serious about terrorism.

[rharrin1]

MrCassidy19
I fail to see where you come up with the 90 day theory you must mean 9 months not 90 days. I remember a FBI AGENT giving a warning about terrorists involving planes before 911 and it was ignored.TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACTS FOR A CHANGE

[rsoxfan1123]

Let me get this straight, now the Bush administration is blaming Clinton for the Iraq mess?

[davewinps-2009]

Clinton right, Rice wrong.

The public record of the 9/11 Commission is on Clinton's side. Despite Ms. Rice's claims to the contrary, the Administration showed little concern during summer 2001 while "the system was flashing red". The whole summer was spent not to fly the Predator reconnaissance drones in Afghanistan until the planes could be armed. The administration, the commission reported, feared advese publicity in the event that one was shot down.

[rsoxfan1123]

So, basically, Bush is saying that had Clinton taken care of bin Laden he wouldn't have had to deal with it, so let's ignore the fact that Bush put 17,000 troop in Afghanistan to catch bin Laden and 140,000 in Iraq....?

[shutupmurtha]

This is stupid, who cares? But, if we must answer the question, clearly One of these people have a long track record of mis leading the public and is characterized by lies, BIG LIES. So judging by track record obviously Mr. Clinon is wrong. There are also a number of people that have called Mr. Clinton's account wrong such as *** Clark who says in his book that Clinton did not leave a plan on terrorism for the Bush administration. The head of the Cia under clinton, Michael Scheuer (no fan of Mr. Bush) said Clinton does a diservice to all the people in the intelligence community who risked their lives to catch bin laden when he puts the blame on them for his inaction. He said we had 8 to 10 times to KILL Binladen under clinton but every time someone never authorized the hit. *** Clarke at least one time he tried to reach Clinon on the phone to get authorization but he purposely would not answer (he didnt want to dea with it) and would return the call after they could not strike. So unless they are lying and Condi is lying than Mr. Clinton, you did not try and fail, you simply FAILED.

[tejasdemo]

George Bush and the Republicans were the guys in charge when Sept 11 happened. They are still in charge. Last count has over 6000 Americans dying on these morons watch.

They have stolen all the money they can via tax breaks for millionaires etc etc etc. Is it really necessary that this country continue to give these people access to our kids to send them off to die for nothing ? H.. no, is the answer.

I am voting them out. Period. You call Bill Clinton wrong (and I do) for cheating on his wife but still trying to tie this man to the unbelievable mess that every Republican in this country has gotten us into is immoral and wrong.
I am proud to be a Democrat and a liberal. It sure beats being a conservative who thinks the answer to everything is "my way or the highway." So far, their "highway" is leading to nothing but a bunch of killing.

[nynative1340]

Let's not forget that Bush was more interested in going to war with Iraq than fighting terrorism. After all, he had to 'avenge' Bush Sr's failure to get Saddam, and Saddam's attack on Bush Sr. After listening to his lies for five years it's obvious Junior has a one-track mind. Getting Saddam was his first priority since the first day of his presidency.

[phyll3]

Way to go Clinton! So good to see someone else as angry as most literate Americans are about this whole alQueda business. Clinton told Bush when he left the office that the most pressing issue was al Queda and it was put on the back burner until 9/11.. Any lie Clinton ever uttered was miniscule compared to the lies this country has been forced to swallow since Bush took office, especially after nine eleven. Lets ALL wake up and LET'S NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE

[shutupmurtha]

Bush administration isnt blaming anyone, they are defending against the accusation of the Libs.... The dems were on offense here not the Bush admin. Slick Willy has done a good job at lying to the people of America and he is continuing to increase his skill in that area, he did get impeached for that...remeber??? That was not a "maybe lie" or a right wing conspiracy accusation, that was proven in court. We are talking about fact.


Clinton heroically pushes the blame on those under him for not catching Bin Laden and his former staff is sick of it and they are speaking out more than the Bush admin. So stop the liberal nonsense.

[shutupmurtha]

nynative1340, PROVE YOUR STATEMENT WITH ABSOLUTE FACT PLEASE. Not with left-wing Walmart, oil company, nonsense with hard COLD FACTS. PROVE YOUR STATEMENT. I have always heard this stuff, but there is never fact supporting it, well I guess that didnt stop Slick Willy, or any of the other libs from saying what they say.

you said:

"Let's not forget that Bush was more interested in going to war with Iraq than fighting terrorism."

[oleander8]

Six years later and the Republicans are still pointing the finger at Bill Clinton for the state of the world - unbelievable.

[houser123]

Although I am not a huge Clinton fan, what he did to Chris Wallace merits a positive response. It is time for all of us to realize exactly what happened during that interview. Clinton not only answered Wallace's question, he did so in a manner that put Wallace back on his heels. It's the old adage, " if you dont want to hear the answer dont ask the question." Whether Clinton was telling the truth, the whole truth or somewhere in between, I think he handeled the situation with great authority. We know from Richard Clark himself that the present administration never had a meeting on Al Quieda until Sept. 6th 2001 and did ignore warnings prior to that date. Remember, Dr. Rice is still telling us that there was a direct relationship between AQ and Iraq even though it has been proven otherwise.

[shutupmurtha]

davewinps, Why then did *** Clarke apologize to the families of 9/11 on behalf of the Clinton admin??? Oh, he is part of the VAst right wing oil munger conpiracy. Why did Clarke say numerous times that clinton failed. If it is Clinton's word vs the world, it makes NO SENSE TO SIDE WITH A proven PSYCHPATHIC LIAR, does it? come on now be reasonable.

[rsoxfan1123]

ShutupMurtha, Clinton lied about cheating on his wife, not WMD or something that really was any of our business. Not that it makes it right, and the sperm stained dress that was saved for months just for this purpose demonstrated that nicely. It is time, however, that Bush accepts responsibilty for the Iraq mess, the failure to act on 9/11 despite warnings that really should have proven sufficient and Osama bin Laden not currently being pursued with much enthusiasm. Pointing the finger at others is the coward's way out. Looking at a past presidency only goes so far. It is about NOW and what we are doing in the future that needs to be focused on

[rsoxfan1123]

"Let's not forget that Bush was more interested in going to war with Iraq than fighting terrorism."
17,000 troops in afghanistan chasing al qaeda and 140,000 in Iraq speaks for itself shutupmurtha. use common sense.

[tejasdemo]

ShutupMurtha, Clarke apologized out of sense of humility and humanity. Feelings that Republicans just dont have. In fact, Republicans dont have any feelings. Oh,except for that one in your wallet.

[cathaleen]

Let's see. Clinton was in office 8 years before 9/11 and Bush 8 months. Duh?

It is important to note that what Bill Clinton accomplished in his conversation with Chris Wallace was a wake up call to the nation.

This call took root immediately because many Americans, feel that our country is headed in a terrible direction. We respond with vigor and purpose due to our pent up frustration and a complete lack of faith in the current administration.

All of the talking heads and biased FOX damage control which we are now reading, seeing and hearing (Condi Rice) is a ploy to help conservatives to, "right" their sinking ship.

There is no way in hell that the conservative agenda of our current admnistration can survive the truth. And now, the truth is there for all to see.

God bless Bill Clinton and God Bless the United States of America.

[jshudson2]

ShutupMurtha's comments (and even his name) are clear examples of why we will never be safe from terrorism while Bush and his cronies are in office. These Bush apologists simply won't hold him responsible for anything - even though Bush holds the most responsible office in the world.

As Clinton said: he tried. He may have failed (and I don't think he did so bad at all) but BUSH NEVER EVEN TRIED. It's sad but true.

Bush is incompetent and irresponsible and it's cost us thousands and thousands of American lives.

[davewinps-2009]

Calm down, SUM, you're going to have a stroke! It sounds like you've had too much right-wing kool-aid this morning.

Go outside, get some fresh air, take a walk. Thenk if you're still curious, read the Report of the 9/11 Commission.

[diamtool]

AWww shucks folks, it's no big deal, Big Dog Bubba jes' chased that Wallace boy back up on the porch--thassall, no teethmarks or nuthin, jes taught him a lesson. WOOF!
Way to go BIG!
watch and learn dems!

[ademeyer]

"ShutupMurtha":

Quit your hysteria. If you truly to support Bush you would do better by laying out your facts in a calm and respectful manner. If your facts have merit, the truth will out.

The tone of your comments leads me to believe you idenitfy with the cowboy president and want to shoot down and make "shut up" anyone who disagrees. If you think back to the sixth grade, that attitude will take you right to the principal's office. The adult way of settling disagreements is with reasoned arguments. Try it sometime and you may be more successful in convincing others.