Kerry challenges Bush to prosecute Clarke if former anti-terrorism advisor lied - CBS

Yahoo! News ^ | 3/26/04 | AFP/Staff

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

NEW YORK (AFP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry challenged President George W. Bush) to prosecute former national security aide Richard Clarke if they can show that he lied about terrorism policy.

"My challenge to the Bush administration would be, if (Clarke) is not believable and they have reason to show it, then prosecute him for perjury because he is under oath, Kerry told CBS's MarketWatch.

"They have a perfect right to do that," said Kerry.

Republicans in Congress want to declassify testimony Clarke gave before Congress in 2002 that they claim is at odds with accounts critical of the administration in the aide's recently published book.

Clarke, a counter-terrorism advisor to three presidents, published a book this week entitled "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror," in which he claims the Bush administration failed to heed warnings of the September 11, 2001 attacks and then focused its attention on Saddam Hussein) rather than al-Qaeda.

He repeated the allegations under oath in testimony before a congressional committee.

The charges prompted an aggressive response from the White House, amid apparent concerns that they could undermine the president's re-election bid in November.

[Swanks]

What Kerry wants is an excuse to keep this story in the press closer to the election cycle. He knows the toady press will turn any trouble for Clarke into a rehash of Bush Admin incompetance, etc etc.

[jackbill]

Only if Clarke is believeable.

If it can be proven that he's not, Bush's numbers go up.

No prosecutions are necessary; just put Clarke's contradictory testimony out there, and talk about it.

Do you think that ABC, CBS, NBC, the NY Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, the Boston Globe, et al, will put Clarke's contradictory testimony out there?

Have you watched the broadcast networks or read the aforementioned newspapers lately? They are completely ignoring Clarke's lies.

[mylife]

You see whats going on!

[buffyt]

I LOVE your comment!

[kellynla]

"I'm starting to lose it over this election and it's only March. I can't take another six months of The Kerry Treatment."

Oh we Viet Nam veterans are just getting started with Ketchup.

By November, if Kerry is still the candidate, the incoming will be so hot he'll think he's back in Nam! :-]

Viet Nam Veterans Against John Kerry
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com

[mylife]

Great Post Kent

[Irish Eyes]

A prosecution will wave this in the air for the whole campaign, and this week's Rasmussen numbers makes it clear this is not a winning issue.

I do not believe this. What the Rasmussen numbers show is only Clarke's side of the story and what he has said in his book. People need to know what the real facts are Clarke has told two different stories and so far most have only heard the side that benefits the dems. He has lied, lets get the real story out there.

[Jim_Curtis]

The Democrats would order their associates to set off a nuke or something during a Clarke trial and Clarke would slowly shake his head and say "I tried to warn them."

The mediacrats would say "Bush was too busy punishing the guy who said he wasn't doing enough on terror to stop this new attack."

I think Bush knows this. Kerry is mocking him.

[GreenHornet]

We have to throw Condi at 60 Minutes Sunday night, and then we have to roll over and let this slide. A prosecution will wave this in the air for the whole campaign, and this week's Rasmussen numbers makes it clear this is not a winning issue. Kerry's pollsters have told him this, and he'd love to have Clarke a prominent issue all campaign long. We have to get this off the radar screen ASAP

You may very well be right, however, let me offer some speculation regarding Condi Rice. Much has been made in the mainstream media regarding the fact that she has not publicly testified before the 9/11 commission (although they conveniently gloss over the fact that she DID testify for several hours in a closed door session with the commission). Is it possible that the Bush team has been deliberately holding her back, to build up the media discussion and public speculation about "why she won't testify?" Now, they're going to put her on 60 Minutes, with the media hyping this interview, thereby ensuring a much larger audience than they would have gotten otherwise. Once on 60 minutes, Condi will no doubt blast Clarke right out of the water in front of the entire nation. (Note to the mainstream media: Be careful what you ask for, because you might get it!)

[cwb]

"Clarke will be exposed as having lied while a member of the Bush administration."

Ahh, how do you figure this. There is more evidence that we he said "after" he left the Bush administration was the lie. Even if, as he says, he was just supporting his boss, everything he said about Clinton is a contradiction. No one forced him to hammer Clinton. You not only have his joint congressional testimonies, you have his PBS interviews, his media interviews, his sourcing for Richard Miniters book, etc. He has a consistent record until his BOOK came out..after he left the administration.

[hobson]

Clarke will be exposed as having lied while a member of profiting from a book written to destroy the Bush administration.

There, that's better.

[TomGuy]

Gad, I cannot believe I actually agree with John eFing Kerry.

Oh, settle down. He'll flipflop in a week. Give him time.

lol

[Irish Eyes]

Clarke claims to be a republican!!!!

Someone has posted on another thread that he has only made monetary contributions to the democrats.

[Eva]

Actually, Frontpage has a challenge to Kerry on his Wintersoldier testimony, from a fellow Naval officer who was in charge of servicing the swift boats in Vietnam. He challenges Kerry to explain his testimony.

[Jodi]

with all due respect, I think you're assuming Clarke will be charged with perjury during his closed door testimony (is a Bush admin. official). From what I'm reading, the perjury charge will come from his testimony from Wed. (not a Bush admin. official)

[mylife]

really Frontpage? I like the way they think

[MJY1288]

ROFLMAO, leave it to Kerry to be the first to call it Pergury, even though the 9/11 commission has absolutely nothing to do with him. Guilt has a way of making one feel defensive :-)

This long faced retard never seems to stop putting his foot in his mouth

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Kerry challenges Bush to prosecute Clarke if former anti-terrorism advisor lied

And the moment this happened al Qerry would be savaging the Administration for "assassinating" the character of a private citizen ... stick to being a gigolo, John Boy!

[Jodi]

oops, sorry, posted before I saw your #60.

[GrandMoM]

One of the more intelligent moves I've seen on Kerry's part.....I don't think it was KERRY'S move, don't forget Kennedy is riding in KERRY'S hip pocket!!!!