[ReleaseTheHounds]

Reading between the lines of this review by Miniter, I now think I understand Richard Clarke and his motivation.

When he started writing this book, he probably started it off as an honest and frustrated accounting of his decades in public service and the fight on terror. As he got into the process, perhaps as he started seeking a publisher, he realized: if I tell what I truly believe, everyone will hate me and I'll come across as a self-serving "outsider" in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. I have to choose sides if this book is going to be a success... Who controls the mainstream media? Who will give me the best buzz? Who will get those mindless American consumers to buy this book? How do I get the most "bang" for my views? Do I want to make my public confession on "60 Minutes" or "Fox & Friends"?

With this in mind, Clarke made his choice: whitewash the years of neglect by Clinton. Spin the events (not lie, just change the emphasis and "tenor") to excuse the feckless policies -- as a matter of fact, pick up the old mantra (this will play well in the media) that Clinton couldn't carry out Clarke's bold counter-terrorism because of those Republican scandal mongers. This won't sit well with the Bushies and the right-wing media, but you can count on the Clintonoids and that 90% of the mainstream media to do everything in their power to defend, extend and promote this "revisionist history".

Clarke probably did feel that Bush's focus on Iraq was mistaken and used that excuse for slanting his story (which I guess he started before the Iraq war began)... When the 9-11 Commission was scheduled, it became a very convenient publishing target date.

Like most career bureaucrats, Clarke probably feels the politicians are beneath him and stupid for not lapping up their policy prescriptions without question -- and I'm sure he has always sided with the Democrats for their "world view".

This is an opportunist of the first order -- and he's making $ millions as a result of this calculation. While Condi will expose his distortions, I'm sure it will be difficult to expose these as outright "Lies" because the mainstream media won't allow that to happen.

[OESY]

Interesting but, IMHO, overly generous concluding paragraph:

In recent days we have been subjected to a great deal of Mr. Clarke, not least to replays of his fulsome apology for not doing enough to prevent 9/11. But he has nothing to apologize for: He was a relentless foe of al Qaeda for years. He should really apologize for the flaws in his book.

[cyncooper]

Here's the thing: Clarke says he voted McCain in the 2000 primary and Gore in the general.

Connecting the dots, one can surmise his McCain vote was meant, as many dems were doing during that time, as an effort to oust Bush as the Republican nominee. So, we can deduce he has actually been anti-Bush well before the election.

Taking that into account, others have pondered if the drawn out election drove him 'round the bend and then when Rice was apprised, immediately upon taking up her new position, of concerns about Clarke's past performance and he was removed from his former duties of briefing the Cabinet, perhaps, the theory goes, he turned outright malignant against the administration.

Yes, he gave briefings lauding the Bush actions and such, but perhaps he was playing both sides in order to accumulate enough material for the book he was already planning on penning?

Something is very wrong with Richard A. Clarke.

[malia]

I think you give him too much credit!

[My2Cents]

Like most career bureaucrats, Clarke probably feels the politicians are beneath him and stupid for not lapping up their policy prescriptions

Great observation. The value of Clarke's book is that it serves as an example of the arrogant and obstructionist bureaucratic mindset.

[CyberAnt]

I have a simpler explanation. Hillary bought him.

Clarke's friendship with Rand Beers, puts him in almost direct continued connection to Hillary. She already knew him from 8 years in the WH. What better shill than someone of his supposed stature to take down the Bush WH and repaint Clinton as the only one who really did anything about terror.

Hillary's book - Simon & Schuster.
Clarke's book - Simon & Schuster = CBS = Viacom (who is Hillary's largest donor).