Sept. 11 Panel Interviews Clinton in Private Session

AP ^ | 4/8/04 | Hope Yen

[Jean S]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal panel reviewing the Sept. 11 attacks met with former President Clinton in a private session Thursday that commissioners described as frank and informative.

The 10-member panel interviewed Clinton for nearly four hours to discuss what his administration could have done to prevent the attacks. The former president was "forthcoming and responsive," said the commission.

The panel said it didn't plan to release specific details of the meeting, saying much of it involved classified information.

Commissioners said Clinton addressed "big-picture" policy issues, including his administration's response to the October 2000 al-Qaida attack on the USS Cole. Some commissioners have criticized the Clinton and Bush administrations for failing to mount a military response to the attack, which killed 17 U.S. sailors.

"He was adamant about trying to work in a bipartisan way to fix the problems," said Democratic commissioner Timothy Roemer, a former U.S. representative from Indiana. "He was quite honest and frank."

John Lehman, a former Navy secretary under President Reagan, agreed.

"He did very well," Lehman told CNN. "He gave us a lot of very helpful insights into things that happened, policy approaches."

A spokesman for Clinton, Jim Kennedy, said the former president was pleased to talk to the commission "and believed it was a very constructive meeting."

Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore consented in February to separate private interviews; Gore is set to meet the panel in coming weeks.

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney also will meet privately with the full panel in a joint session in coming weeks; they initially restricted the interview to one hour with two panel members, but under mounting public pressure agreed last week to a joint session with no time constraints.

AP-ES-04-08-04 1922EDT

[Right_in_Virginia]

The former president was "forthcoming and responsive," said the commission.

Let's remember this quote and compare it with what's said after President Bush meets with this circus.

[grb]

Commissioners said Clinton addressed "big-picture" policy issues, including his administration's response to the October 2000 al-Qaida attack on the USS Cole

What f@@@ing response!!!

[CyberAnt]

"The panel said it didn't plan to release specific details of the meeting (because it was classified)"

BUT .. WHEN THEY INTERVIEWED CONDI IN PRIVATE (because most of it was classified) - BEN-VENISTA WAS ALL OVER THE TV SPEWING WHAT SHE SAID - AND PRIOR TO THAT HE LEAKED IT TO HIS JOURNALIST FRIENDS.

[hsmomx3]

With Condi's excellent testimony today, I wonder how this will have an effect on Hillary's chances at a run for the Presidency? If anything, Condi has the class to answer questions and conduct herself in a professional manner. None of this "I don't recall" business. Am glad the media covered it today as it just shows how pompous some of these people were/are.

[Old Grumpy]

I'm feeling pretty dense here. Why is his information "classified" and not Condi Rice's?

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[VOA]

Why isn't Bubba volunteering to testify in public, under oath?

I thought we wanted a full and open investigation to save lives in the future?

Well, I'm sure he had a good reason for wanting to testify in private.
I'm sure it was "for the children".

[MNJohnnie]

Yes, notice how this same DNC directed organization AP is screaming for the Aug 6th memo to be declassified so they can smear Bush some more but they just report that Clinton's testimoney is not going to be covered "because it is classified"?

[oolatec]

"The panel said it didn't plan to release specific details of the meeting, saying much of it involved classified information."

Yet the Dems on the Commission are crying bloody murder, insinuating that the Bush Administration is hiding something, for that August 6th PDB to be released, despite it being classified. Snakes.

[VOA]

Why is his information "classified" and not Condi Rice's?

He's a beloved impeached Democratic X-President.
She's just some sort of glorified house-slave.

I wouldn't be shocked to hear someone like Doonesbury's Gary Trudeau say something like that.

[varina davis]

Because it's a Dem witch hunt.

[icwhatudo]

The 10-member panel interviewed Clinton for nearly four hours to discuss what his administration could have done to prevent the attacks.

At which point he screamed-It was consensual!!! I never laid a hand on her! I...Oh, you mean...

[Pegita]

Insert here my one, consistent prayer for the Clintons ...

That the Lord would render the Clintons, and ALL their minions, totally powerless and voiceless and nameless and faceless and useless and homeless and penniless ... that He would strip them bare before the world, such is their evil, and that He would leave only their immortal souls, and it is for these souls I pray.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

The former president was "forthcoming and responsive," said the commission. translation: lied his ass off!

[norton]

"The panel said it didn't plan to release specific details of the meeting, saying much of it involved classified information."

Not only!

Ben Lavenesten demanded that his favorite Clark memo be declassified ... not quite the same treatment given to Klinton versus Rice.

Surprised?

[Old Grumpy]

I've been following it pretty closely, but I think I'm having one of those "old folks" moments. I didn't think of the OBVIOUS reasons.

[VOA]

Commissioners said Clinton addressed "big-picture" policy issues, including his
administration's response to the October 2000 al-Qaida attack on the
USS Cole. Some commissioners have criticized the Clinton and Bush administrations
for failing to mount a military response to the attack, which killed 17 U.S. sailors.

Too bad the Republicans won't use this as a wedge to make the Democrats look like
a band of lying Inspector Clouseau-s.

In the book "Losing bin Laden", Clarke is portrayed as about the only Clintonista
in favor of a military response.
Any Republican on the committee should be ready to call Richard Clarke back
for a few more questions IN PUBLIC, UNDER OATH.

e.g.,
You and President Clinton had two very different plans for going after bin Laden.
Which one of you was correct?

[anniegetyourgun]

Amen.

And I, for one, appreciate His having answered that prayer in a small way today. I am glad that Clinton wasn't before the public eye. Lest he apologize for America, hug every 9/11 family as spectacle, and tell the panel that he felt everyone's pain on that horrible day. I couldn't have endured that - especially know what his real legacy will always be.

[4Liberty]

Speaking of cover ups:

Will we EVER get a public airing of Clinton's health report, while President?

My husband said: "He probably has end stage syph. That's why it's kept secret."

Gee.

Doesn't advanced syphilis cause delusional / irrational behavior?

Just asking...