Setting the Record Straight: Condoleezza Rice and the 9/11 Commission

The Heritage Foundation ^ | April 8, 2004 | Helle Dale and James Phillips

[quidnunc]

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice’s strong performance in her appearance before the September 11 Commission should put to rest any notion that the Bush administration was complacent or inattentive to the terrorist threat facing the United States before September 11. Rice capably defended the Bush White House against the storm of controversy created by former National Security Council staffer Richard Clarke’s book Against All Enemies, as well as against Mr. Clarke’s testimony before the Commission. Dr. Rice was convincing, composed, and eloquent in her opening statement and in her answers to the Commission’s pointed — and sometimes partisan — questioning.

While the White House had resisted her public testimony on principle, in the end it was the right decision to allow Dr. Rice to make the case as only she could. In the process, she pressed home the case for the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act. As Dr. Rice testified, without these two elements, the United States would be as vulnerable to intelligence failures as it was prior to September 11.

Contre Clarke

The charges Mr. Clarke has laid at the Bush administration’s door are threefold: First, that an unheeded August 6, 2001, intelligence memorandum contained specific information that airlines would be used by terrorists as missiles against targets in the United States; second, that President Bush was uninterested in the topic of terrorism and so obsessed with the problem of Saddam Hussein that he neglected Al Qaeda; and third, that the Bush administration did a worse job than the Clinton administration on terrorism and failed to take advantage of plans produced under Mr. Clinton to fight Al Qaeda.

-snip-

[Blue Highway]

"And indeed, in the briefings with the Clinton administration, they emphasized other priorities: North Korea, the Middle East, the Balkans."

If Al Quaida was as big a concern as Dick Clark says it was, why wasn't this briefed? Why was the briefing so brief (1 hour)?

[HardStarboard]

I think the bottom line in all of this is that Clarke is a bigot and a racist.

He was the model bureacrat through 3 administrations until he got Condilezza Rice as a boss in the 4th - the G.W. Bush administration.

He immediately stopped going to NSA meetings chaired by Rice - even though he reported to her. Totally out of character for Clarke, the faithful, hard working, dedicated bureaucrat. Evidently, as has been reported, he finally had to be ordered by Rice to attend the meetings, after ignoring several polite, but pointed, requests. This was reported within days of his book appearing - I haven't seen it since but its hanging there....like a big cloud no one wants to touch.

I think that Clarke, the penultimate stuffed shirt bureaucrat, just could not stomach the come down to work for a woman, let alone a black!

I'd be interested in any comments on this theory - because no one in the press, mainstream or conservative, is discussing possibility.

[NJJ]

I think the best explanation she gave was that when they took office they assessed that the current Clinton policy on al Qaeda (of addressing individual terrorist events) was inadequate and that they needed a comprehensive solution. The actions they took were correct. They were:

1) To continue the Clinton policy in place, retaining all the people (including Clarke) to assure there would be no disruption of the Clinton policy, i.e., if it was good enough for Clinton it should be good enough for Bush to continue (and Clarke thought Clinton was doing such a great job).

2) To direct Bush's people (including Rice) to concurrently develop a comprehensive plan to deal with al Qaeda. By using a separate group of people, they would not draw down from continuing the Clinton policy. Indeed, they even implemented several of Clarke's proposals.

It is not unreasonable to expect it to take many many months to develop the new plan and put it in place. He has demonstrated time and again that he will take the time to bring in the right people and plan out a correct action before striking.

After 9-11, it is logical that plan 2 would take priority and that it would be put in play by Plan 2 people. Clarke had no reason to expect to be a key player, since he should have been focusing all of his time on the Clinton policy.

In the hearings, much has been made of the fact that Bush didn't demote anyone as a result of 9-11. It seems that everyone has forgotten that Clarke was in effect "demoted" by having no role in Plan 2 and he was the key man for counter-terrorism.

[CyberAnt]

I agree with your assessment of Clarke not wanting to work for a woman, and let alone a black woman.

When she was confirmed as NSA, I read that she did not like the structure of the dept and she set about to change it. It was then that Clarke was designated to report to her instead of the President. Since Clarke got a lot of face time with Clinton, he might have been upset about that, and then to have to report to a black woman was just beneath him. And .. there are memos to Clarke from Condi asking him why he did not attend her meetings. Looks like he missed a lot of those "meetings" he was so upset were not taking place.

Also, because I've experienced a similar situation, if Clarke is gay (which is what I've heard), he would be especially agitated with Condi because she is a Christian. I've had to work with gays, and some of them are so put off with Christians, they become almost combative or openly rebellious. I've had co-workers sabatoge me at work - just because I was a Christian. I would not rule out this element as part of the problem.

And .. some of this info that Condi didn't get informed about .. why?? Wasn't it Clarke's job to keep her informed of that stuff. Did HE NEGLECT his duty to inform her?? I'm flying blind on this because I don't have any concrete data on how all the staff operations work, but it would seem to me that if Clarke knew all the stuff he says he does, why wasn't Condi apprised of that information?

[Chu Gary]

"...why wasn't Condi apprised of that information?"

It seems to me that he gave her only part of his knowledge, in the hopes that she would perform poorly, be removed and someone else (read Dickless there) would be elevated to the top job.

[GailA]

btt

[CyberAnt]

"gave her only part of his knowledge, in the hopes that she would perform poorly, be removed"

BINGO! I'm beginning to think Clarke was purposefully sabotaging her job and was willing to do whatever.

AND .. WHAT JUST CAME TO ME .. THE CLINTOONS NEEDED TO HAVE CLARKE IN THE "INNER CIRCLE" OF MEETINGS SO THEY COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. Cheney has already said, "Clarke was out of the loop".

OMG this whole Clarke thing is beginning to stink worse and worse.

[GailA]

What floored me was when Condi said sandy berger gave her a ONE HOUR briefing on foreign affairs during transistion!

I think this is the anti-accident device that that 9/11 widow from peaceful tomorrows was yapping about when she was on with perky katie, queen of mean after Condi's testimony. I scanned the articles and no where did I find that the device is adaptable to air craft.

http://www.autospeed.com/shop/category_2120/browse.html?ecomsvr=888888478

http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_1695/article.html long article

http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/roadangel.php long article

http://www.premierdirect.co.uk/startroadangel.htm

Road Angel Starter Kit

A simple to use, cost effective, high quality accident prevention device for cars, motorbikes, coaches or trucks, fully programmable by the user to enter their own hazards. Using the latest GPS technology Road Angel constantly monitors speed and direction not only notifying of known accident blackspots, but also to advise drivers of certain speed sensitive areas to reduce accidents. Regular updates of new blackspots and cameras are downloaded via the internet. The Road Angel comes with full technical service support via Internet, Email, Fax and Telephone.

Please note that the Road Angel IS NOT a radar detector, therefore it DOES NOT detect mobile speed cameras

Includes Road Angel, windscreen fitting kit, 12v cigar lighter with straight wire, PC interface lead, 12 power supply (for PC interface) comprehensive Windows Software, User manual and dash-mat. The first year of updates is free of charge with an annual subscription thereafter of $95.