Why Bush really demoted Richard Clarke

http://www.cashill.com/terrorism/obama4_whybush.htm ^ | 1/17/2008 | Jack Cashill

[Sioux-san]

Why Bush really demoted Richard Clarke

by Jack Cashill

This is the fourth in a six-part series detailing the risks to American national security if Barack Obama (or Hillary Clinton) should ever choose to let Richard Clarke back into government. Clarke is currently one of Obama’s top national security advisors.

“When George Bush came into office, though he kept Clarke on at the White House, he stripped him of his cabinet level rank.”

So lamented Leslie Stahl during the March 2004 60 Minutes profile that would make Richard Clarke ace crowd surfer in the intellectual mosh pit of the anti-war left .

For all anguished headbanging since, there was never any reason to lament. Documents I have received this week from a high level source suggest why Clarke was so stripped.

In reality, his demotion had less to do with Bush’s negligence, as Clarke and others have implied, than with Clarke’s own perceived incompetence.

[Sioux-san]

Excerpt - full story on Cashill's website along with Parts 1-4

[Zechariah11]

When committee members asked if Clarke had prepared a “comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism,” the notoriously patronizing Clarke blew them off.

It was “silly” to believe such a strategy could be developed, said Clarke, “belittling” the committee for daring to pose the question.

“If there are no clear requirements or plan,” Shays asked in obvious disgust, “how does the administration prioritize the $12.9 billion it intends to spend” on counter-terrorism and related activities?

This is an outstanding piece.

Thanks.

[SouthTexas]

Great find!

[Waco]

Clarke: Imcompetent or merely a traitor?

[DB]

Fool.

[Melchior]

In their book The Age of Sacred Terror, former Clinton NSC bigwigs Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon note (page 232) that Clarke had been fired by SecState Baker only to be saved by Brent Scowcroft who got him a job at the NSC. He was only one of three bureaucrats that held onto their jobs as Clinton moved into office. He seems to have been thoroughly detested by many at the White House, just as he was at the Department of State where he had made his reputation as INR (Intelligence and Research)Director Mort Abramowicz’s toady.

[MarkL]

Jack Cashill used to be a talk show host in KC, and I’ve always liked him a lot.

Most recently, around Christmas while Chris Stigall was on vacation, Jack hosted the morning show. Brought back a lot of memories.

Mark

[mass55th]

"Clarke: Imcompetent or merely a traitor?"

How about both?

[attiladhun2]

his demotion had less to do with Bush’s negligence, as Clarke and others have implied, than with Clarke’s own perceived incompetence

A fed intell agent is an oxymoron. Read Shadow Warriors, there Timmerman has this numbskull's number. He no more saw 9-11 coming than a blind, spavined broke-d!ck mule. Only that one retired FBI agent (who was ironically killed in the collaspe of the WTC) realized what was coming. The Clinton admin wasn't listening to his repeated warnings about a coming major terror event, including this discredited boob.

[Gator113]

“Clarke: Imcompetent or merely a traitor?”

Yes.

[piasa]

I know it's from Cashill, but here's a nice tidbit of data...

This is the fourth in a six-part series detailing the risks to American national security if Barack Obama (or Hillary Clinton) should ever choose to let Richard Clarke back into government. Clarke is currently one of Obama’s top national security advisors.

Is the VIPS crew on Obama's team this time too?

[Fedora]

Based on the last campaign, we know VIPS will be courting various candidates, so very likely, I’d guess.

[popdonnelly]

This completely incompetent Clarke became a hero for the Left. No surprise, since they value having the correct political opinions over competence. And he became a darling of the 9/11 Commission. Incompetents recognizing a fellow incompetent.

[shove_it]

>> “You can put your boots in the oven but that don’t make them biscuits.”<<

Tag line for sale. Inquire within.

[popdonnelly]

Nothing is more annoying than a bunch of failed former bureaucrats posing as experts. Experts at what? Making a living off the Federal payroll?

[popdonnelly]

Given Clarke’s record of failing to prevent a single terrorist attack, incompetent, certainly. Traitor is over the top.

[peeps36]

I knew Clark was a worthless moron as soon as I heard him speak. How does such an untalented dunce get put in a position of such importance? He isn’t qualified to mop the bathroom floors in any intelligence agency.

[srmorton]

Every time I read an article like this I am reminded of the real problem facing conservatives in the United States - an irresponsible, biased, lazy, and incompetent media. What happened to objective journalists who desire to discover the truth so much that they will dig until they find it and then have the integrity to report the facts rather than their own political spin on them?

[LS]

Something always struck me as weird about the Clarke stuff. It just wasn’t like the Bush administration to brush off serious warnings. Now we know why.

[mass55th]

Unfortunately, most of Clinton’s appointees were untalened dunces, and quite a few were recommended by Hillary. Ten to one, if she ever gets into the White House, I’m sure she’d nominate a woman to serve as Secretary of Defense. And with a Democrat Congress, she just might pull it off.