Posted on 09/09/2006 12:57:44 PM PDT by Lorianne
BILL CLINTON responded furiously yesterday to an American television mini-series about the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, which portrays him as so distracted by the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal that he failed to focus on the emerging threat of Osama bin Laden. Senior Clinton Administration officials, including Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State, and Sandy Berger, the former National Security Adviser, also demanded yesterday that ABC either substantially edit or cancel its two-part The Path to 9/11, claiming that the drama was defamatory. The programme is also being shown by the BBC.
The five-hour drama, which will be shown tomorrow and Monday, portrays events that the former Clinton officials say never happened. These include a scene in which Mr Berger refused to authorise an attack on bin Laden in 1998 when CIA operatives had the al-Qaeda leader in their sights.
The reaction from Mr Clinton and his former aides was extraordinarily visceral. It reflected the enormous emotional and political hold the attacks continue to exert on the American political landscape, and the argument about whether the Clinton or Bush Administration was more to blame for failing to stop them.
In the past week President Bush has tried to refocus American voters on his response to the September 11 crisis, and the threat from bin Laden, and away from the war in Iraq.
With seven weeks until November’s midterm elections, polls show that Mr Bush enjoys an advantage over Democrats on the issue of terrorism. The September 11 attacks and his response to them will form the cornerstone of Republican campaigns. Mr Bush will spend tomorrow and Monday in New York commemorating the fifth anniversary of 9/11.
“It is despicable that ABC/Disney would insist on airing a fictional version of what is a serious and emotional event for our country,” a spokesman for the Clinton Foundation said. ABC’s parent company is the Walt Disney Corporation.
Mr Clinton, speaking after a fundraising event in Arkansas, referred to ABC’s claim that much of the series is based on the September 11 commission report, the bipartisan investigation of the attacks. “They ought to tell the truth,” Mr Clinton said. “They shouldn’t have scenes that are directly contradicted by the findings of the 9/11 report.”
Ms Albright, Mr Berger, Bruce Lindsey, head of the Clinton Foundation, and the Clinton adviser Douglas Band wrote to Robert Iger, Disney’s chief executive, claiming that the drama was “factually and incontrovertibly inaccurate”.
They added: “It is unconscionable to mislead the American public about one of the most horrendous tragedies our country has ever known.” They called the drama “right-wing political propaganda”.
The outrage had echoes of a 2003 controversy when Republicans successfully persuaded CBS to pull an unflattering and inaccurate biopic of the late Ronald Reagan.
Democrats pointed out that the main consultant to the ABC series was Thomas Keane, a former Republican New Jersey governor and chairman of the 9/11 commission.
ABC defended the series but was understood last night to be changing the scene involving Mr Berger. It called criticism “premature and irresponsible”, but conceded that the drama contained “fictionalised scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue”.
TERROR DATES
1996 June 25 A lorry bomb explodes at US military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 19 Americans; Osama bin Laden identified as terrorist financier 1998 June Osama bin Laden placed on FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List Aug 7 US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania are bombed; Osama bin Laden named as the mastermind of the attacks Aug 20 US forces launch day of missile strikes on camps in Afghanistan and destroy a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan Dec 24 In an ABC News interview, bin Laden denies responsibility for the embassy attacks 2000 Oct 12 Attack on the USS Cole by bin Laden sympathisers kills 17
CLINTON
1997 Dec 19 Monica Lewinsky subpoenaed to appear at a deposition hearing 1998 Jan 17 The Drudge Report breaks story about a White House intern’s sexual affair with President Clinton Jan 26 Clinton declares “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” Aug 6 Lewinsky testifies before the Starr grand jury Aug 17 Clinton admits in a televised speech, “I did have a relationship with Ms Lewinsky that was not appropriate” Dec 11 House Judiciary Committee approve articles of impeachment Dec 19 Clinton impeached by the House on two counts of perjury and obstruction of justice 1999 Jan 7 Impeachment trial begins in the Senate Feb. 12 Senate acquits Clinton
TERROR DATES
1996 __ June 25 A lorry bomb explodes at US military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 19 Americans; Osama bin Laden identified as terrorist financier
1998 ___ June Osama bin Laden placed on FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List ___ Aug 7 US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania are bombed; Osama bin Laden named as the mastermind of the attacks ___ Aug 20 US forces launch day of missile strikes on camps in Afghanistan and destroy a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan ___ Dec 24 In an ABC News interview, bin Laden denies responsibility for the embassy attacks 2000 ___ Oct 12 Attack on the USS Cole by bin Laden sympathisers kills 17
CLINTON
1997 ___ Dec 19 Monica Lewinsky subpoenaed to appear at a deposition hearing 1998 ___ Jan 17 The Drudge Report breaks story about a White House intern’s sexual affair with President Clinton ___ Jan 26 Clinton declares “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” ___ Aug 6 Lewinsky testifies before the Starr grand jury ___ Aug 17 Clinton admits in a televised speech, “I did have a relationship with Ms Lewinsky that was not appropriate” ___ Dec 11 House Judiciary Committee approve articles of impeachment ___ Dec 19 Clinton impeached by the House on two counts of perjury and obstruction of justice 1999 ___ Jan 7 Impeachment trial begins in the Senate Feb. 12 Senate acquits Clinton
So what are the Dims whining about? They been running around blaiming Republicans "because they were snooping into his sex life he was too busy to deal with Bin Laden".
NOW they want to claim their OWN PR the last 5 years is a lie?
Bingo.
All the carping by the Clintanistas about the Sandy Burglar and Maddy Halfbright scenes are just cover for their real issue...Clinton had his eye on the Lewinski affair and not the security of this country.
Excuses are what CHILDREN do...adults play the blame game...and is that group good at that...always someone elses fault...
Just which scenes "contradict the findings" there, Mister Convicted Perjurer, and Accused Rapist?
bttt
Clinton had his eye on the Lewinski affair and not the security of this country
Hence it is all about character which Clinton is gravley absent
Just which scenes "contradict the findings" there, Mister Convicted Perjurer, and Accused Rapist?
Correct me if I'm wrong but was it not Nancy Reagan and the general public that protested the movie about Ronald Reagan? I don't remember the Republicans raising a fuss.
You're right...if they were smart, instead of trying to censor this, they should point out the "errors" and beat the drum that taking a President away from what he should be doing with these stupid investigations will only hurt the Country. Of course, now that THEY'RE not in power, they won't say it. I'd respect them a bit if they did.
Sandy, if its so defamatory then sue for defamation, after the broadcast! Let's see ya try, Sandy, let's just see ya try ....
This is ripe, folks, just beautiful how the left is going berserk over all this .... get loads of popcorn ready 'cause this is just the beginning. Heehhehheeeheee :)
The outrage had echoes of a 2003 controversy when Republicans successfully persuaded CBS to pull an unflattering and inaccurate biopic of the late Ronald Reagan.
Big difference! The GOP Senate didn't threaten CBS with a letter of protest over Reagan s film nor demanded censoring.
Also...when Dan Rather and CBS had those phoney forged documents about GWB's National Guard service neither Bush nor the GOP threatened CBS on that intentional smear either.
Absolutely true. The Reagon documentary was pulled and it went to a pay-to-view station.
Unfortunately, hypocrisy is not limited to one side of the aisle.
Yes, no Republican politican or operative threatend Govt retribution against CBS. It was a purely grass roots effort AND it still was shown on Showtime.
If Sandly Burglar SUES, it will bring up ALL the stuff about what he DESTROYED and CHANGED at the National Archives!! POP THE POPCORN!!
I believe Clinton let Bin Laden go, but there's obviously more to that story than the l'affaire Lewinsky.
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