Clarke's collapse
Rich Lowry:
" DEAN Acheson famously titled his memoir of his years as secretary of state after World War II 'Present at the Creation.' Anyone close to Richard Clarke these last few days could write a memoir called 'Present at the Self-Immolation.' Rarely has a former public servant with such a sterling reputation shot it all away so quickly.
"If Clarke is ever hired in another administration, it should be as Dishonesty Czar. Even by the standard of the host of recent anti-Bush books, Clarke's 'Against All Enemies' distinguishes itself for its pathetically misleading and incomplete account of the facts.
"For evidence of this, look no further than Clarke's August 2002 briefing for reporters while he was still at the National Security Council.
"In that briefing, first reported by Fox News, Clarke portrayed Bush as an anti-terror stalwart.
"Was he merely parroting talking points given to him by the Bush team? That's the explanation he offered at yesterday's hearing. But he can't get off the hook so easily.
"At the very least, what he said in August 2002 must have been factual. Otherwise, Clarke has revealed himself to be an opportunist who will lie at the direction of his superiors.
"So, if what Clarke said was true (and no one has contradicted it), why didn't he include it in his book?
...
" This is just the beginning of the contradictions and mistakes.
"* In his testimony yesterday, Clarke said that the Clinton administration had 'no higher priority' than fighting terror. No. In his own book, he says trying to force a Middle East peace agreement was more important to Clinton than retaliating for the attack against USS Cole.
"* Clarke says in his book that Bush asked him to look into a possible Iraq connection to 9/11 in an "intimidating" way. No. Two other witnesses say there was nothing intimidating about Bush's manner.
* Clarke says Condi Rice appeared as if she hadn't heard of al Qaeda before he mentioned it to her in early 2001. No. Rice made public statements in late 2000 noting the threat from bin Laden.
"Given all of this, it's hard to believe that anyone takes Richard Clarke seriously - including himself."
Rich Lowry:
" DEAN Acheson famously titled his memoir of his years as secretary of state after World War II 'Present at the Creation.' Anyone close to Richard Clarke these last few days could write a memoir called 'Present at the Self-Immolation.' Rarely has a former public servant with such a sterling reputation shot it all away so quickly.
"If Clarke is ever hired in another administration, it should be as Dishonesty Czar. Even by the standard of the host of recent anti-Bush books, Clarke's 'Against All Enemies' distinguishes itself for its pathetically misleading and incomplete account of the facts.
"For evidence of this, look no further than Clarke's August 2002 briefing for reporters while he was still at the National Security Council.
"In that briefing, first reported by Fox News, Clarke portrayed Bush as an anti-terror stalwart.
"Was he merely parroting talking points given to him by the Bush team? That's the explanation he offered at yesterday's hearing. But he can't get off the hook so easily.
"At the very least, what he said in August 2002 must have been factual. Otherwise, Clarke has revealed himself to be an opportunist who will lie at the direction of his superiors.
"So, if what Clarke said was true (and no one has contradicted it), why didn't he include it in his book?
...
" This is just the beginning of the contradictions and mistakes.
"* In his testimony yesterday, Clarke said that the Clinton administration had 'no higher priority' than fighting terror. No. In his own book, he says trying to force a Middle East peace agreement was more important to Clinton than retaliating for the attack against USS Cole.
"* Clarke says in his book that Bush asked him to look into a possible Iraq connection to 9/11 in an "intimidating" way. No. Two other witnesses say there was nothing intimidating about Bush's manner.
* Clarke says Condi Rice appeared as if she hadn't heard of al Qaeda before he mentioned it to her in early 2001. No. Rice made public statements in late 2000 noting the threat from bin Laden.
"Given all of this, it's hard to believe that anyone takes Richard Clarke seriously - including himself."
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