Les Jones

News > Stick a Fork in Richard Clarke

Some people want to think that Clarke's testimony is an indictment of Bush's culpability in 9/11. Yet here's what Clarke said last week in direct response to that issue when questioned by Slade Gorton of the 9/11 Commission:

Mr. Gorton: "Assuming that the recommendations that you made on January 25 of 2001 . . . including aid to the Northern Alliance which had been an agenda item at this point for two and a half years without any action, assuming that there had been more Predator reconnaissance missions, assuming that that had all been adopted, say, on January 26, year 2001, is there the remotest chance that it would have prevented 9/11?"

Mr. Clarke: "No."

And just to be sure there's no confusion:

Mr. Gorton: "It just would have allowed our response after 9/11 to be perhaps a little bit faster?"

Mr. Clarke: "Well, the response would have begun before 9/11."

Mr. Gorton: "But -- yes, but we weren't going to -- there was no recommendation on your part or anyone else's part that we declare war and attempt to invade Afghanistan prior to 9/11?"

Mr. Clarke: "That's right."

Condoleeza Rice is going to flay Clarke when she testifies.