3/28/2004

In her 60 Minutes interview on March 28, 2004, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said former counterterrorism czar “Richard Clarke had plenty of opportunities to tell us in the [Bush] administration that he thought the war on terrorism was moving in the wrong direction, and he chose not to.”  – Philip Shenon, The Commission, Pages […]

Read More… from 3/28/2004

3/28/2004

In an appearance on Meet the Press on March 28, 2004, “Richard Clarke, the national security adviser for terrorism in 2001, said he and CIA director George Tenet became increasingly convinced in the summer of 2001 that something was up, so much so that Clarke said Tenet ‘had his hair on fire.’ ”  – Brian […]

Read More… from 3/28/2004

3/27/2004

In March 2004, “the weekly newspaper Hawza, which was operated by [Iraqi theologian and political leader] Muqtada al-Sadr’s organization, ran a series of articles suggesting that violence against coalition forces was more than appropriate. The paper (which had a circulation of 50,000) also took a shot at [Coalition Provisional Authority leader] Ambassador [L. Paul] Bremer […]

Read More… from 3/27/2004

3/24/2004

During his testimony before the 9/11 Commission on March 24, 2004, former counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke said: ” ‘[CIA director] George Tenet and I tried very hard to create a sense of urgency by seeing to it that intelligence reports on the al Qaeda threat were frequently given to the president [Bush] and other high-level […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004

3/24/2004

When testifying in front of the 9/11 Commission on March 24, 2004, former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke was asked how much of a priority terrorism had been for the Clinton and Bush administrations. He replied: ” ‘My impression was that fighting terrorism in general, and fighting al Qaeda in particular, were an extraordinarily high priority […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004

3/24/2004

Former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke admitted in testimony on March 24, 2004 that “his [Clarke’s] policy advice, even if it had been accepted immediately and turned into action, would not have prevented 9/11.”  – 9/11 Commission, The 9/11 Commission Report, Page 348 […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004

3/24/2004

Former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke testified before the 9/11 Commission on March 24, 2004. He said: ” ‘The reason I am strident in my criticism of the president of the United States [Bush] is that by invading Iraq, the president of the United States has greatly undermined the war on terrorism.’ ”  – Jonathan Randal, […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004

3/24/2004

CIA Director George Tenet defended the CIA in his testimony before the 9/11 Commission on March 24, 2004: ” ‘The idea that [the CIA’s clandestine officers] are risk-averse, couldn’t get the job done, weren’t forward-leaning–I’m sorry. I’ve heard those comments, and I just categorically reject them.’ ”  – Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, Without Precedent, […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004

3/24/2004

In testimony before the 9/11 Commission on March 24, 2004, CIA Director George Tenet was asked why the CIA didn’t protect the American people on 9/11. He replied: ” ‘We didn’t steal the secret that told us what the plot was. We didn’t recruit the right people or technically collect the data, notwithstanding enormous effort […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004

3/24/2004

“Following [former counterterrorism czar] Richard Clarke’s testimony before the [9/11] Commission on March 24 [2004], approval of the president’s [Bush’s] handling of homeland security and the war on terror had dropped by eight points.”  – Peter Lance, Cover Up, Page 177 […]

Read More… from 3/24/2004