Clarke challenges Rice to reveal secret emails

[kskiska]

Richard Clarke, the former terrorism adviser whose revelations threaten to torpedo George Bush's re-election strategy, launched a counterattack yesterday at a White House that he said was determined to destroy him.

In a riveting television performance, Mr Clarke called on his principal critic and former employer, the national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, to release the entire record of their emails in the months up to the September 11 terror attacks to prove his contention that the White House did not then take the threat of al-Qaida seriously.

He also agreed to Republican demands to declassify testimony he gave to the Senate two years ago - to "prove" there were no inconsistencies. "Let's take all of my emails and all the memos I sent to the national security adviser and her deputy from January 20 to September 11 and let's declassify all of them," Mr Clarke told NBC television.

Mr Clarke's bravura presentation surprised the Bush administration. The decision to stand his ground could also be destructive to Ms Rice. She has been under intense scrutiny for a week - largely for being the focus of Mr Clarke's charges that the Bush government did not see al-Qaida as a priority before September 11, but also because she refused to testify before the commission.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1180088,00.html

[jean]

1. We just watched the replay of MtP and Clarke was riveting

Although Russert did get some negative topics on the table, for the most part, Clarke dominated the entire hour.

[Kahuna]

2. It was riveting. It's the best MTP I've seen in years...

Kind of reminded me of the old MTP days.

[UpInArms]

3. and here's to KindaSleazy

http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!10!68!6607FA754F11/treezart/BurnedToast/scrapbookFiles/importD19.gif

[KissMyAsscroft]

4. Is everyone here recognizing what happens...

When Democrats grow a spine and stand up and tell the truth?

Pretty nice, isn't it?

[w13rd0]

5. Everyone deserves a representative government...

...not just Democrats. Republicans, especially the more moderate and liberal Republicans, need to take their party back from the religious right and corpofascist interests as much as the Democrats need to wrest the Democratic party away from the DLC and the corporate cash trough...

I just want elected officials to do their damn job without being opportunists and corrupt shills. I want them to keep this country safe, and stay the hell out of my computer and my bedroom.

[Dhalgren]

7. Clarke is more republican than independent

but anyone with a spine beats what we've gotten over the past nearly 4 years.

[shanti]

15. he's not a dem

but he's sure acting like one!

[SquireJons]

22. Clark is not a Democrat

He's a patriotic American. While I'm sure he and I would disagree on many issues, my hats off to him for standing up to the real 'Evil Empire' despite what he knows it will cost him... everything he has ever worked for.

Goes to show, there are republicans with values I would understand. But I wouldn't hold my breath for the 'moderate republicans' to retake their party. That was lost in 1964, when Goldwater bulldozed Rockefeller, and they haven't made a peep since. Where's Ike and Teddy when you really need them?

[GoBlue]

24. Interestingly

Mr. Clarke claims to be a registered Republican.

[htuttle]

29. He said he voted for McCain in the 2000 primaries

[lebkuchen]

6. Thank you, Mr. Clarke

You're brilliant.



Former White House counter-terrorism advisor Richard Clarke shows a thank you note received from US President George W. Bush after he resigned from the White House, during an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios in Washington, DC. Clarke talked about his charges on how the Bush Administration underestimated the threat of the al Qaeda network before 9/11.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040329/photos_wl_afp/040329004525_v6kqonrs_photo0

[kskiska]

11. Check out *'s handwriting

He writes the way he speaks, 6 words, then turn the page for the next 6. I'll bet his spelling isn't awfully good, either.

[lebkuchen]

13. Maybe somebody w/computer skills will blow it up

I'd like to see it closer than what my magnifying glass can produce.

Dyslexia weighs heavy on this family.

[samsingh]

25. could some handwriting analysis experts tell us

about Bush's character. I know the long loops on the 'Y' and the 'D' means that he's very gradiose The inconsistent slanting means that he can go from introverted to extroverted. The large print shows his lack of perspective.

[Old and In the Way]

8. I'll bet Clarke has every one of those e-mails tucked away.

Something tells me that Clarke has a lot more powder that he's keeping dry.

[THATGIRL1]

9. MORE NEWS AT 11

POW..WOW! KABOOM!:yourock:

[newyawker99]

30. Hi THATGIRL1!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Lugnut]

10. I have that same feeling.

His hour on MTP was the most riveting 60 minutes I've ever seen. Richard Clarke knew his former bosses well enough to know what he would face. My bet is on Clarke in this fight.

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. He's going to need it

For sure.

http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13z

[tkmorris]

14. There's a problem though

Career people like Clarke take security VERY seriously. Often that attitude manifests itself in ways that frankly seem silly to me but nonetheless they do.

You see, all of that communication is classified. Clarke knows of course that they will and are declassifying material not based upon whether it needs to stay secret or not but whether it damages their case. Cherrypicking, as Bob Graham would say. Nonetheless if they keep those emails classified I think it possible Clarke will not reveal them. Technically, revealing them would be treason and while Dick Cheney may commit that 3 times before breakfast Clarke is a totally different kind of human bean. He may well fight this battle by their rules, his code of honor might demand such.

On the other hand he shows signs of being fed up with the whole poitical game. Clearly he knew he was going to be attacked, and viciously, for his words. He was ready. So maybe he does have something else up his sleeve. I suspect though that revealing this material unilaterally isn't his plan.

[truthisfreedom]

16. MTP about to come on NBC--- midwest area cable

i'm wired. 8^)

[SoCalDem]

17. You KNOW he saved copies of those e-mails..

I am a nobody, and I save copies of emails.. Those were important ones, and I would bet money that he has copies of all of them.....

They better not push him too hard.. He has much more to say..

[truthisfreedom]

18. the man has a lot of friends in the WH who look at the administration the

exact same way he does. considering the position he held for 20 years, he probably has access to information that administration itself couldn't get its hands on if it wanted to... because it simply doesn't know what to ask for...

i'm watching him on MTP right now, and aside from being put in the uncomfortable position of having to refer to character assassination every 10 minutes or so, he comes across as the most intelligent and powerful-minded man from the white house besides dick cheney... who, of course, comes across as the devil as well.

[Florida_Geek]

19. Right

head of Cyber-Security --- Check

pissed at WH --- Check

head of Cyber-Security --- Check

plans to write tell all book --- Check

head of Cyber-Security --- Check

Knows the WH will release the attack dogs on him --- Check

head of Cyber-Security --- Check

Buys a good data encryption package (PGP for one)

head of Cyber-Security --- Check

Has access to most if not all WH servers --- Check

head of Cyber-Security --- Check

Spends time burning "music" DVDs --- Check.....

-----------------------------------------------

Yep, he was it all on DVDs (4 Gig Bytes per) probably in multiple locations. On MTP he talked of his Jan doc of what needed to be done and what was "approved" Sept 4 and how there were no differences. And he wanted both out. Yep he has a lot more than just emails.

[xchrom]

20. damn this is better

than the ''thriller in manilla''.
we don't need tim russert we need howard cossel.
and right now -- my money is on clarke -- wooo hooo!

[truthisfreedom]

21. russert must be very, very proud of this interview. i loved it.

it was indeed riviting.

[radwriter0555]

23. ooooooooo he better stay out of small planes and wear some body

armor.

[bearfan454]

28. F*cking Eh !

.

[yellowcanine]

26. Clarke has nailed the hypocricy of the * bots

The * bots want to bleat about the contradictions in Clarke's testimony but at the same time selectively release classified material that makes Clarke look bad but keep classified what might bolster his testimony. Kerry had it right. If they have a legitimate complaint about Clarke's testimony they should charge him with perjury. Of course they won't do that because then he would have the right to all the files for his defense, not just the ones that * wants to make public in an attempt to smear him. The other huge hypocricy is Condy's willingness to testify everywhere and anywhere in public as long as it is not under oath in front of the commission. Clarke is under oath but Condy gets to smear him without being under oath. What kind of crap is that? Is it possible that * is going to follow the worst political week of his regime with another week of the same? All indicators are pointing that way so far.

[Merlin]

27. Here's a link to the video

You have to put up with commercials, but I just use the mute button.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

It is rivetting indeed. This guy is good.