- Wesley Clark gutsy new tack: Blame bush for not preventing 9.11

[robbedvoter]

New Criticism
Wesley Clark's gutsy new tack: Blame Bush for not preventing 9-11.
By Michael Tomasky
Web Exclusive: 10.30.03


http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2003/10/tomasky-m-10-30.html

Wesley Clark, speaking on Tuesday to a liberal foreign-policy conference sponsored by the Prospect, the Center for American Progress (John Podesta's new outfit) and The Century Foundation, could have gone in any of several directions in attacking the Bush administration's foreign policy. The $87 billion, so unpopular with voters, would have been the obvious target. The lack of a postwar plan, a close second. The intentionally failed diplomacy in the run-up to hostility, a pretty clear bronze medalist.

He didn't ignore those issues entirely, but the heart of his attack came in the form of "a blistering review" (The New York Times' words) of the administration's actions prior to September 11. Clark, assaying pre-9-11 intelligence failures, said that responsibility for those failures can't be fobbed off on "lower-level intelligence officers," and he came within a few inches of saying outright that the Bush administration was responsible for the attacks having happened.

"Shocking" might be putting it too strongly, but certainly it was surprising that Clark chose to reopen that temporarily sealed can of worms. Politicians don't often say something you don't expect to hear, and when they do, you wonder why. Clark either took a major risk here to breath some life into a campaign that nearly every Washington insider thinks is melting (which probably means it's just fine, thanks) or he knows something the rest of us don't. But first, some background.

[jokerman93]

1. This is interesting

Looks like Clark sees the feild of Dems picking up the ball on all the critical "Iraq questions" lately. Now I've noticed he's begun hammering Bush with issues of failed "Leadership". As a military leader, Clark knows (has studied academically and applied on the battle field) more about the philosophy, psychology, mechanics and accountability of leadership. More, I'm willing to believe, than anyone in the Cheney/Shrub White House.

Taking on Bush with the challenge of accountability over 9/11 is a solid move. It will bring attention (hopefully) to all the unanswered questions around the attacks on 9/11 America.

Maybe he'll light some fires around the witheld DPB's that the 9/11 comission can't seem to extract from the Bushies.

[caledesi]

2. Excellent move Wesley! n/t

[Resistance Is Futile]

3. Smart move

The Texas Fascist Party can manipulate the situation on the ground in Iraq to undermind any campaign based around the Iraq misadventure. Planting WMD or ordering an october surprise withdrawal for two examples.

Sept 11, however, is history. The TFP cannot alter it even if they wanted to. It is also the underpinning of the TFP propaganda strategy and all candidates would be well advised to follow Clark's lead and shine their flashlights (or better yet, a searchlight) into the dark corners of Sept 11 that the TFP would rather no one ever inspected.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jokerman93]

5. Yeah, but there was no Kryptonite

in those days.

[Kool Kitty]

6. I completely disagree with you.

And the Democratic candidates don't have to grasp at straws, there's more than enough good reasons out there to get rid of this unelected dangerous fraud. I think Wes's message is terrific. And he's right. And I don't know where you get the bit about the press saying this about 9-11. They were so far up Bush's ass that they couldn't see daylight, let alone question anything that he did.
And please don't blame Clinton-this happened on Bush's watch, it's Bush's problem. When will this bunch take responsibility for anything?

[LibertyorDeath]

8. kappasig Bye Bye

[newyawker99]

11. deleted

sorry

[farmboxer]

7. All Democrats Need To Do Is Tell The Truth

Republicans have to lie like Hell! The truty to a Republican is like a cross to a vampire!

[xultar]

9. General Clark has the goods & Al Franken wrote about it

All I can say is read Al Franken's book

[teryang]

10. Their excuses about 911

...will not withstand critical scrutiny. As for Kean's investigation I think he is posturing to head this thing off. As I understand it, the charter to investigate 911 is very limited.

[robbedvoter]

12. How many inquiries is W stonewalling now? Iraq WMD, 9.11, Traitorgate

Cheney's energy commission - have I missed a few?