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Right after the WH tried to imply that "Bush wasn't in the situation room" and "that conversation didn't happen" and so on... I think MSNBC had Roger Cressey (right name?) on who was Clarke deputy... and he was one other person that Bush pulled into the side room with Clarke. Roger confirmed that it happened just as Clarke relates... but also admitted that he "didn't know what was in the president's mind" when the comment was made about "See if Saddam did this, See if he is linked in any way..." followed by Clarke "But, Mr. President, al Qaeda did this." "I know, I know, but... see if Saddam was involved. Just look. I want to know any shred..." Clarke - "Absolutely,we will look... again" trying to be more responsive, more respectful. "But, you know, we have looked several times for state sponsorship of al Qaeda and not found any linkages to Iraq. Iran plays a little, as does Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, Yemen." "Look into Iraq, Saddam." the President was testy and left us. Lisa Gordon-Hagerty stared after him with her mouth hanging open.
(from page 32 of Clarkes book)
So Cressey confirmed that this happened, down the the "Iraq, Saddam" comment, and my guess is that Lisa will back up Richard's account as well.
P.S. Here is one for those of you who say that Bush was a coward flying off to Offutt Air base and not returning to the White House right away...
On page 18 (to top of 19)...
"The President has agreed to go to Offutt" Cheney informed me. His manner implied that it had been a hard sell. "He can't come back here yet" I insisted.
So Richard Clarke (terrorism czar in the white house) made the decision about where Bush should be... as is probably his duty to do so.
That's not to say Bush isn't a weasel or a lot of other things. But if you buy one story from Clarke as a credible witness and actor in the 9/11 tragedy (and I do), then you probably should believe everything that he relates.
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