Richard Clarke vs. The Spin Masters

by Ken Olufs

OpEdNews.Com

I don't know former White House terrorism specialist, Richard Clarke personally, but it's becoming more clear to me that he is someone to listen to... closely. What I have discovered about myself over the past several years is a lust for "Truth in Politics". Truly, that is The Holy Grail sought worldwide by those who are "governed", and may hold as much reality as unicorns, pink elephants and ethical lawyers... but, it's what I wish for.

The facts as I see them are this: Richard Clark is NOT a politician or an author, but a veteran of chasing bad guys. He has served Presidents Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43. His tenure with George W. Bush has now made headlines for someone who's career successes are mere footnotes in classified documents. Clarkes existence in the Bush administrations is a highlight within itself. When G.W. was appointed President, he had such hatred for anything having to do with the Clinton administration, that he literally "cleaned house", erasing every remnant of 'Ode de Clintonique', including I'm sure, a thorough de-lousing of the oval office. The exception to that was Richard Clarke. His depth of experience, knowledge, expertise and non-partisan loyalty, made him an indispensable asset for fighting terrorism. The Bush regime was so impressed with Clarke's value, that despite his connection with the Clinton White House, he was asked to stay on. In fact, Clarke was one of the framers of The Homeland Security Bill... incidentally, rejected by the Republican controlled Senate while Clinton was still in office. After almost thirty years in the terrorism field, this was a man intimately focused and remarkably qualified in knowing the threat of terrorism. Richard Clarke simply continued to do his job and tried to do it well. And now he has become "the smoking gun" for the White House damage control team. Carl Rove, Karen Harris, Chaney, Rumsfeld, Powell and company are all working overtime to assassinate Clarke's character. They use the classic "disgruntled ex-employee" excuse... and the ever popular, "oh, he's just trying to sell his new book... He's grandstanding.... politicizing... we don't believe his characterization of the facts...",etc, etc. The Spin Masters are doing everything they can to discredit, distract and confuse the buying public about the "Truth".

Being the eternal skeptic, I ask what would be in this for Richard Clarke to write a book of "exposure"? After all these years of unwavering dedication chasing bad guys, he decided to become a best selling author and go on a book signing tour? Out of character. He wanted to be a celebrity? Again, out of character. He wanted to bring his name and family into the public light knowing he would be subject to an all out assault on his credibility? Not likely. He wanted to throw away thirty years of service to his country to be cast as an unpatriotic malcontent? Doubtful.

What I believe from all this is, Clarke did his job to the best of his ability. He yelled and screamed and jumped up and down like 'a man with his hair on fire' in the weeks before 9-11 trying to draw attention to an "imminent threat"... and it fell upon the deaf ears of Condoleeza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, George W. Bush and others. On September 4th, 2001, nine months after his first urgent warnings, he appealing to the conscience of National Security advisor, Rice by "...urging policymakers to imagine a day after a terrorist attack, with hundreds of Americans dead at home and abroad, and ask themselves what they could have done earlier..." It is common knowledge of the huge spike in terrorist "chatter" leading up to the attacks... common knowledge that, at least the FBI knew about Middle Eastern foreign nationals were taking flight training... common knowledge of plots to use hijacked jets as weapons of mass destruction...

I would not blame Richard Clarke for being a disgruntled ex-employee. His job was to protect America and despite his warnings, despite his best efforts, he worked for an administration that had other priorities. His controlled ranting and raving fell upon deaf ears. Like a good employee and American, he feels a sense of responsibility because he couldn't make Bush and Company listen to him. He conveyed a deep sense of urgency to an imminent threat and is now offended by "War President", George W. Bush saying he has done everything in his power to protect the American people. Clarke suggests, as does another former "disgruntled" White House insider Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neal, that Bush and company were too preoccupied with Iraq to deal with Al Qaeda. As Bin Laden continues to shuffle from cave to cave and we have 130,000 troops in Iraq and roughly 1/10th that amount in Afghanistan, there may be some truth to their assertion. Richard Clarke, one of the leading terrorist experts in the world, also suggests that the Iraqi occupation has become a recruiting tool and breeding ground for new terrorists... doesn't make me feel a lot safer.

My feeling is.... Richard Clarke knows what he's talking about and I think we should all listen.

Ken Olufs kgo@tds.net Freelance writer/Illustrator Blanchardville, WI