Pandagon: Richard Clarke is Making Sense

March 29, 2004

Richard Clarke is Making Sense

I don't care which side of the aisle you're on, Richard Clarke simply makes sense on terrorism:

Clarke: We're going to catch bin Laden. I have no doubt about that. In the next few months, he'll be found dead or alive. But it's two years too late because during those two years, al-Qaeda has morphed into a hydra-headed organization, independent cells like the organization that did the attack in Madrid.

And that's the second reason. The attack in Madrid showed the vulnerabilities of the rails in Spain. We have all sorts of vulnerabilities in our country, chemical plants, railroads. We've done a very good job on passenger aircraft now, but there are all these other vulnerabilities that require enormous amount of money to reduce those vulnerabilities, and we're not doing that.

Russert: And three?

Clarke: And three is that we actually diverted military resources and intelligence resources from Afghanistan and from the hunt for bin Laden to the war in Iraq.

Russert: But Saddam is gone and that's a good thing?

Clarke: Saddam is gone is a good thing. If Fidel were gone, it would be a good thing. If Kim Il Sung were gone, it would be a good thing. And let's just make clear, our military performed admirably and they are heroes, but what price are we paying for this war on Iraq?

Via Billmon.

Posted by Ezra Klein at March 29, 2004 12:52 AM | TrackBack

Comments

I loved the bit when Russert brought up the thing about Clarke's letter of resignation, basically "was that just being polite ... or are you now just being disloyal?"

And Clarke punked his ass with a handwritten letter from GW, dated 1/31/2003, "Dear Dick, you will be missed. You served our nation with distinction and honor. You have left a positive mark on our government."

Scroll down in the transcript, and note Timmy's non-response.

Posted by: RKB at March 29, 2004 01:22 AM

Kim Il-Sung is gone. He died on July 8, 1994. I'm not sure if anyone should trust a man who confuses Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il, and in doing so, confuses us honest Americans. I think we just caught Mr. Clarke in another one of his lies. :)

[Though in fairness to Mr. Clarke, Kim Il-Sung was declared the "eternal leader" of North Korea about 7 years after he died. Now that's a personality cult! :( ]

Posted by: Bill at March 29, 2004 01:52 AM

Yes the cult of pesonality surrounding Kim Il Sung is very strong. The news clips of the mourning surrounding his death begin to show the level of brainwashing received by the people of N. Korea.

Posted by: andrew R at March 29, 2004 02:04 AM

www.newstatesman.co.uk/nscoverstory.htm

Posted by: Independent Thinker at March 29, 2004 03:41 AM

Ralph, please stop comment spamming.

Posted by: praktike at March 29, 2004 08:05 AM

If Kim Il Sung were gone, it would be a good thing.

Consider it done.

Posted by: Social Scientist at March 29, 2004 08:18 AM

ID: get your own damn blog. Or just provide a link.

Bill, "The news clips of the mourning surrounding his death begin to show the level of brainwashing received by the people of N. Korea."

No kidding. Who shot the footage? Who edited it?

Too bad Clarke didn't mention certain allies in Uzbekistan as being among the world leaders we'd be better off without.

Posted by: Karl at March 29, 2004 09:19 AM

Sure I like Richard Clarke, but what's so wrong with Fidel anyway?

Nevermind. I'm from Canada.

Posted by: evil commie at March 29, 2004 12:01 PM

Best part of that exchange was the first part:

Russert: Why do you think invading Iraq hurt the war on terror?

Clarke: Well I think it's obvious...

He then went on to list three distinct points, all calmly laid out and easily explained. Compare that to the bulljive the Administration has given us.

Any questions?

Posted by: some dude at March 29, 2004 12:14 PM