Comments on: Bush, Clinton, and Bin Laden http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bush_clinton_and_bin_laden/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:49:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Kevin Drum http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bush_clinton_and_bin_laden/comment-page-1/#comment-12884 Kevin Drum Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5177#comment-12884 These are excerpts from a book. Hopefully, when the whole book is released, we'll have a better take on his entire thesis. However, I wouldn't blame it all on the CIA. At least, not yet. Maybe they screwed up, but I'm not sure that's clear yet. And as for Clinton's problems, I think that's a red herring. Even if he had been as pure as Caesar's wife, I don't think *anyone* was actively supporting large scale military solutions to terrorism at that point. It just flatly wasn't feasible, Monica or not. After all, it would have required a declaration of war against Afghanistan and (maybe) Pakistan. Before 9/11, that wouldn't have gotten five votes in the Senate. These are excerpts from a book. Hopefully, when the whole book is released, we'll have a better take on his entire thesis.

However, I wouldn't blame it all on the CIA. At least, not yet. Maybe they screwed up, but I'm not sure that's clear yet.

And as for Clinton's problems, I think that's a red herring. Even if he had been as pure as Caesar's wife, I don't think *anyone* was actively supporting large scale military solutions to terrorism at that point. It just flatly wasn't feasible, Monica or not.

After all, it would have required a declaration of war against Afghanistan and (maybe) Pakistan. Before 9/11, that wouldn't have gotten five votes in the Senate.

]]> By: Paul http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bush_clinton_and_bin_laden/comment-page-1/#comment-12885 Paul Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5177#comment-12885 heh- The fact that bin Laden should have been taken out and that Bill Clinton was trying to distract people ain't mutually exclusive. There's both true. heh- The fact that bin Laden should have been taken out and that Bill Clinton was trying to distract people ain't mutually exclusive.

There's both true.

]]> By: Little Miss Attila http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bush_clinton_and_bin_laden/comment-page-1/#comment-12886 Little Miss Attila Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5177#comment-12886 I've heard mixed information on how much we knew about the pharmaceutical factory. It appeared at the time like an action more flamboyant than aggressive. More flashy than serious. I still think if we'd had a focused President with some will, things might have turned out differently. I've heard mixed information on how much we knew about the pharmaceutical factory. It appeared at the time like an action more flamboyant than aggressive. More flashy than serious. I still think if we'd had a focused President with some will, things might have turned out differently.

]]> By: Priorities & Frivolities http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bush_clinton_and_bin_laden/comment-page-1/#comment-12887 Priorities & Frivolities Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5177#comment-12887 <strong>The CIA and the Administration</strong> Inside this Washington Post report, which explains how policy disputes between 1998 and 2000 stymied covert operations against Osama bin Laden, we see the following excerpt:It was common in Clinton's cabinet and among his National Security Council aide... --- The CIA and the Administration
Inside this Washington Post report, which explains how policy disputes between 1998 and 2000 stymied covert operations against Osama bin Laden, we see the following excerpt:It was common in Clinton's cabinet and among his National Security Council aide...

---

]]>