Clinton Meltdown

From the Washington Post :

Former president Bill Clinton angrily defended his administration's counterterrorism record during a Fox News interview to be aired today, while accusing "President Bush's neocons" and other Republicans of ignoring Osama bin Laden until the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Clinton had planned to discuss his climate change initiative during his appearance on "Fox News Sunday," but he turned combative after host Chris Wallace asked why he hadn't "put bin Laden and al-Qaeda out of business." Clinton shot back that "all the conservative Republicans" who now criticize him for inattention to bin Laden used to criticize him for over-attention to bin Laden.

I'm sure by now most followers of the news and blogs have heard or seen this interview.  I've seen excerpts on Fox and have read transcripts on-line.  My initial thought was, is Clinton trying to sell books for Richard Clarke?  His entire defense was, read Richard Clarke's book.

One thing that really bothers me is his insistence that President Bush had nine (or eight depending on which paragraph you read) to try and do something about bin Laden.

Clinton said he authorized the CIA to kill bin Laden, and even "contracted with people to kill him." He also said he had a plan to attack Afghanistan, overthrow the Taliban and hunt for bin Laden after the attack on the USS Cole, but the CIA and FBI refused to certify that bin Laden was responsible, and Uzbekistan refused to allow the United States to set up a base. By contrast, Clinton said the Bush administration's neoconservatives "had no meetings on bin Laden for nine months," believing he had been "too obsessed with bin Laden."

"At least I tried," Clinton said. "That's the difference [between] me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now. They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try. They did not try. I tried. So I tried and failed. When I failed, I left a comprehensive anti-terror strategy and the best guy in the country, [Richard] Clarke, who got demoted."

With thanks to Al Gore's baseless (trumped up) challenge to the 2000 election, President Bush's transition in 2000 was much slower than it should be have been.  On top of that, a large percentage of President Bush's senior government appointments were still unconfirmed on September 11, 2001.

"We're practically into the second year of the Bush administration and nearly half of President Bush's nominees to 508 senior government positions have yet to be confirmed by the Democrat-led Senate.

"'The process remains deeply flawed, and the growing number of nominees mired in the pipeline is evidence of that,' says Paul C. Light, senior adviser to the Brookings Institution's Presidential Appointee Initiative, which wants an 'overhaul' of the congressional confirmation process.

"Dozens of senior posts central to the war against terrorism, including bioterrorism protection and homeland defense, remain vacant, adds Mr. Light.

That President Bush has been able to accomplish what he has in the War on Terror is remarkable. The opposition of the Democratic party has been relentless from day one of his first term.  President Bush has been focused and has gotten results.  Former President Clinton's focus was elsewhere and everybody with two brain cells to rub together knows that. Mr. Former President Clinton, your legacy is sealed.  Nothing you can do or say now can change it.  And your little hissy fit over ABC's 9/11 show and your meltdown on Fox just make you look like a spoiled little brat.  Why don't you just take your bat and ball and go home?

Michelle thinks he doth protest too much.  (Or as we say in the South, a hit dog hollers). 

(note:  spell check suggested I replace hissy with hussy.  I didn't know spell check had a sense of humor)