Posted by Mark Silva at 9:25 am CDT
President Bush, who invoked the name of al Qaeada leader Osama bin Laden 29 times during three separate speeches this week, voiced the name of the still elusive sponsor of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks twice again today during his weekly radio address, in which he warned that: "America still faces determined enemies.''
As the fifth anniversary of 9/11 nears, and Bush prepares to lay a wreath at "Ground Zero'' on Sunday and then take part in commemorative services in New York, in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon on Monday -- and then deliver a prime-time televised address from the Oval Office Monday night -- the president is attempting to rally support for a war on terror in which he maintains Iraq has become the central front. As the anniversary nears, Democrats are attempting to remind voters that the hunt for bin Laden is not all that remains unfulfilled five years later. "The truth is – five years after the 9/11 attacks – America is not nearly as safe as we can be and we must be,'' said Rep. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat running for Senate, in his party's reply to Bush's address.
This is the text of the president's radio address today:
"Good morning. This Monday, our Nation will mark the fifth anniversary of the attacks of September the 11th, 2001. On this solemn occasion, Americans will observe a day of prayer and remembrance, and Laura and I will travel to New York City, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon to take part in memorial ceremonies. Our nation honors the memory of every person we lost on that day of terror, and we pray that the Almighty will continue to comfort the families who had so much taken away from them.
"On this anniversary, we also remember the brutality of the enemy who struck our country and renew our resolve to defeat this enemy and secure a future of peace and freedom.
"So this week I've given a series of speeches about the nature of our enemy, the stakes of the struggle, and the progress we have made during the past five years. On Tuesday in Washington, I described in the terrorists own words what they believe, what they hope to accomplish, and how they intend to accomplish it. We know what the terrorists intend, because they have told us. They hope to establish a totalitarian Islamic empire across the Middle East, which they call a caliphate, where all would be ruled according to their hateful ideology.
"Osama bin Laden has called the 9/11 attacks, 'A great step towards the unity of Muslims and establishing the righteous [caliphate].' Al Qaeda and its allies reject any possibility of coexistence with those they call 'infidels.' Hear the words of Osama bin Laden: "Death is better than living on this earth with the unbelievers amongst us.' We must take the words of these extremists seriously, and we must act decisively to stop them from achieving their evil aims.
"On Wednesday at the White House, I described for the first time a CIA program we established after 9/11 to detain and question key terrorist leaders and operatives, so we can prevent new terrorist attacks. This program has been invaluable to the security of America and its allies, and helped us identify and capture men who our intelligence community believes were key architects of the September the 11th attacks.
"Information from terrorists held by the CIA also helped us uncover an al Qaeda cell's efforts to obtain biological weapons, identify individuals sent by al Qaeda to case targets for attacks in the United States, stop the planned strike on a U.S. Marine base in Djibouti, prevent an attack on the U.S. consulate in Karachi, and help break up a plot to hijack passenger planes and fly them into Heathrow Airport or the Canary Wharf in London.
"Information from the terrorists in CIA custody has also played a role in the capture or questioning of nearly every senior al Qaeda member or associate detained by the U.S. and its allies since this program began. Were it not for this program, our intelligence community believes that al Qaeda and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland. We have largely completed our questioning of these men, and now it is time that they are tried for their crimes.
"So this week I announced that the men we believe orchestrated the 9/11 attacks had been transferred to Guantanamo Bay. And I called on Congress to pass legislation creating military commissions to try suspected terrorists for war crimes. As soon as Congress acts to authorize these military commissions, we will prosecute these men and send a clear message to those who kill Americans: No matter how long it takes, we will find you and bring you to justice.
"As we bring terrorists to justice, we're acting to secure the homeland. On Thursday in Atlanta, I delivered a progress report on the steps we have taken since 9/11 to protect the American people and win the war on terror. We are safer today because we've acted to address the gaps in security, intelligence, and information sharing that the terrorists exploited in the 9/11 attacks. No one can say for sure that we would have prevented the attacks had these reforms been in place in 2001 -- yet, we can say that terrorists would have found it harder to plan and finance their operations, harder to slip into our country undetected, and harder to board the planes, take control of the cockpits, and succeed in striking their targets.
"America still faces determined enemies. And in the long run, defeating these enemies requires more than improved security at home and military action abroad. We must also offer a hopeful alternative to the terrorists’ hateful ideology. So America is taking the side of democratic leaders and reformers and supporting the voices of tolerance and moderation across the Middle East. By advancing freedom and democracy as the great alternative to repression and radicalism, and by supporting young democracies like Iraq, we are helping to bring a brighter future to this region -- and that will make America and the world more secure.
"The war on terror will be long and difficult, and more tough days lie ahead. Yet, we can have confidence in the final outcome, because we know what America can achieve when our Nation acts with resolve and clear purpose. With vigilance, determination and courage, we will defeat the enemies of freedom, and we will leave behind a more peaceful world for our children and our grandchildren.
"Thank you for listening.''
This the text of Rep. Sherrod Brown's radio address for the Democrats:
"Good morning. This is Congressman Sherrod Brown, Ohio candidate for the United States Senate.
"On Monday, our country marks a tragic day - - the five year anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Five years have passed, but the pain has not. All of us still bear memories of that terrible day and the lives that were lost.
"But those painful memories also harbor images of hope and determination. In the wake of that day’s tragic events, we saw the best that America had to offer. Neighbor helped neighbor to pick up and recover. City helped city to rebuild. And leaders in Washington worked together, not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Americans willing to do whatever it took to prevent another attack.
"Five years later, we need to see that commitment again. The truth is – five years after the 9/11 attacks – America is not nearly as safe as we can be and we must be.
"My home state of Ohio has three cities listed as “high risk” for a terrorist attack – Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati – yet those cities do not have the homeland security funds that they need.
"We ask our grandmothers to take their shoes off at airports, yet only 6 percent of the cargo entering our ports is inspected. Our borders remain open. Our chemical and nuclear plants remain vulnerable. Our courageous first responders lack the right equipment and sufficient resources, and not enough has been done to protect our rails, and our roads, and our metro systems.
"These are serious matters of national security, and they demand a serious response. Unfortunately, at the White House and in Congress, all we see is inaction and delay.
"The most glaring example is what’s happened to the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Two years ago, this commission – with equal numbers of respected Republicans and respected Democrats – announced a number of common-sense steps the government could take to protect Americans from another attack. Some were haphazardly implemented by Republicans in Congress. Many others were completely ignored.
"It’s unacceptable that this Republican government hasn’t done at all it can to protect Americans in the five years since the September 11th attacks. That’s why Democrats are pushing for a new direction. We have a plan to give Americans the real security they deserve... And it starts by charting a new course in Iraq.
"While Iraq was not part of the war on terror before we invaded, it’s now a training ground for terrorists and a recruiting tool for the leaders of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Our military readiness has plummeted to levels not seen since Vietnam…diverted resources from the War on Terror… and made America less safe.
"This anniversary of 9/11, we must refocus our efforts on the War on Terror by ending our open-ended commitment in Iraq and by redirecting our efforts to destroy al Qaeda.
"Democrats will fight for this goal even as the President and as Congressional Republicans stubbornly insist on staying a failed course.
"It’s time for a new direction.
"Families in Ohio want the same thing as families across the nation – to trust that our government is doing all it must to keep our loved ones safe.
"Five years after 9/11, the Democrats’ top priority is to implement tough and smart strategies to keep Americans safe. Nothing, nothing is more important than protecting our country.
"I’m Sherrod Brown. Thank you for listening.''
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
If keeping me safe involves removing my rights and freedoms and having the government monitor everything I do, then I DON'T WANT IT!
I'll take my chances with the terroists. Leave my country alone. Stop helping to generate more terrorists. Stop the lies and killing of children in other countries.
I do not believe these politicians have mine or the countries best interests at heart. How gullible are we. Politicians have playing the same game for thousands of years.
-J. Sotelo
Posted by: John Sotelo | September 9, 2006 10:16 AM
I noticed something after having read both addresses.
Bush's address focuses on terrorism which is on our minds as the 9-11 anniversary approaches.
Brown took this opportunity to bash the administration and Republicans in general.
One seeks to destroy the enemy without and the other seeks to destroy what he perceives to be the enemy within.
As for me, I choose to just respectfully remember those who perished on that day. There's time enough to play the blame game.
Posted by: sweetpea | September 9, 2006 10:29 AM
Blah...blah...blah...blah...blah...
Just catch Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, Mr. President.
Your own people noted that when you kill the head of the snake, the body will fall. Yeah, they said that after you killed the Jordanian-born head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. And, yeah, that didn't stop the violence in Iraq as your people said it would. But come on now.
Stop bragging about how much you've done when 5 years after 9/11 you haven't captured our the No. 1 and No. 2 enemies in the war on terror. And remember, we were told bin Laden had kidney problems and likely wouldn't last very long. So in 5 years you haven't captured the No. 1 enemy in the war on terror who's running around the back hills of Afghanistan and Pakistan with a dialysis machine hooked to his hip. And we know it can't be that hard to catch him. You let him go at Tora Bora. Why Mr. President? Why?
Is it because the Saudis will not permit you to put one of their sons behind bars for the whole world to see? Is it because they will not allow the Great Satan to execute one of their favorite sons?
Not another word about the war on terror until you catch bin Laden, Mr. President.
JCBI! Just catch bin Laden!
Posted by: JCBI | September 9, 2006 10:38 AM
The divisive rhetoric heard in last weeks speech has been omitted from this weeks speech - in favor of reinserting it in Paul Gigots interview with Bush in todays Wall Street Journal.
What does the headline scream ?
"Most People Want Us To Win"
More of the same, just a different venue.
Posted by: johnf | September 9, 2006 10:46 AM
Mr. President please read the Senate intel Report and make the changes needed in your talking points. By keep saying what you are you look like a liar. Now the Iraqi have taken control of their military bring my family home.
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 9, 2006 11:58 AM
I am so SICK of Dubya trying to sell the country on the "it's us against them" crap.
The terrorists that are currently in Iraq,went there AFTER we invaded Iraq looking for non exsistent WMD's.
The overall fighting that is currently going on in Iraq is SECTARIAN VIOLENCE,Iraqi citizens fighting amongst themselves for power.
The only ones who they hate more than each other is our American troops,whom Dubya,and Cheney have left there to referee a cival war.
And by the way Dubya:
WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADIN????
Remember him???
W.,and Darth like having him around to keep the Christian Conservitives scared,and parlay this into votes for the Neo-Cons in Congress.
I look for more video messages from Osama starting about 1 week BEFORE the upcoming mid-term elections.
Posted by: John E. | September 9, 2006 12:45 PM
John E.
If and when OBL is caught or killed, what do you think happens next?
Posted by: JD | September 9, 2006 3:39 PM
sweetpea,
That was a very nice sentiment.
JCBI,
I agree that killing Osama Bin Ladin (or better yet capturing him and seeing him face justice in a Western court of law) would be enormously gratifying, but it wouldn't solve the larger problem.
OBL did not invent Islamism, and getting rid of him (even if that were possible, and I doubt that it is) won't lessen the Islamist threat in the least. Fixating on him is unproductive.
Posted by: Juanito | September 9, 2006 4:02 PM
It's very amusing to us real Americans that it's President Bush's fault for Osama being on the loose. B.J.Clinton had many chances to deal with him , but refused for legal reasons or because of the Monica thing. And now Slick Willy is trying to stop a 9/11 film from being seen this weekend that shows him as he really was....a terrible president!
It's a pants thing with the old administration...Sandy Berger stuffed things in his pants,B.J dropped his and Hillary only wears them....hmmmm.
If B.J. would have done his #1 job, to protect us, none of this would have happened...he has 9/11 blood all over his admin. and he knows it!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 9, 2006 4:22 PM
Paulo if you had any truth to your statement I would pass out. Number one your so called movie is garbage it does not tell the truth.If you read the 9/11 Commission report you would know that. Two the Republican Congress that was in control stopped all of Clinton's Terror bills. Number Three you President Buddy stopped Clinton from killing bin.Laden when he took over Pakistan. Four your Prsident had in his hands a NIC report shown we were going to be hit. But he told his staff it would be overseas, Don't use Rove's talking points here I am Republican and know those old Tactics. Plus its your President who lied in every step to War in Iraq. The Senate Intell report now nails him in all his lies. Time to Grow up and know the truth. Instead of putting out garbage on your keyboard know the fact. You are part of the problem with this Country. READ AND LEARN 9/11 Commision Report and Senate intell report they are both done by Bi-partisan Committees
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 9, 2006 5:45 PM
1. Catch Bin Laden!
2. CLOSE THE BORDERS!!!!!
Posted by: Mary | September 9, 2006 6:39 PM
Dale Peters, when you pass out,I hope you fall on the truth.
B.J. "admitted" he failed to get Osama when the Sudanese offered him up! Now we are finding out there were many more times! Remember Dale, B.J. had 8 years to get him and quell terrorism,but no,it was a pants thing. And don't call yourself a Republican or I'll say I'm a dem.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 9, 2006 7:55 PM
Pauloooooooooooooooooooo,
As usual you have NOTHING to say.
BJ Clinton hahahaha,come on, you've got to come with something better than that,or your going to get sent down to the Republican farm team.
BJ Clinton told the Commander in Chimp,in person,that his NUMBER 1 prioity should be tracking Bin Ladin.
Dubya,and Dark Cheney immediatly blew off their daily briefings on Osama,and started to fire up your hero Ronny Reagans old Starwars program.
9/11 happens,and then President Chimpy McFlightsuit decides that it has to be BJ Clinton's fault,and he vows to get Bin Ladin(Dead or Alive).
Dubya fumbled the ball on both counts,Osama Bin Ladin is still running wild,and it was Dubya's fault,NOT BJ Clinton's.
Pauloooooooo,you,and John D.,and JD, or whichever
personality John D. is using today,
With people like you two playing for the other team,I feel very good about the Dems chances this fall.THANK YOU FELLAS!!!
Posted by: John E. | September 9, 2006 9:32 PM
Again Paulo you show no intelligence the so called movie is bull put out by a Evangelical Group out of HW. Again your far right talking points have been caught in a lie. Real Republican not the right are very pissed off at the right wing of the party. Tell me how has this Republican Congress made us safe. And again for God sake read the Senate intell report and the 9/11 Commisions report .Before you post you make a fool out of the party with lies.
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 9, 2006 10:00 PM
Let me see if I've got ya'ls neo-conjob natterings right:
It's not important to get the guy (OBL) who masterminded 9/11 and continues to be a source of funding, strategy and inspiration to Islamic terrorists world wide, but it was important to knock Saddam Hussein out of the box because he was a really, really bad man whom we backed in his war against Iran. (Insert mental image of Rummy & Saddamy shaking hands & smiling for the cameras here.)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
After 9/11, the good will of the world shone brightly on the United States of America because we collectively were the victim of a horrendous terrorist attack. Then we gave the Taliban an ultimatem - give up bin Laden - or else. And the world was with us in this righteous endeavor as we invaded Afghanistan seeking to capture or kill bin Laden.
Then divine intervention came into play as Dubya claims God told him to invade Iraq. Subsequently, despite the international communities protests, Dubya metaphorically stuck out his middle finger and invaded Iraq.
Mission Accomplished.
You're either with us or you're against us.
Stay the course.
The insurgency is in its last throes.
We can't cut and run.
Defeatocrats.
Hezbocrats.
If it were'nt for the fact that Dubya's policies have gotten a lot of people killed and maimed for no damned good reason and my Army sergeant nephew is headed back for his second tour of duty in Iraq you neo-conjob chicken hawks, although already pathetic, would be funny too.
C'mon all you patriotic neo-cons of military age - tell me and Dale Peters when you're signing up for duty.
Or are you all talk?
Never mind, we all know the answer.
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 10, 2006 2:46 AM
Paulo,
Yeah, I guess the "pants thing" kept Clinton from getting Bin Laden even though he tripled the funding for anti-terrorism and warned incoming President Bush about getting Bin Laden. I'd also like to note that it was the Republicans who made hay about a "scandal" that the American people didn't care about, and it was the Repubilcans who focused the entire government and most of its resources on a BS non-issue.
Lastly, if anything, the Iraq "war thing" has kept Bush from focusing on Bin Laden more than any thing that Clinton ever did. He's had 6 years you know. And he has failed.
Posted by: Neil | September 10, 2006 3:01 AM
I have an idea.Why don't the Republicans and democrats just get it over with and become once again what they once were,which was one party?That's right.Let's all remember our American history for a moment,shall we?They might as well because that's all we have right now.The American people have no voice.We can't even peacefully assemble to protest anything without being herded into what is called a free speech zone.Who cares about Osama and al-qaeda ?If our oil greedy leaders hadn't been leaving a great big foot print all over the middle east,we wouldn't be where we are now.But rather than use their brains (if any)and reason to build this country and make us strong and self-sufficient,they decided to line their own pockets and ,naturally,they ask our blood to do it.
Posted by: Delia | September 10, 2006 3:58 AM
To paraphrase Bill Clinton, am I the only guy who dislikes both Clinton and Bush's policies?
Paulo's right. Clinton should have caught bin Laden. Of course, if he had, everyone would have said its a political ploy to distract us from Monica. Indeed, most Americans would probably have asked, "Osama who?"
Nonetheless, Clinton should have forged ahead and done the job the people elected him to do; just like he kept saying he would do as first Kenneth Starr and later the Republican Congress beat him up for having an affair with a young intern. (Deep down you know Dire Straits lyrics were burning inside Starr and the Republican Congress: "Man, I'd like to have some.")
What can we conclude from all of this? Both presidents need to be taken to task for being unable to capture the MOST RECOGNIZABLE FIGURE in the world THAT SIDE of Tiger Woods.
In closing, I'd like to use the tune of Bruce Springsteen's "Pay Me My Money Down" to share with you this little diddly...
JUST CATCH
JUST CATCH
JUST CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
JUST TOSS HIS (BUTT) IN JAIL
JUST CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
IF I WERE MR. BUSH
I'D CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
I'D TOSS HIS (BUTT) IN JAIL
I'D CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
EVERYONE!
JUST CATCH
JUST CATCH
JUST CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
JUST TOSS HIS (BUTT) IN JAIL
JUST CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
Posted by: JCBL | September 10, 2006 7:29 AM
Della,
The general thrust of your post is dead on accurate: America is a single party state. Republicans and Republicans Lite is not a real choice. And the few clowns on this blog who approach the electoral process like sports fans (hooRAY for my team! Your team SUCKS!) are part of the problem.
However, one thing I simply must take issue with is "Who cares about Osama and al-qaeda ?" I do, and we all must.
The fact that Global Islamist Terrorism is in large part a matter of chickens coming home to roost does not negate the urgent need to defend ourselves. You can not simply say, I'm not an Imperialist nor a Capitalist and therefore the Islamists have no beef with me. They are not making those fine distinctions.
I'm sure you agree with me that there is very much in the West that is worth defending and preserving (not the least of which is our freedom to express our opinions here in this blog). Islamism sees nothing in Western culture that is fit to preserve, and given half a chance they would completely eradicate it.
We have no choice but to care.
PS to John E (if that's your real name):
As usual you have NOTHING to say.
Posted by: Juanito | September 10, 2006 9:07 AM
JUST CATCH BIN LADEN NOW
Posted by: JCBL | Sep 10, 2006 7:29:56 AM
Again, that would be great, but it won't make the larger problem go away.
Posted by: Juanito | September 10, 2006 9:11 AM
Juanito...Like in sports(as you like to say}I can
hoRAY for my team and still believe in the game itself. I'm sure you are a registered independent..True? So don't believe you don't have a team. I have not seen you call down the hoRAY for my team from the other side. You post that it's important to catch OBL then in another post you call down the poster saying that won't solve the problem. I'm beginning to believe you just like hearing yourself talk. How big a plan do you want to hear? Do you want to go right up to the year we have another crusade? I believe "clowns" have a right to speak also...or is it only the deep philosophical ones such as yourself?
Posted by: bill r. | September 10, 2006 9:52 AM
I remember the neocon response to Clinton bombing Afghanistan. He was so evil, he would do anything to detract from the Lewinsky affair, including killing people. Now that Dumbya is again playing the politics of fear by invoking OBL at every step, it's all Clinton's fault because he didn't focus on terrorism as he was too tied up in the Lewinsky affair. Revisionist republican historians once again trying to have it both ways. Good riddance come November.
Posted by: Brian | September 10, 2006 10:31 AM
Juanito...one more question...How do you feel when high ranking members of the republican party name call like..defeatocrats,hezbocrats and such? That wouldn't be any kind of hoRAY for my side would it? Why would you call down us lowly blogers for doing the same? Because this lowly bloger spent his time in a war that sucked
so people like you can sit back and judge. Were you in the service? Do you have any idea what a real war is like? Do you know what it's like to see your friends disappear right in front of your eyes for a lousy policy? Because there are young kids out there right now in one ..waiting for a real plan. Tell "me" what kind of plan is "stay the course"?
Posted by: billr | September 10, 2006 11:03 AM
Bill R.,
I agree with you about Jaunito.
He tries to hide behind a cloak of being an independant,yet he sits back,and takes swings at all the Dem posters....nice try Juanito...
Juanito,I have no problem with MODERATE REPUBLICANS,my problem is with the Neo-Con's in the administration,and in Congress.
The Neo-Con's have turned 9/11 into a political football.
"You're with us,or you're against us"
"Osama Bin Ladin..Wanted Dead or Alive".
And my favorite Dubya blunder of all time:
"We are on a Crusade".
Yes Juanito...it's sad that these GOPers have turned politics into a game,but they have.
GO TEAM!!! Go DEMS!!!
Posted by: John E. | September 10, 2006 11:55 AM
Bill R From a Combat vet well said. These leaders we have in the Republican party have never served in battle. Matter of fact they ran when it was their time to serve. The Key Board kings here never held a man in thier arms and watch him die for failed policy. Now that the Senate intell report is out we see America has been lied to. But it seem people from the right don't care. They claim God Law but break it every chance they get by lying . All we can hope is when they face the master he sends them to hell.
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 10, 2006 12:22 PM
bill r,
Yes, the HOORAY for our side crap is being said by both sides. By the way, I was not directing that "clown" remark toward you, but a few others around here, both Right and Left.
I do not defend the Republicans, they've screwed up a lot of things (not just this war, by the way).
One thing that everybody must admit however, is that it's clear what the Republicans stand for. They have had a clearly defined agenda and a core of principles for nearly 30 years. You and I may not like that agenda, or we may argue that they have failed to deliver, but at least we all know what they stand for.
For that same 30 year or so period, the Democrats have been in a state of confusion. They can not agree on a core of principles and an agenda. Nobody really knows what they stand for. In that period, the Deomcrats have decided that the best way for them to survive was by not being too different from the Republicans. So, for example, it was Bill Clinton who engineered NAFTA, and welfare reform. I'm sure Ronald Reagan was proud of him.
I think that it is critically important for the health of our democracy for that situation to change. Either the Democrats must acquire the same kind of focus that the Republicans have or some new party or parties must be formed to fill the vacuum.
So I'm really not calling for you, bill r, to come up with some specifics. I am saying that you should be demanding some specifics from the party to which you are so loyal.
See what I mean?
Posted by: Juanito | September 10, 2006 1:04 PM
Hey Paulo:
Stop regurgitating Republican lies about Clinton "refusing to accept bin-Laden". Here's the truth as posted on MediaMatters:
On June 21, FOX News Channel co-host Sean Hannity repeated the false claim that former President Bill Clinton refused an offer from Sudan to turn over Osama bin Laden to the United States in 1996, even though the 9-11 Commission found no "reliable evidence to support" the claim that Sudan made such an offer. This false claim originated in a 2002 article by the right-wing news site NewsMax.com that distorted a 2002 statement by Clinton. Lanny J. Davis, former White House special counsel to Clinton, pointed out that Hannity was lying, but Hannity persisted.
From the June 21 edition of FOX News Channel's Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: Here's what bothers me. Is Bill Clinton gave a speech and he said "I couldn't take him [Osama bin Laden] for legal reasons, so I tried to get Saudi Arabia to take him but it was too hot a potato." He admitted to the Sudan offer.
DAVIS: No. That's a lie.
HANNITY: He offered it. It's not a lie. I have the tape, Lanny.
DAVIS: It is.
HANNITY: Lanny, I have the tape of the speech.
DAVIS: And I've heard tape. You've played it for me. He never refused, never refused to take Osama bin Laden.
HANNITY: How can he offer -- "I asked Saudi Arabia to take him but it was too hot a potato" -- how can he offer bin Laden to them if he doesn't have him?
The truth is that Clinton never offered Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia. Hannity distorted a remark Clinton made in a speech to the Long Island Association's annual luncheon on February 15, 2002, in which Clinton said that he "pleaded with the Saudis" to accept Sudan's offer to hand bin Laden to Saudi Arabia. Sudan never offered bin Laden to the United States. Hannity's mention of "the tape" is a reference to a video of this speech. NewsMax.com obtained a video of the speech in 2002 and began hyping the supposed Clinton "admission" (see transcript and listen to the audio). In fact, Clinton did not "admit" to the Sudan offer in that speech or anywhere else. Here's the relevant portion of Clinton's remarks to the Long Island Association:
CLINTON: So we tried to be quite aggressive with them [Al Qaeda]. We got -- well, Mr. bin Laden used to live in Sudan. He was expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1991, then he went to Sudan. And we'd been hearing that the Sudanese wanted America to start dealing with them again. They released him. At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America, so I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America. So I pleaded with the Saudis to take him, 'cause they could have. But they thought it was a hot potato and they didn't and that's how he wound up in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, during his June 20 interview on 60 Minutes with CBS anchor Dan Rather, Clinton categorically denied that such an offer was made: "'There was a story which is factually inaccurate that the Sudanese offered bin Laden to us,' says Mr. Clinton. 'As far as I know, there is not a shred of evidence of that.'"
No one involved in the 1996 negotiations apart from former officials of Sudan -- a country that the U.S. State Department has designated as a state sponsor of terrorism every year since 1993 -- has verified the claim that Sudan offered bin Laden to the United States. In light of this lack of evidence, the 9-11 Commission "Staff Statement No. 5," issued in March, rejected the Sudanese claim:
Former Sudanese officials claim that Sudan offered to expel Bin Ladin to the United States. Clinton administration officials deny ever receiving such an offer. We have not found any reliable evidence to support the Sudanese claim.
Sudan did offer to expel Bin Ladin to Saudi Arabia and asked the Saudis to pardon him. U.S. officials became aware of these secret discussions, certainly by March 1996. The evidence suggests that the Saudi government wanted Bin Ladin expelled from Sudan, but would not agree to pardon him. The Saudis did not want Bin Ladin back in their country at all.
source: http://mediamatters.org/items/200406220008
Posted by: BC | September 10, 2006 1:10 PM
Brians comment is spot on.
The real distraction was the crusading moralists of the Republican Party that simply could not keep their noses out of others sex lives.
The Republicans made Clintons tryst an issue, and if there was any distraction for Clinton, it came in the form of the right pursuing him for months on end about it.
The act itself might have distracted him for about
a half hour or so, maybe more, maybe less.
Posted by: johnf | September 10, 2006 1:55 PM
Jaunito,
Ya right,the Republicans always have a plan.
Their plan is to regurgetate KKKarl Roves talking points.
Give me a reason I should continue backing the Neo-Cons failed policys, Juanito ???
If the average person performed in their job the way the neo-cons in congress,and Dubya,Cheney WarMonger,and Rummey have,they would be fired,no questions asked....period...end of story....go home.
Someone else would be brought in to see if they could do a better job.
Welcome to Democracy Jaunito...It's what has,and will continue to, make this country great.
As a Veteran,who served our country for 20 years,this is the first time in my life that I have been totally embarrased by our country's actions.
Bill R.,Dale Peters,and myself served our country,so that you,Jaunito,could sit in front of a keyboard,and tell us not to believe our eyes,and ears.
We weren't born yesterday Juanito.
Posted by: John E. | September 10, 2006 6:54 PM
Paulo,
I've read a number of your comments on The Swamp, and, initiallly thought poor guy needs help no child left behind except this one etc.
Then it dawned upon me that you're employing irony; something fairly rare in the US. I welcome this; America needs irony - please continue in your current vein, and be assured of the fact that you're lightening my day.
Thanx again
OHCD
Posted by: OHCD | September 10, 2006 9:34 PM
Any idiot that says it isn't important to catch Osama probably will be the loudest celebrant when we eventually do catch him. Those who have been harmed by him will get their justice, but alas it will not stop the violence. Justice isn't going to cure the world but it is a step in the right direction. Wasn't it bush that was quated in 2003 that he doesn't give much thought to Osama?
Posted by: tom | September 11, 2006 1:53 AM
Juanito...I am not as proud of the democratic party as you may think. I am registered as dem but have voted the other way many times in my life for people I thought would serve this country better. I wish, like you, that the dems would get a plan and their heads together and out of their you know whats! But you say you know what the republicans stand for...and that is what makes me dislike them. This war was trumped up and we were played like pawns. The Terry Shiavo debacle was a joke as well as the
gay marriage! That is not the federal governments role! Stem cell,minimum wage,No child left behind...I've had enough years of this
administration to know where they stand..and I
don't like it one bit. So even if the dems don't have a plan...thats ok..the country won't go to hell in a handbasket..and maybe the do nothing congress can get the message...do something or get out.
Posted by: bill r. | September 11, 2006 6:52 AM
John E,
Why do you post comments about other people's posts when you haven actually read them? It just makes you look stupid when you post "responses" to things that were never said in the first place.
Posted by: Juanito | September 11, 2006 6:57 AM
John E,
By the way, in case you haven't guessed by now my earlier comment about "clowns" was directed specifically toward you.
Posted by: Juanito | September 11, 2006 7:00 AM
bill r,
I agree with everything you just said.
I just wish the Dems (or SOMEBODY!) would be as focused and unified as the Republicans have been.
Posted by: Juanito | September 11, 2006 8:21 AM
Juanito,I agree totally with John E,and the fact that you of all people could label him a clown.
Your cover is blown again,you're a true blue "CHICKENHAWK". You pretend to be "independent",but we know this is false.
And in typical "CHICKENHAWK" fashion,you have no problem calling a veteran who doesn't agree with you,a clown.The only thing John E is guilty of is fighting on behalf of "CLOWNS"like you and the other "CHICKENHAWK"posters on this blog.
And to use the word "STUPID",shows your lack of class.
Your always crying about the Dems have no plan,well I answered your post last week about the war in Iraq,still waiting to see a response from your "CHICKENHAWK" friends.
Posted by: Raving Loon | September 11, 2006 8:53 AM
I can think of far stronger words than "clown" or "stupid" to describe the infamous John E (if that's his real name.)
I don't understand why the fact that somebody might be a veteran* absolves him of his relentlessly, pointlessly obnoxious behavior. So veterans are permitted to ignore not only reason, but good manners? We must quietly put up with a malicious oaf only because he's a veteran?
That makes no sense to me at all. Please explain what I'm missing here.
* And we don't really know that, do we?
Posted by: Juanito | September 11, 2006 11:00 AM
Juanito,
I proudly served our country,so that you may have the right to call me a clown.
YOUR WELCOME JUANITO!!
Chickenhawks like you,are also allowed to have an opinion.
And I'm proud of that Juanito.
Posted by: John E. | September 11, 2006 12:11 PM
JUANITO,
"No weapon formed against you shall prosper,and every tongue which rises against you in judgement,you shall condemn.
Isaih
Posted by: John E. | September 11, 2006 12:57 PM
John E:
Isaiah 5:20 seems to apply to you.
Posted by: Joel | September 11, 2006 3:21 PM
Juanito, still waiting.
I know your R friends who wanna stay the course,have been waiting to present a detailed plan to win in Iraq.
Un-less they think what we're doing now is winning.
WHERE'S THE PLAN.JUANITO.
Posted by: Raving Loon | September 11, 2006 4:57 PM
I love it how the left accuses Bush of fear mongering, but then goes on to say that we are less safe than 9/10/01, and Iraq is going to hell and was a huge mistake that we must redeploy now or else. Oh, and a draft is probably coming, global warming will doom us all, the economy is crashing, Bush is taking away all our personal freedoms, abortion will be illegal, only 5% containers are searched, and are constantly pointing out the death toll numbers.
Is this what John Kerry and Hillary mean about fighting a more "thoughtful" war?
What..are they going to send birthday cards to prisoners in Gitmo?
Awwwww, how thoughtful.
Posted by: JD | September 11, 2006 11:52 PM
Paulo,
It may come to you as a surprise but we don't want you in the Democrat party. You don't even sound like a good Republican now that everyone understands how bad Bush Brushcutter and his helpers are.
Posted by: ken | September 12, 2006 11:51 AM