September 03, 2003

GREAT WORK, GUYS

It’s this sort of thing that leads even sane people to doubt the US government:

Former White House counter terrorism expert Richard Clarke told Vanity Fair the Bush administration decided to allow a group of Saudis to fly out of U.S. airspace just after Sept. 11-- a time when access to the United States was still restricted and required special government approval.

According to the magazine's sources, at least four flights with about 140 Saudis, including roughly two-dozen members of the bin Laden family, flew to Saudi Arabia that week without even being interviewed or interrogated by the FBI.

Clarke, who headed the counter terrorism security group of the National Security Council, said he does not now recall who initiated the request for approval.

He does not recall?

Posted by Tim Blair at September 3, 2003 06:49 PM
Comments

It cannot be shouted loud enough the treason committed by Clinton and his demo-fascist administration to U.S. security interests. Of course the blisters can

Posted by: d at September 3, 2003 at 07:15 PM

(continuo) get in, the communists( Democratic Party) turned CIA and FBI into gofers and added in provisions which ensured savages get hold of things they shouldn't be allowed within cooeee of. The real cost of the Clinton Smittonians can't yet bve calculated. The full bill hasn't been written yet.

Posted by: d at September 3, 2003 at 07:19 PM

Sounds like a re-hashing of a familiar myth

Posted by: Andjam at September 3, 2003 at 09:19 PM

Andjam, that was a good link. Thanks.

For others, the link Andjam gave is to Snopes.com, which has a bit of a liberal lean, but which thoroughly debunks the rumors at issue (which were started by Michael Moore).

Posted by: RJGator at September 3, 2003 at 10:24 PM

Tim, you ought to update your post with the Snopes info.

Posted by: Chuck at September 3, 2003 at 11:44 PM

Who ya gonna believe, a "Former White House counter terrorism expert" or "Snopes.com, which has a bit of a liberal lean."?

Guess things aren't quite as black and white as the "commentators/experts", of all persuasions, would have us believe.

Posted by: Elitism For The People at September 4, 2003 at 12:24 AM

Snopes has a liberal lean? Since when? And even if they did, you can't spin factual information. Er, wait, you can, but still - Snopes has proven itself pretty reliable. Cite one example of Snopes spinning a story to suit a liberal agenda - I can find dozens of them debunking liberal myths.

Posted by: George at September 4, 2003 at 12:36 AM

Oops, ignore my last post. I completely misread RJGator's post. It's still early here in the States...

Posted by: George at September 4, 2003 at 12:38 AM

Instapundit points out that the Snopes story predates the Washington Times story.

Is the WT recycling an old story or is it using new information? It's not clear, but speaking personally, if Michael Moore is the source, then I would look at it with a very jaundiced eye.

Posted by: timks at September 4, 2003 at 03:54 AM

Given that Saudi nationals made up most of the S-11 hijackers, and we are currently at war with Iraq, which had no hijackers onboard, you'd have to say anything is possible with this Administration.

Interesting that Mr Bush never personally handed back the keys for the US air force bases in Saudi Arabia when they vacated the last one in August.

I guess meeting one of Osama's central demands looks really bad in a press release from Mr Bonsai.

Posted by: White Bread at September 4, 2003 at 08:59 AM

You didn't read any of the previous comments, did you, Mr. White Bread?

Posted by: Andrea Harris at September 4, 2003 at 12:51 PM

Looks like somebody's yeast still needs to rise.

Posted by: Chrees at September 4, 2003 at 03:07 PM

Ah hullo folks. It is the Bush family that is on intimate terms (and has been for 25+ years) with Prince Bandahar or Prince Bandit or whatever his name is from the Saudi Royal Family and by a not-very-distant extension with all the Saudi spooks who got wafted, along with their caftans, out of the USA on Sept. 12/01. Geo. The Elder plays golf with that crowd all the freakin' time. They are buddies. Don't be vulgarians and go blaming Clinton for this one - the Clintons were never tight with the Saudis in any respect, whereas in the case of the Bushes, thus is it now as it ever has been (and prolly ever shall be).

Posted by: Peta Piper at September 4, 2003 at 06:33 PM

I guess meeting one of Osama's central demands looks really bad in a press release from Mr Bonsai.

You think that is bad? How about meeting all three? America was also behind the cessation of sanctions against Iraq, and behind the closest thing to a cease-fire since Intafada II started.

Posted by: Andjam at September 4, 2003 at 11:22 PM