They want to declassify Clarks Testimony

[rhino47]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20040326/ap_on_go_co/clarke_congress_4

WASHINGTON - In a highly unusual move, key Republicans in Congress are seeking to declassify testimony that former White House terrorism adviser Richard Clarke gave in 2002 about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Friday
<snip>
One Republican aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the request had come from House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Rep. Porter Goss, the chairman of the House intelligence committee. \

Sounds like they are running really scared.This makes me nervous
like a clinton witch hunt all over again.Dont these cretins have like anything else to do but go on another useless investigation?
This just so pisses me off.They will go to any lenghs to discredit
clark.He`s just telling the truth.I guess the truth is the real enemy of *.

[Cat Atomic]

1. Good. It shows that they're classifying information for political

reasons, not for security reasons.

They should unclassify all sorts of other stuff as well.

[patricia92243]

9. Very good point.

[teach1st]

2. If he's telling the truth, there's little to worry about...

As I was flipping around the cable news today, I saw Bob Graham, who has seen the Clarke testimony in question, agree that it should be declassified. Graham said there was nothing in it that goes against what Clarke has said this week. I have no idea which news channel I saw this on.

It will continue to be a witch hunt, though. The administration is fighting for its life. Unless there is a problem with Clarke's statements (and I don't see how there is right now), the more the administration fights the worse they look.

[Kimber Scott]

12. Maybe they're just SAYING they want to declassify it, then they won't

just to make it look like there's something in there he said proving he's a liar, but then they can't go public with it because it's classified. Hmmmmm?

[teach1st]

14. A for sure possibility!

These people are masters at putting out misleading info for the headline value and then abandoning it once the headlines are out...poof!

[mellowinman]

3. That's because they're evil

Like you didn't know. The most secretive administration in history will declassify ANYTHING if it suits their purposes of world domination.

[uhhuh]

4. Fair enough

Let's have Condi's testimony revealed too. Also, the Cheney energy meetings, and the redacted report on 9/11 that mentions the Saudis, and the Iraqi WMD declaration that had thousands of pages removed, and the Medicare budget analysis that shows the real costs of the program, and the PPI report that they can't seem to get done, etc. Should we keep going with this?

[welshTerrier2]

5. it doesn't matter

take the best case the bushies can get from a release of Clarke's earlier testimony ... and assume for arguments sake that it contradicts everything he's saying now ... and assume that Clarke is making a fortune on his book ...

it just doesn't matter at all ... if he lied in earlier testimony to "be a loyal soldier" he should be prosecuted for perjury based on his earlier remarks ...

but one key point remains ... Clarke is telling the truth now ... the evidence that bush focussed on iraq to the exclusion of all other security threats is undeniable ... that's the point that frist and the rest of bush's hit squad cannot defend ...

bush is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors ... and too many americans have died as a result ... and Clarke is to be commended for telling the truth ...

[Kira]

6. Has he dignified this bs

with a response?

[RedSock]

7. UGLY

this is gonna get very very very ugly by november ..........

[librechik]

8. Clarke said go ahead, I stand on both n/t

[0007]

10. It ain't gonna happen - Rove better start packing, he's toast.

[0007]

11. Dennis Hastert is dumber than a box of rocks

[emulatorloo]

13. They don't really want to stir up this hornet's nest - see Kerry comment

So Clarke is a big liar, huh? This will sooooooooo backfire.

I see on another thread that Kerry has challenged Bush to prosecute Clarke if they think Clarke lied. . . . .

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040326/ts_alt_afp/us_vote_kerry_clarke&cid=1506&ncid=1963&sid=96378801

Kerry challenges Bush to prosecute Clarke if former anti-terrorism advisor lied - CBS
AFP -
<snip>
"My challenge to the Bush administration would be, if (Clarke) is not believable and they have reason to show it, then prosecute him for perjury because he is under oath, Kerry told CBS's MarketWatch.
<snip>

DU thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x482536

[RainDog]

15. Clarke's book

I've got news for the Bushies...Clarke has entered the national conscious and conscience...and their attempts to smear him, I predict, will backfire more and more.

Just a few factoids gleaned from here and there-

Clarke's book appeared in stores on Monday. The initial printing was 200k, I believe Blond At Last noted.

Billmon, on his blog, notes that the book is now in its FIFTH printing...and it has only been on the shelves for FIVE DAYS.

One of the two big distribution companies for bookstores across the united states is sold out of the book and has more than 30 thousand copies on backorder to fill demand from their customers...

...that's a distribution company, NOT the publisher...which is where the biggies get their HUGE orders from.

I don't know where I read it, but seems I remember seeing somewhere online yesterday that Clarke has a 90% recognition rate in a poll...

That's incredible in this country...I would imagine it's along the lines of the rate of recognition for someone like Magic Johnson or Donald Trump...and this man has been in the public eye for a total of six days.

I don't think the Bushies realized how emotionally invested the American public is concerning the 9-11 committee hearings.

For us, it wasn't just a justification to invade Iraq, or a way to score political points.

Clarke, it seems, has enormous credibility with the American public right now, and the Bushies attacks will only further outrage Americans who want some answers.