Richard Clarke on Patrick Fitzgerald's pursuit of the truth

[Samantha]

Today it was my privilege to meet one of my few political heroes. He was at Border's on L Street in Washington, D.C., at a book signing. I made a point of being able to briefly leave work to meet Richard Clarke.

I arrived at a great time and was second in line at the desk at which he sat. I put my book on the table and told him I had two copies of "Against All Enemies" and had just purchased his new book, "The Scorpion's Gate." He asked my name and inscribed the book, "Thanks 'Samantha' for all your support, Dick Clarke." That book became my instant treasure.

I asked Richard Clarke if he had any idea to how many people just like me he was considered a hero because of his book, "Against All Enemies."

"Many people are saying the same thing now I said then," he modesty responded. "But it took so much more courage to say those things then, as you did," was my response.

"If I could ask just one question, Mr. Clarke, please let me know if you think we have seen the last of the Fitzgerald investigative portion of the Plame Affair?" "No," he responded.

"Will we ever know the entire truth about who exposed Valerie Plame and if there was a conspiracy to do so?" I asked.

"If anyone can discern the truth, Fitzgerald will. If the truth can be found, he will uncover it because he is a bulldog."

As I walked back down Connecticut Avenue, I walked on air. It is only through experiencing the depths of political despair that we discover our political heroes. As a result of the unfortunate rise to power of George W. Bush*, we have discovered the courage of those like Richard Clarke and Patrick Fitzgerald and dare to dream they will take them down.

I wanted to share this wonderful moment with my DU friends because the encouragement found in Clarke's remark that if the truth can be found Fitzgerald will find it may be what gets us through the political tumult ahead.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Thanks for that :^)

[Faygo Kid]

2. Thanks for a great personal story. Recommended.

Great to hear somebody like Richard Clarke not blowing off the Fitzgerald situation.

[Samantha]

17. This is exactly why I asked Richard Clarke

I am sure it will be next to impossible to discern the truth in the upcoming days about the status of this investigation. For one's own comfort of mind, one should ask someone he or she trusts. I trust Richard Clarke.

[blm]

54. Good call. And Joe Wilson trusts him, too.

I hope the defeatists take the time to read your post.

[mattclearing]

3. Recommended.

I'm glad you had such a positive experience. Clarke seems like a decent man.

[INdemo]

4. Keep us advised on the new book..

[Burried News]

5. Karl - are you afraid of dogs?

[chimpymustgo]

8. Recommended.

nt

[Imagevision]

70. WOW! good for you Sam... glad to here fitz isn't thru yet!!

[Tatiana]

6. Congrats and thanks for sharing! n/t

[flyarm]

7. thabk you samantha!! soooo good to hear it from clark...

via you!!...i am so glad you shared that with us!!!

hugs and thanks..fly:hi: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Patsy Stone]

12. Hey, Mama!

How are you? I posted the link to the Group in a thread from the other day. I don't know if you saw it or not. Here it is again. Stop in and say hi if you get a chance. I know everyone would love to see you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=315

:hug: :hi:

[flyarm]

40. heyyyy sweetie pie..no i missed it..i will stop by!!

sending you sweet thing hugs..from momma bear!!

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :hi:

fly

[Samantha]

22. You know, I am not a perfect person but I recognize a golden opportunity

and I knew there was one important thought I needed to share with Mr. Clarke, and that was though he was forced to make tremendous personal sacrifice to get the truth out at a time when so many people needed to desperately hear it, while he may never be repaid for that revelation of the truth in money, the deep respect and admiration towards him he generated among little people in the depths of despair can never be measured in mere money.

His candor and his courage will trump the criminal behavior of the neoconservatives of our times and his name and reputation will live in history. A man's good reputation is priceless, and he's got that for eternity.

So that was my one comment, and you already know my one question. I HAD to know his thoughts on the prospects of the unraveling of the truth of the Plame Affair.

[Samantha]

26. And don't we all need a small bright note in our dark days of Bush*

That's what Richard Clarke gave me that I wanted to share with you. It will keep us going.

[flyarm]

41. read page 13 of his first book..read it carefully...

i believe it was page 13..i do believe he was sending a message to any who would pick it up!!

fly

[lavenderdiva]

61. can you share what you know about this with those of us

who haven't had the pleasure of reading his book yet? thanks in advance....

[KaryninMiami]

9. I had a similar experience- I got teary as he signed my book.

I felt so honored to be in the presence of such a hero I was totally humbled and tounge tied (which for me is unusual). I kept remembering his apology during the 911 hearings when I wept over his words...

[Samantha]

28. Oh you met him too -- how wonderful

I wish all of DU could have been there. Yes, it was an humbling experience to be in the presence of a truly great man of courage.

[Patsy Stone]

10. Great story!

How lucky you were today. I would have been walking on air also.
Thanks for posting this uplifting story.

[babylonsister]

11. Wow! You got the skinny from Clarke on Fitzgerald!

That's great and uplifting! Thanks!:toast:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

13. Wow; Thanks Samantha!

I too was curious about Richard Clarke's reaction. I think his "NO" speaks volumes because he is such a straight foward person. I wish he would visit DU and let us pick his brain, don't you? But at least you represented us and let him know that he is respected. Maybe this kind of reinforcement will encourage him to stay with the good fight.

[Samantha]

29. Thank you so much, tinfoilinfor2005

and it's a pleasure to meet you.

[AX10]

14. Wonderful to hear.

We need the truth more than ever and I am thankful for Richard Clarke's assistance.

[blue agave]

15. kick !

[readmylips]

16. My other hero: Joseph Wilson...

Mr. Wilson is a true patriot who saw a wrong and tried to make it right for the good of the country. He and his family have paid dearly. The GOP and the bush criminals are not the protectors of this country. They have slimed, tarnished this country for many years to come.

[Samantha]

30. Yes, I truly meant what I said that it only through the depths of our

political despair we discern our political heroes, and Joseph Wilson, along with Valerie Plame, fall within that category. Our political heroes and heroines lift us up when we think we can no longer stand by ourselves and they carry us along through the dark days to the light at the end of the political road.

[NanceGreggs]

18. This is so well-written a piece ...

... it's poetry. Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful moment, with such an inspiring man, and doing so in such a way as to give us all a hopeful smile and some well-earned optimism.

I can't phrase it eloquently enough: this is a beautifully well-told story. Poetry -- in more ways than one.

[Samantha]

31. It makes me so happy to have made you happy

and I mean that sincerely. We all need a little ray of hope.

[liberalnurse]

19. Thank you for sharing.

We all would of loved to of been in your shoes. Just hearing your experience from a curb side chat gives me comfort.

Thank you.

[liberalla]

20. Thank you for sharing that!

I admire and respect that man so much, and I love what he said about Fitzgerald. What a great memory for you to treasure--along with the autographed book!

[Martin Eden]

21. It's not enough to find the truth

Fitzgerald also has to be able to prove it in court.

One can only hope that more patriots like Richard Clarke come forward and speak truth to power (and to the special prosecutor).

[Catherine Vincent]

23. Lucky you. Thanks for sharing.

But I am confused about Clarke, whom I admire. A couple of DUers said he was on CNN (I believe) spewing the talking points for the * administration regarding Plame. I responded and said I didn't believe it although I didn't see the video clip. I should go back and try to find that thread.

[Samantha]

33. I sincerely doubt that

Richard Clarke said he was told after he authored his book, "Against All Enemies," that he would NEVER work in Washington again. So I seriously doubt the Repubs offered him any work, and I know if they did, he wouldn't have taken it. And that's why in my own way I do try to support people who suffer such devastating losses for speaking the truth. They take a financial beating and lose the ability to support themselves. Eighteen dollars is NOTHING to offer for a book and an autograph of Richard Clarke's, and I am only sorry I couldn't have bought a hundred copies and given them away.

[Cha]

24. Thank you so much, Samantha!

How thrilling to be in a position where you can ask Richard Clarke about what he thinks of Fitzgerald's investigation!

This is the closest we have to a "high five"..:hi:

[Samantha]

35. And the same back at ya

I WAS thrilled -- yet humbled. I felt so privileged.

[Gregorian]

25. Thank you.

I'm inspired. So true about what you say.

[WiseButAngrySara]

27. What a wonderful event. And so inspiring. Thanks and R......n/t

[hiaasenrocks]

32. Great post, Samantha!

Sounds like you had a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing it and letting us be a part of it, even if just in a small way.

[fearnobush]

34. Richard Clarke was too my hero during the great spin of 04. He never

blinked, he never yielded in the face of the GOP death threats against him. He said something to the effect of "just try it. I have a license to carry and would not blink if you forced me to use it." His gun that is. A very brave and bold patriot indeed. Long Live Richard Clarke.

[Joe Chi Minh]

65. He also has a killer wit!

I'll never forget that quip (though perfectly serious in its purport) about, I think, Osama, in a lofty mountain fastness in deepest Afghanistan, calling out to Bush, I think to attack Iraq - which would foment such an insurgency throughout the Moslem world as couldn't be imagined. Words to that effect.

[Missy Vixen]

36. Samantha, I'm so happy for you!

How wonderful to meet Richard Clarke. I'll bet he was very touched by your kind words, too. He's a great man, and I hope to shake his hand someday.

Julie

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Thank you for this report

I think we can trust Fitzgerald too. There's just something about his sense that you can trust him and he surrounds himself with good people and there's a great respect from him from all types of people on the political isle. Thank you for this other gain of confidence. And how neat you got to meet Richard Clarke! What's his books like? I'm thinking of buying them and Joe Wilson's and Al Franken's new one.

[Samantha]

48. Against All Enemies is Excellent

I have read it once and intend to re-read it. The main thing I will carry with me is that it debunked the claim that Bill Clinton had an opportunity to take bin Laden into custody through the Sudan government.

Richard Clarke said the offer we often hear that the government of Sudan offered to turn bin Laden over to the United States never happened. He said bin Laden had been told to leave the Sudan, and he, along with officials there, made this story up to embarrass Bill Clinton. We still hear this story repeated from time to time, but because of Clarke we know it is not true.

I have not yet started The Scorpion's Gate. I will today.

[nomatrix]

71. That's Orin Hatch.

Another LIE he promotes is Joe Wilson's trip confirmed Niger yellowcake.
I try to think of Chris Rock's Bigger & Blacker "no one's lining up to give Orin Hatch a blowjob" when I have to look at him on C-Span.

Lucky you to have the pleasure of meeting Dick Clarke. I cried so hard when he appeared at the 9/11 hearing and appologized to the families of the victims of that day for letting them down. It was the first act of humility to be seen from those who should have been watching out for us. I will never forget that.

Let us know how his new book is.

[Just Me]

38. Thank you for sharing that moment of inspiration. (((HUG)))

:hug:

It's been terribly difficult for those of us who are truly concerned about our country and it's role in the world to witness so many abuses of our common values: equality, justice and democracy.

:hug:

[Hailtothechimp]

39. Clarke is a good man. Must be why he was cast out by *

Look at Libby and Rove and McClellan and all the swine in the White House. They stayed, while a patriot like Clarke left. America deserves better.

[Samantha]

49. That is such an excellent point

Imagine the likes of Karl Rove still working at the White House (and we pay his salary) while someone of heroic stature like Richard Clarke is out on the streets and threatened with never working again in Washington.

If you liked this story, I hope you will try to support Richard Clarke by buying his books.

[Nothing Without Hope]

42. Just wonderful! Your reward: my fave Toles Fitz cartoon and another with

Fitz as a BULLDOG:

[Samantha]

50. And a great reward it is!

Thank you. I love it.

[EC]

43. Thanks for sharing

I hope someday I too can walk on air...

[ngGale]

44. Richard Clark...another one of our true hero's...

because his priorities were in the right place...with we the people.
I'm so glad you got to ask that question, thanks for sharing. It helps us have hope, we do have honesty and integrity - these people speak out. Thanks, to Richard Clark for his courage.

[garybeck]

45. I don't want to burst your bubble but...

I heard Clarke on Air America Radio recently. I forget which host. I think it was Majority Report. He was also asking Clarke about the Plame investigation. Clarke expressed disappointment that politics were being ciminalized. He said the process was flawed and instead of appointing an investigator, there should be a bipartisan committee that decides about government curruption. He seemed to think the investigation was not a good idea in the first place. I got the impression he was not very aware of a lot of the facts. When asked if he thought there was a possibility that someone may have been killed when Plame was outed, he scoffed at the idea. Many of us know, that is actually a possibility.... Anyway, Clarke is a hero of mine also, along with Joe Wilson, Ray McGovern, Wesley Clark, and all the other whistleblowers.

peace

[Vidar]

46. Thanks for sharing.

[H2O Man]

47. Beautiful. n/t

[stepnw1f]

57. Hello H2O Man...

I was wondering if you could help another DU'er with a question. Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5229017&mesg_id=5229017

[DemonFighterLives]

51. Thanks for telling that story Samantha

Clarke couldn't take their crap any longer and that says a lot.

[madokie]

52. Reading this post, I live it as you do.

I, you, we will be stronger for it, this travesty of justice, the outing of our best. This is a low point of our government. And this is as important as the founding of our country, the SAVING.

[CTyankee]

53. I'm envious, Samantha!

I loved Clarke's "Against All Enemies." A very exciting and insightful book. When I recommended it to my RW brother in law, he started in, "Then you must be one of those people who believe Michael Moore." I laughed in his face.

It's no wonder Clarke knew about Fitz. Fitz successfully prosecuted the bomber of the WTC in the 90s and the bomber of the embassy in Mozambique. I believe Fitz's dogged pursuit in these cases is heavily cited in "The Age of Sacred Terror," a book I highly recommend to you. It is a great companion to "Against All Enemies" and fully sourced. I also recommended that book to my brother in law but I guess the RNC talking points didn't get around to that one because he didn't respond. It's a gem, though!

[Nightjock]

64. I could not even TALK to a brother in law like that!

UGH! "believe Micheal Moore"?

Why don't you show him the part of Moore's website that backs all of his claims in Farenhiet 9-11 with FACTS.

p.s. Congrats on 1,000 posts!

[CTyankee]

69. Yes!!! That website rocks.

Well, the b.i.l. obviously doesn't care about hearing anything that upsets his little apple cart. I will just be an irritant. Think of me as that burr under the saddle!

At any rate, do consider reading "The Age of Sacred Terror." It is such an essential adjunct to "Against All Enemies." And so well sourced. We are in good company with books like these. I'm telling you: this is the way to silence the RW. We got the goods!

It feels great!

[cyn2]

55. Great story, great writer.

Thanks and do give us reviews of the new book.

When I read "Against All Enemies", I was astounded by Clarke's writing abilities. The man really knows how to tell a story, no matter how sad that story may be.

[stepnw1f]

56. Grassroots Journalism

We are now the Fourth Estate.

[lovuian]

58. the Bulldog is an understatement!!!

He's brilliant!!!

[leesa]

59. Thanks. My concern about Clarke is how he can be so naive about

Rumsfeld and the rest of his "close friends". Why does he not speak out against these people? How can one be so smart and so aware and yet so blind?

[barb162]

60. Lucky you! I got his book the day it came out and read it in 2 days

I think he is great!

[Dunvegan]

62. If you believe Clarke...

...and I do, the ultra-right in America, via divisive politics and by aiming their fire relentlessly at Bill Clinton during his administration, are actually a primary contributory factor to 911.

From Amazon.com's Editorial Review or "Against All Enemies":
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743260244/qid=1130855724/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-2665846-4280761?v=glance&s=books

"Clinton, according to Clarke, understood the gravity of the situation and became increasingly obsessed with stopping Al-Qaeda. He had developed workable plans but was hamstrung by political infighting and the sex scandal that led to his impeachment. But Bush and his advisers, Clarke says, didn't get it before 9/11 and they didn't get it after, taking a unilateral approach that seemed destined to lead to more attacks on Americans and American interests around the world."

Had Clinton not been under rather steep vitriolic attack, and had he not been required to defend his presidency nearly every step of the way from right wing attacks, he (in all probability) may have had the time and resources to finish the job of taking down Osama...and mayhaps derailing 911.

I've long felt that, among the things the RW needs to consider, is they (cumulatively) contributed almost as much to the success of the 911 attacks as Al Qaeda.

All the people that dogged the Clinton administration should ask themselves whether this quagmire we've built is what they wanted to build by practicing the "criminalization of politics" against the Clinton White House.

In analyzing the neo-con agenda, I believe you must break the rule of "Hanlon's Razor" which is "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence." In their case both malice and incompetence are about equally extant in their policy actions.

The Bush administration neo-cons certainly piled on the errors and enmity:

I.e.: Strategic Air Command's non-response and the "pulling of WTC 7" are two "not-so-much-tinfoil" issues here.

But the "not vigorously pursuing Osama" issue is just a flat out illogical and indefensible abandonment of critical defense first issues of the highest order.

-- Bush did NOT pursue the arrest of Osama after Clinton and Clarke warned the incoming neo-cons just how dangerous Al Qaeda was.

-- Bush did NOT pursue the arrest of Osama even though the new neo-con WH had a library of investigation for the arrest of Bin Laden in hand. This was in part provided to them by Patrick Fitzgerald's incitement and convicted of four of Bin Laden's associates for the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies, the first criminal indictment against Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda, and conducted five years prior to the attack of 911, during the Clinton years.

-- Bush did NOT vigorously pursue the arrest of Osama as a matter of critical national security importance...even after 911.

Clarke is an amazingly candid, courageous, and forthcoming insider who spanned administrations of both parties during his DC tenure. It's wise to listen to what he's had to say:

From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Against_All_Enemies

Clarke argues that he made numerous urgent requests for a meeting about dealing with terrorism, had CIA Director George Tenet include numerous details about Al-Qaeda in daily briefings, found an unprecedented level of terrorist "chatter" before September 11, but still Bush refused to go to high alert, as President Clinton had done in a similar situation. Had they gone to high alert, Clarke would likely have found that the FBI had photos of two of the hijackers. They could have tracked the two down, interrogated them, and perhaps stopped the September 11 attacks.

Soon after 9/11, he says that defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld wanted to bomb Iraq, even though there was no evidence of their involvement, because they had more "good targets" than Afghanistan, which was actually involved.

Clarke also says that on September 12, 2001, President Bush "testily" asked him to try to find evidence that Saddam Hussein was connected to the terrorist attacks. (After an initial denial, the White House has since conceded that the meeting took place.) In response he wrote a report stating there was absolutely no evidence of Iraqi involvement and got it signed by all relevant agencies (the FBI, the CIA, etc.). The paper was quickly returned by a deputy with a note saying "Please update and resubmit," apparently unshown to the President.

Clarke also recalls a meeting where Paul Wolfowitz expressed doubt that Osama bin Laden could have carried out the attacks on September 11 without state sponsorship -- a theory based on the writings of Laurie Mylroie that Clarke says has been exhaustively investigated and disproven.

Thank you for getting your splendid Q and A in with Clarke on behalf of all of us. Profound illumination there.

[Nightjock]

63. Thank you, thank you, thank you

Thank you samantha. While I never doubted we will hear more from Fitzgerald, this is one of the best posts in recent memory.

I too, love that man and was thrilled to read of your encounter. Thanks for sharing!

*edited for finger fart spelling

[Stand and Fight]

66. Thank you so much!

Your post is a breath of fresh air! :hug:

[Pithy Cherub]

67. Samantha you are in for a tiple treat with Clarke.

First, you get to meet him and have a personalized book for your library. Then you get him to succinctly answer the question about the end NOT being near on the Fitgerald investigation. Then you will be able to finsh the book which is highly insightful and interesting!

The book has a full disclaimer in the preamble about being a work of fiction and not representing living people. Then flip your book shut and the cover says fiction is where you can tell the truth. And the story has some very recognizable characteristics of some very recognizable people. Enjoy!

[mzmolly]

68. Wow!

"No, he responded ..."

Thank you for sharing. I trust that Mr. Clarke is correct in his assessment.

[Samantha]

72. Thank YOU, my friends, for all your kind responses to my thread

and for your nominations.

The best feeling of satisfaction I gain here at DU is simply starting a thread which lifts people up. The line in the original thread which references walking through the depths of political despair is what makes each and everyone us able to identify our political heroes is something I find highly significant. It is these sightings of men and women of courage at a time of highly accelerated levels of political paybacks by the GOP which catapult those like Richard Clarke, Patrick Fitzgerald, Joseph Wilson, Al Gore, Howard Dean, Senator Byrd and (you name your hero here) to heights of courage the likes of which we seldom see today.

I hope we can continue our discussion on Clarke's new book as we commence reading it, and I count on all of you to keep us posted if you too happen to run into him as he promotes this book.