Michael F. Scheuer, a 22-year veteran with the CIA, created and served as the chief of the agency’s Osama bin Laden unit at the Counterterrorist Center. Scheuer is now known to be the anonymous author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror

Transcript of the relevant portion of the interview follows:

Harry Smith: “Elizabeth Palmer live in Pakistan this morning, thank you. I’m going to go back now to Michael Scheuer once again. Let’s talk about what President Clinton had to say on Fox yesterday. He basically laid blame at the feet of the CIA and the FBI for not being able to certify or verify that Osama bin Laden was responsible for a number of different attacks. Does that ring true to you?”

Michael Scheuer: “No, sir, I don’t think so. The president seems to be able, the former president seems to be able to deny facts with impugnity. Bin Laden is alive today because Mr. Clinton, Mr. Sandy Berger, and Mr. Richard Clarke refused to kill him. That’s the bottom line. And every time he says what he said to Chris Wallace on Fox, he defames the CIA especially, and the men and women who risk their lives to give his administration repeated chances to kill bin Laden.”

Harry Smith: “Alright, is the Bush administration any less responsible for not finishing the job in Tora Bora?”

Michael Scheuer: “Oh, I think there’s plenty of blame to go around, sir, but the fact of the matter is that the Bush Administration had one chance that they botched, and the Clinton Administration had eight to ten chances that they refused to try. At least at Tora Bora our forces were on the ground. We didn’t push the point. But it’s just, it’s an incredible kind of situation for the American people over the weekend to hear their former president mislead them.”

Harry Smith: “And, and, and with this also further revelation that, in fact, the war in Iraq has only exacerbated the terrorist situation. Michael Scheurer, we thank you so much for your time this morning.”

Wallace is just lucky he’s not a woman, overwise the manhandling could easily have turned to rape – big tough Bill knows how to do that, too.

First of all, let’s be honest and describe the act: the manhandling of a typical right-wing hack by the only top Democratic politician that has a clue about how to respond to Republican hit jobs in a way that sounds credible to swing voters.

Why?

1. Defend his presidency against previously unanswered attacks. You know, what successful politicians of all stripes do.

2. Neutralize growing liberal disillusionment with Hillary.

3. help Dems in the ‘06 cycle a bit, by neutralizing the GOP terrorism message.

He can sell the Democratic message better than any other Democrat alive. Basically, he manhandled Wallace.

Beyond that, it is pure Clinton; half truths, bombast, mixed with a smary good old boy “awh shucks” attitude.

It is precisely for that reason that his elevation to First Husband is so toxic.
I am fed up with the big picture presidency. Nothing more exemplifies he and his ineffectual time in office as his appearance on the lawn of the White House with Arafat and Rabin; arms outstretched as they sit and sign some worthless piece of paper. Recall the hours that the world waited as he and Arafat and Barack dithered away at Wye Island and Camp David.

All big picture baloney.

That is, among the largest fallacies of the last 60 years. There is always an excuse. A way to shirk responsibility. Craven and cowardly is what it is and what it should be called, but it is not.

Personal integrity, what a concept.

The idea that people should not be held responsible for their failure even when it seems unfair to some insures that more failures are on the way. After 9/11 the entire executive branch of the CIA, DIA, FBI and Justice Department should have been fired. And remember that Former Senator Moynihan suggested just that about the CIA. Yes it would have been unfair to some but the point would have gotten across, if you fail there will be a penalty. My god their failures led to our friends and neighbors jumping from burning buildings, fighting desperate fights in the Sky.

Sadly we won’t be serious about this war on terror/radical islam/extremism until a few more thousands of us die. This is a terrible thing to say but perhaps only if an attack on Washington succeeds will we see Washington actually get serious about fighting this war. Right now it isn’t their families dying, it isn’t their homes being destroyed, it doesn’t involve them outside getting re-elected. That just pisses me off…regardless of the label attached to the politician.