Giuliani Claims Clinton's Response To U.S.S. Cole Terror Attack Was "Let It Go"

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/13/giuliani-cole/

Guiliani Claims Clinton’s Response To U.S.S. Cole Terror Attack Was ‘Let It Go’

Last night on Fox News, former mayor Rudy Giuliani repeated the myth that President Clinton failed to respond adequately to the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, claiming that Clinton’s response to terrorist attack was during his administration was “let things go.”

During an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity to promote his new “12 Commitments” to America, Giuliani said that Americans are being lured by the “very appealing” idea that the U.S. should “kind of act the way Clinton did in the ’90s.” Giuliani described this mentality as “don’t react, let things go,” and charged, “You know, we get attacked on the Cole. We don’t do anything about it.”

Watch it:

In fact, President Clinton was eager — at the recommendation of his counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke — to retaliate against al Qaeda for the U.S.S. Cole. But that attack took place in October 2000. As Clinton explained in a 2006 interview, both the CIA and FBI “refused to certify that it was Bin Laden was responsible” for the attack on the Cole until early 2001 which foreclosed on the possibility of a full response during the Clinton administration.

Further, while Giuliani asserted that “America needs leadership to remain on the offense,” on national security issues, his “12 Commitments” to America doesn’t contain a single reference to the war in Iraq. Giuliani defended the omission, claiming “the fluid situation there makes it hard to speak in specifics about the war.”

“Iraq may get better; Iraq may get worse. We may be successful in Iraq; we may not be. I don’t know the answer to that. That’s in the hands of other people.”

Guiliani’s comments demonstrate exactly how far out of touch with the American people he truly is. As a spokesman for American Against Escalation in Iraq said, “The notion that the war in Iraq does not need to be addressed by presidential candidates because it is ‘in the hands of other people’ is simply preposterous.”

–Ryan Powers

TRANSCRIPT AT LINK

I thought he put off waging an attack because he didn't want to dump it in the lap of the incoming president like Pappy did to him.

I said the same thing about * in 2000 :scared:

:scared:

Never let the facts get in the way of blaming Clinton for something.

Fact: The GOP led congress had always been much more interested in trashing Clinton's personal life than national security. I don't know how many times I heard that any proposed military response to anything was just a diversionary tactic.

Mz Pip
:dem:

if Clinton had taken military action during the damn recount. They'd have claimed he was trying to help Al Gore. Why the hell didn't Chimpy do something when he came in - after all by then the CIA and FBI had finally concluded it was Al Qaeda?

He's got them mixed up again. Repuke mantra - blame Clinton for our mistakes.

but Bush has had almost six years to get bin Laden and has failed, and that's ok?

doing nothing. I guess that doesn't count as "let it go"...

F**k Rudy and the Horse he rode in on.

in retaliation? :wtf:

for the 1st attack on the WTC. That Clinton put there. To suggest that he would just "let it go" is flat out nuts.

running for president. What in the devil difference, now, does it make as to what his actions on terror are. Why should they influence anyone's opinion of rudi the tooty.

I think it was close to one of the WTC towers. Didn't he also say something about it being ok to go back to work in the area for the first responders?

As far as I remember, the definitive evidence of who was behind the Cole attack came in February 01.

to Bush because he'd be stuck with the situation anyway, as Clinton was stuck with Bush1's decision to go into Somalia.

Clinton was trying to be considerate of Bush, but look where consideration for any of the Bushes has gotten this country and the world.

He can go cheney himself.

Why did the Republican refuse to issue FBI torrorism expert John O'Niell a visa to return to Yemin to continue his investigation? What was the Republican covering up?

Rudy?

Huh?

Rudy?

How's the air, Rudy?

How is the fucking air, Rudy, you killer?