Set the facts straight?

Here is a recent quote from Mr. Soundbite himself, Howard Dean:

'President Bill Clinton fought back against the right-wing misinformation and smear campaign and stood up for the truth. President Clinton set the facts straight on his administration’s record fighting the war on terror.'

Set the facts straight? Not yet...but keep reading.

So the Left is up in arms about the recent mini-series on the events leading up to 9/11...well, mainly they take issue with the parts that depict Clinton as more or less sitting on his hands while the Islamo-fascist threat built steam. As for the former President himself, the recent interview with Chris Wallace (you know, the one where his face changed colors four times) is evidence enought that Mr. Clinton is a little perturbed about it as well. I have to admit, when Mr. Smooth-and-Slick gets so upset I kind of wonder what he's hiding...but that's another post.

What I don't understand is why can't the Dems simply admit that the Clinton administration made MANY mistakes that contributed to the 9/11 attacks? The GOP has admitted the same about the Bush administration, and they've set in place measures to prevent those mistakes from being repeated. The Dems seem more apt to point fingers, keep their distance and criticize. Then when a reporter questions their beloved ex-President, he explodes.

Maybe Clinton has a short memory. I recommend Colonel Robert "Buzz" Patterson's book Dereliction of Duty. Col. Patterson was the Air Force lliason responsible for following Clinton for several years with the 'nuclear football'. In short, he was close to the President on many occasions and witnessed, first hand, Clinton's "efforts" to combat terrorism. What he reveals in this book is beyond stunning. Clinton's missed oppurtunities at getting Bin Laden and other high-ranking Al Qaeda figures detailed in this book would (or at least SHOULD) have any American boiling mad. On multiple occasions one decision by Clinton, one simple commitment, could have prevented 9/11 and the ensuing invasion of Afghanistan. And before someone writes in attacking the source you should know that Col. Patterson is a retired US Military Officer with an impeccable service record who professes no allegiance to any one party (very much my kind of guy). So, be careful with the smear.

One such incident involved the Sudan, who had arrested Bin Laden, held him in prison and offered him to the US. Clinton said no (and he admitted to this two years ago). That's just one, there are others.

Yet, the Left, and Clinton himself, seem to think that Bush should shoulder most of the blame. I don't get it. One man was in office for eight years, the other for eight months. Are they trying to say that Al Qaeda only came to power over a period of eight months? Clinton would have done his credibility justice by just nodding and saying "yes, I made some mistakes, and I regret them...next question." Instead, he made a fool of himself...yet again.