Why didn't Bush listen to the Clinton Administration?

Question

George Bush did nothing about Al Qaeda in the nine months before 911.

http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB147/index.htm

George Bush did not have one single meeting on terrorism, not one. You can argue all you want but all you have to do is research the subject and you will see what Clinton did about terrorism and the meetings and briefings he had.

* In 1995, before the Oklahoma City bombing, Bill Clinton sent anti-terrorism legislation to the congress which after the attack, was beefed up even more. The legislation asked for one thousand more anti-terrorism officials; a new counter terrorism center under the authority of the FBI; approval to use military experts to help fight terrorism (which was at the time not allowed in issues considered to be domestic in nature); the authority to conduct surveillance on terrorists as they move, so multiple court orders are not needed; and increased penalties for knowingly providing terrorists with weapons which are used against federal employees and their families. The bill was held up in congress for a large amount of time as his opponents were reluctant to pass it.

*In June 1995, he signed “Presidential Decision Directive 39" which allocated responsibilities among various government agencies for preventing and dealing with attacks.

* He made terrorism a key top of the 1996 G-7 summit.

just some of what he did

*In late May of 1997, Clinton outlined an approach to deter attacks from terrorist networks like Al-Qaeda, including steps to prevent and defend against assaults on power systems, water supplies, medical services, financial services, computer networks and to train more state and local officials to respond to biological attacks.

*He signed “Presidential Decision Directive 62" which created a 10-point counter-terrorism initiative and established the post for “National Coordinator For Counter-terrorism and infrastructure protection” which would be filled Richard Clarke.

* At Clinton’s orders, cruise missiles were sent into Afghanistan, targeting a house where Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda figures were reportedly being held. Although Bin Laden was not killed, several people supposedly affiliated with Al Qaeda were. In the same set of military operations, he sent missiles to destroy a Sudanese chemical plant, which was successful.

*He also allocated an additional $300 million to the anti-terrorism budget in a single year. That was in addition to the $9 billion already requested. In the three years after the Oklahoma City bombing, he increased anti-terror funding a whopping 40%.

Answer 1

the Bush-Cheney anti-terrorism record before September 11, 2001:

Backed off Clinton administration's anti-terrorism efforts.
Shelved the Hart-Rudman report.

Appointed new anti-terrorism task force under Dick Cheney. Group did not even meet before 9/11.

Called for cuts in anti-terrorism efforts by the Department of Defense.

Gave no priority to anti-terrorism efforts by Justice Department.

Ignored warnings from Sandy Berger, Louis Freeh, George Tennant, Paul Bremer, and Richard Clarke about the urgency of terrorist threats.

Halted Predator drone tracking of Osama bin Laden.

Did nothing in wake of August 6 C.I.A. report to president saying Al Qaeda attack by hijack of an airliner almost certain
.
Bush - knowing about the terrorists' plans to attack in America, warned that terrorists were in flight schools in the US - took a four week vacation

Answer 2

I found Richard Clarke's book, "Against all Enemies", to be one of the more enlightening texts on this subject. This is the personal memoir of a man who was in the thick of it throughout the Clinton years as well as the beginning of the Bush era.
And further, he actually resigned his post as Terrorism "Czar" (a non-partisan position) in disgust when it became evident that the Bush inner circle were attempting to connect 9-11 to Saddam Hussein from the very beginning.
I recommend it to both left and right winged readers as a good starting point toward understanding the present situation from an inside perspective.

Answer 3

Why didn't Clinton do anything about Bin Laden? He had several opportunities to get him. Clinton also did not respond aggresively to the WTC attacks in 1993. ( Or the USS Cole bombing, or the US embassy bombings.) Clinton went along with political correctness. He placed rules of order on USS COLE. Which meant they could not defend themselves.

Answer 4

That's true, and after the terrorist attacks in 1993, Bill Clinton and Rudy Guiliani did nothing to prepare for or prevent another attack.

Answer 5

With so many Clinton failures he didn't want to take a chance on it. Can't blame him. Clinton really screwed up in Bosnia and Somalia to name just a couple.

Answer 6

Clinton did nothing about them for 8 years. Why listen to him?

Answer 7

Why didn't Clinton do anything about them in 8 years and after multiple attacks?

Answer 8

Because the Clinton administration....sucks!
Besides, Bush had 9 months, clinton had 8 years! Who waited longer?

Answer 9

What did the Clinton Administration do after they bombed that ship? I remember hearing about it, but I can't tell you the exact incident.

Answer 10

clinton admin. made no suggestion to stop al-qaida....Clinton had the perfect opprotunity but didnt take it....he was too busy getting blown by a fat chick.......When Bush gets officially IMPEACHED like clinton did...then come on here and try saying something.