Richard Clarke To Bill Maher: Bush Deserves Zero Credit For Finding Bin Laden

While the right-wing is screaming for the left to give George W. Bush credit for the success of the bin Laden mission, why are the right  so adamant about not giving Bush the credit for the state of the economy?

Remember this?

“Deficits don’t matter.” -Vice President Dick Cheney and Republicans from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009

Mediaite

In Bill Maher’s “Overtime” segment filmed with his guests after his televised show is complete, former terrorism advisor Richard Clarke pleased Maher’s liberal-leaning audience, but raised eyebrows elsewhere when he suggested President Bush deserves “zero” credit for helping to locate Osama bin Laden. The sole conservative on the panel, Reihan Salam, wondered why Clarke wasn’t willing to admit that at least some efforts made by the Bush administration contributed, yet Clarke was adamant that the Iraq War was a complete diversion.

Clarke explained why Bush should definitely be credited with nothing:

“I don’t know why that’s controversy? The man did nothing about Bin Laden until 9/11. And after 9/11 he kind of did it for a few months – kind of. He sent troops into Afghanistan, but didn’t tell them to get Bin Laden.”

Clarke reminded everyone that the CIA was ordered fifteen years ago to get Bin Laden, and argued that if Bush hadn’t shifted the focus to Iraq during his presidency, we would have captured or killed Bin Laden much sooner. Although many claim it was a “mosaic” of intelligence gathered throughout both administrations that resulted in learning Bin Laden’s whereabouts, it seems Clarke is not eager to allow Bush any part in the celebration.

Watch:

Related articles

• Richard Clarke: Capturing Bin Laden ‘Not One Of Their Priorities’ For Clinton, Bush (mediaite.com)
• Bill Maher Takes a Shot at Pro-Torture So-Called Christians in His New Rules Segment (crooksandliars.com)
• Q and A: Bill Maher takes aim at politics (pbpulse.com)