This blog will never match the depth of Patterico's LA Times examination including yesterday's entry on Rathergate and the facts omitted by the Times. However occasionally, something irks me so much that it bears mention. Today's report on Al Qaeda is an example of facts hidden "after the jump". The opening paragraphs read:
Authorities have made little progress worldwide in defeating Islamic extremists affiliated with Al Qaeda despite thwarting attacks and arresting high-profile figures, according to interviews with intelligence and law enforcement officials and outside experts.On the contrary, officials warn that the Bush administration's upbeat assessment of its successes is overly optimistic and masks its strategic failure to understand and combat Al Qaeda's evolution.
Who are these experts and officials? Here are the ones willing to be named:
* Judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere of France, dean of Europe's anti-terrorism investigators
* M.J. Gohel, head of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, a London think tank
* Michael Scheuer, who wrote a book critical of counter-terrorism efforts, who is no longer allowed to talk to reporters and whose move from head of eforts under Clinton to a "broader role" appears to be a demotion
* Gijs de Vries, the counter-terrorism coordinator for the European Union.
* Richard Clarke, the former White House counter-terrorism chief
* Pierre de Bousquet de Florian, director of France's intelligence agency
So what do we have? French counter-terroriam officials, a London think tank, an EU official, a CIA officer who appears to have scores to settle and Richard Clarke. You remember Richard Clarke, right?
Posted by Justene Adamec at September 26, 2004 11:01 AM | TrackBackNot only do I remember Richard Clarke, I've read the post to which you link and there's no inconsistency between the statements quoted (the ones that the other poster said show him to be a liar). In the one, he says the request came to him and he kicked it over to the FBI to specifically look at the names. In the other, he says he takes responsibility for the decision and that "it didn't get any higher than me." The statements are entirely consistent.
Posted by: Robert Mahnke at September 29, 2004 09:06 PM (Permalink)