The Wonk Room

Your Friends Say A Lot About You

McCainblogger Mike Goldfarb’s reference yesterday to Richard Clarke as “the consummate 9/10 Democrat” causes me to ask: Does Goldfarb actually know who Richard Clarke is (other than some guy who once appeared on Bill Maher’s TV show)?

Clarke is one of the few government officials to have sounded the alarm on Al Qaeda before 9/11, so it seems odd to call him a “9/10 Democrat,” especially since Clarke is…a Republican. Given the fact that Clarke perceived the Al Qaeda threat clearly and early, I think it says a lot about Obama’s anti-terror policy that Clarke has chosen to play for his team. Here’s some emails that Clarke wrote before 9/11 which reflect his 9/10 mindset:

“Bin Ladin Public Profile May Presage Attack” (May 3)

“Terrorist Groups Said Co-operating on US Hostage Plot” (May 23)

“Bin Ladin’s Networks’ Plans Advancing” (May 26)

“Bin Ladin Attacks May Be Imminent” (June 23)

“Bin Ladin and Associates Making Near-Term Threats” (June 25)

“Bin Ladin Planning High-Profile Attacks” (June 30)

“Planning for Bin Ladin Attacks Continues, Despite Delays” (July 2)

In stark contrast, it says a lot about Team McCain’s anti-terror policy that they’re pinch hitting James Woolsey, one of the few government officials who, among various other eccentricities, believed that Saddam Hussein was behind the first World Trade Center attack.

I look forward to Team McCain’s next national security call, where Laurie Mylroie will explain that Saddam Hussein is planning a chemical weapons attack from beyond the grave.