"All the cruise missle strikes did was cause Ben Laden to be more intent on attacking the US. In effect they prompted 9/11"

And Afghanistan and Iraq has turned that table, has it?

As to what good it may have done Dick Clarke to be right, probably the satisfaction of knowing that in a way he may have played some part in preventing a catastrophe happening on American soil. Not that he might have known specifically what that catastrophe might have been, mind you; just to be resplendent in the knowledge that his President was on top of the issues in good time.

Jim