"... When Bill Clinton was president, Mr. Tenet sent forbidding intelligence that accurately predicted the terrorist attacks to come. He apparently didn't worry too much about being seen as an alarmist.

During the Bush administration, reflecting changed priorities, the terrorism alerts faded into the background. Nor was the terrorism czar, Richard Clarke, any more successful when he tried to get Condoleezza Rice's attention. When he personally briefed George W. Bush before leaving the White House, Mr. Clinton told him that Osama bin Laden was one of the biggest threats facing the country.

Again, no one got Mr. Bush's attention, and the country paid dearly for the bureaucratic confusion and ineptitude at the top.

...Malvern, Pa., Aug. 23, 2007"

Letter to the NY Times.


A