We Coulda had Him!

[StSanta]

Heh republicans complained that Clinton *attempted* to deal with Bin Laden. Have some here short memory?

'In August 1998, President Clinton ordered missile strikes against targets in Afghanistan in an effort to hit Osama bin Laden, who had been linked to the embassy bombings in Africa (and was later connected to the attack on the USS Cole). The missiles reportedly missed bin Laden by a few hours, and Clinton was widely criticized by many who claimed he had ordered the strikes primarily to draw attention away from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

A little later of course, he was accused of not doing enough. Heh, a rock and a hard place.

And now it turns out there was a shot under Dubya's administration.

What I am trying to say; they both did their best given the circumstances. It gets very complicated when politics are involved and it cannot just be settled like we settle disputes in everyday life. Give both dudes some slack there.

[Charon]

I'm still having a hard time remembering all the Republican congressional outrage during the Clinton administration over his lack of more serious action concerning Bin Ladin. The calls to invade Afghanistan and get his bellybutton once and for all, or to kill him at all costs.

I can't even remember it being a campaign issue other than, as I recall, a general Republican desire to reduce foreign entanglements.

I don't recall any popular groundswell of anti Bin Ladin activity after either the first WTC attack or the Cole incident. Most, Republican and Democrats alike, politicians or useless "Web marketing professionals" seemed rather preoccupied with the "New Economy" and their Worldcom and Enron shares.

Isn't it a bit hypocritical to start pointing finger now?

Charon

[StSanta]

Pretty much agreed Charon, except I heard lots of talk of Clinton trying to create a sitation so that the attention would go from the Monica Lewinsky deal.

Definitely right about the fingerpointing.