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INDEPTH: SEPTEMBER 11
Richard Clarke
CBC News Online | April 1, 2004


Richard Clarke
  • Born in 1951.

  • Graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1972.

  • Began working for U.S. Department of Defence in 1973.

  • Served in the Reagan administration as assistant secretary of state for intelligence.

  • In George H.W. Bush's administration, served as assistant secretary of state for politico-military affairs; he co-ordinated support for the 1991 Gulf War and led subsequent security arrangements in that area.

  • President Bill Clinton appointed him to lead a committee of officials from the FBI, CIA, the Justice Department and the U.S. military that was designed to be a think-tank for evaluating security threats after the Cold War.

  • Joined the U.S. National Security Council in 1992 and, as an expert on national security, cyber-security and counter-terrorism, served as special advisor to the president on these issues from 2001-2003. One of a handful of top officials from the Clinton administration to retain his post into the George W. Bush administration, he was the security advisor when the September 11 attacks occurred.

  • He resigned from the position of advisor in January 2003, having served in the White House under four presidents.

  • Left government altogether in February 2003.

  • Published a book in March 2004, Against All Enemies, criticizing past and present administrations for the way they handled terrorism threats and the war on terror before and after September 11.

In almost 20 hours of testimony before the 9/11 Commission, Richard Clarke detailed his account of the White House events preceding and following September 11. His controversial remarks have provoked the Bush administration to publicly rebut Clarke's story, denying some of his claims and citing inconsistencies with statements he has made in the past.

Key quotes from Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission:

"Your government failed you, those entrusted with protecting you failed you, and I failed you. We tried hard, but that doesn't matter because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask - once all the facts are out - for your understanding and forgiveness."

"There was a process underway to address al-Qaeda, but although I continued to say it was an urgent problem, I don't think it was ever treated that way."

"I believe the Bush administration in the first eight months considered terrorism an important issue, but not an urgent issue."

  • Read Richard Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission: Full transcript






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    THE AFTERMATH: Personal accounts Canadian casualties Stranded in Gander New Yorkers after the attacks Homeland Security Act
    9/11 COMMISSION: The 9/11 Commission Report Condoleezza Rice Richard Clarke Transcript: Rice Transcript: Clarke
    THE PLAYERS: Zacarias Moussaoui Mullah Mohammed Omar
    REFLECTIONS: Zarqa Nawaz: 9/11 and my Muslim friends Anne Bayin: Ground Zero Mario Tkalec: A Canadian in the WTC Martin O'Malley: Sept. 10, 2001
    PHOTOS: Zacarias Moussaoui: Evidence photos Photogallery: Attack and aftermath Photo log: Sep 11, 2003 Memorial
    RELATED: Osama bin Laden Iraq Afghanistan Guantanamo Bay Airport security U.S. Security

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    9/11 Commission

    Testimony of Richard A. Clarke [pdf]

    Final report of 9/11 Commission

    9/11 Congressional inquiry report

    The Gander Connection
    Set up by passengers of Delta Flight 37

    Set up by passengers of Air France Flight 004

    UA929.org
    Set up by passengers of United Airlines Flight 929

    Flight 929's Magical Mystery Tour
    Set up by passengers of United Airlines Flight 929

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