I find it amazing that the headline to Richard Clarke’s serious allegations about the Bush administration’s dual actions of ignoring the threat from Al Qaeda and blaming Sept. 11 on Iraq focused on the administration’s personal and vicious attacks on Clarke instead of on the real issue (“Bush’s aides belittle 9/11 critic; Ex-official’s book derided as politics,” Page 1, March 23). The real issue is why this administration has been permitted to continually link Sept. 11 with Iraq against all evidence and at the same time skirt any investigation of its ability to protect the nation from terrorists. Since the Bush campaign is resting its re-election bid on the president’s ability to protect the nation from terrorism, one would expect a more serious examination by the Tribune than a rehash of Bush administration smears on Clarke.
