U.S. Terrorism Policy Spawns Steady Staff Exodus
By Caroline Drees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Bush administration has faced a steady exodus of counterterrorism officials, many disappointed by a preoccupation with Iraq they said undermined the U.S. fight against terrorism.

Former counterterrorism officials said at least half a dozen have left the White House Office for Combating Terrorism or related agencies in frustration in the 2 1/2 years since the attacks.

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Some also left because they felt President Bush had sidelined his counterterrorism experts and paid almost exclusive heed to the vice president, the defense secretary and other Cabinet members in planning the "war on terror," former counterterrorism officials said.

"I'm kind of hoping for regime change," one official who quit told Reuters.

The administration's handling of the battle against terrorism is a key issue for the presidency, and could be key to Bush's re-election effort.

Similar charges were made by Bush's former counterterrorism czar, Richard Clarke, who told the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that the administration ignored the al Qaeda threat beforehand and was fixated on Iraq afterward. National security adviser Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 panel on Thursday.

"Iraq has been a distraction from the whole counterterrorism effort," said the former official, adding the policy had frustrated many in the White House anti-terrorism office, about two-thirds of whom have left . . .

DID YOU KNOW?

You are plagiarizing again?

DID YOU KNOW?

That Richard Clarke might be trying to boost book sales?

DID YOU KNOW?

That Richard Clarke might be trying to blame his failure to protect the US on others?

DID YOU KNOW?

That Richard Clarke is lying!

Plunk: I only wish I could get the fish to rise as easily as you. I bet all those staffers that quit are liars too. If nothing else, you would have to admit that G. Dub apparently isn't all that good at selecting staffers, what with all those liars and quitters he had.

BTW: Plagiarize - To repesent another authors work as one's one.

I clearly presented the authors name and the source.

Glad you and nick caught a few springers.

At least something likes your bait.

Richard Clarke admitted his failures were at least partially to blame for the 9/11 attack.

Everyone else just pointed fingers at someone else.

Plunker - When it comes to baiting, you truly are the master! :p

How many of them were hired during the clinton Admin? It must also be said that much of their responsibility now has shifted to other depts. As with all that leave a company or organization and return to take shots I dismiss their comments as sour grapes.

Come on, Dave,

You know that they're all just unpatriotic!

Fish on...

Todd

And that is relevant how?

Interesting how the expert counter-terrorism people's responsibilities are shifted to other departments. Why would you take experts away from the very thing you claim to be supporting?

Speaking of sour grapes, there are some that could argue the Bush administration purposefully discounted intelligence reports simply because they came from the Clinton administration.