Condoleezza Rice's Growing Credibility Gap

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's "60 Minutes" interview yesterday highlights the depth of White House confusion and deception about its handling of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Although Rice cannot find time to publicly testify about the worst national security failure in modern history, she continues to scroll across the airwaves providing inconsistent accounts about the administration's counterterrorism efforts before and after 9/11, and refuses to give the public a straight answer about the failures on her watch.

• The Bush administration failed to address al Qaeda prior to 9/11. Rice's claim yesterday that "the administration took seriously the threat" of terrorism before 9/11 cannot be taken at face value. If Rice was concerned about al Qaeda, it did not appear in any major public statements or interviews she gave in the 8 months prior to the attacks. Internal Justice Department documents show that counterterrorism was not a top governmental priority in the early months of 2001. And President Bush himself relayed to Bob Woodward his lack of concern about bin Laden in the pre-attack months: "I didn't feel that sense of urgency, and my blood was not nearly as boiling."
• The Bush administration remained obsessed with Saddam Hussein after 9/11 despite clear evidence that al Qaeda was behind the attacks. Rice's claim that "Iraq was put aside" after 9/11 does not hold up to scrutiny. After steadfast White House denials last week, Rice yesterday confirmed that President Bush directed counterterrorism expert Richard Clarke to "see if Saddam was involved" with 9/11. President Bush then signed a two-and-a-half page document that "directed the Pentagon to begin planning military options for an invasion of Iraq," according to the Washington Post, and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld later told aides to draw up plans for an invasion.
• Condoleezza Rice should stop the media showmanship and testify publicly before the 9/11 commission. The White House's claim of executive privilege for Rice holds little credibility – the 9/11 commission is not Congress, so separation of powers precedents do not apply. As the top adviser to the president on national security matters, Rice – like other Clinton and Bush administration officials – should tell the public under oath about the administration's handling of al Qaeda and 9/11.

Daily Talking Points is a product of the Center for American Progress, a non-partisan research and educational institute committed to progressive principles for a strong, just and free America.