White House Attack on Former Counter-Terrorism Chief Part of Trend Toward Those Who Dare to Speak Out

Interview with Daniel Ellsberg, former U.S. Defense Department analyst prosecuted for his release of now-famous "Pentagon Papers," conducted by Scott Harris

In testimony before the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, former counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke charged that the Bush administration failed to recognize the urgent threat posed by al Qaeda before 9/11 and manipulated America into fighting an unprovoked war against Iraq. Since giving his damaging testimony and the release of his book, "Against All Enemies," Clarke's credibility has been attacked by the White House and its allies as an opportunist looking for work in a future Democratic administration, and as an inconsistent, untrustworthy figure trying to sell his new book.

But Clarke, who served under Ronald Reagan, the first Bush White House, Bill Clinton and the current administration, says that his detractors are engaged in character assassination rather than dealing with the substance of his criticism. The stakes are high in this election year, with many observers predicting that White House attacks on Clarke will only further weaken President Bush.

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg was a career U.S. government analyst when he leaked the now-famous "Pentagon Papers" to the press. The 47-volume Defense Department internal study of the U.S. role in Southeast Asian conflicts over three decades was classified top secret. The documents chronicled the lies and deceit employed by government officials to justify U.S. military intervention in the region's wars. Ellsberg, originally a strong supporter of the Vietnam War became a committed opponent, and faced felony charges that could have put him in prison for 115 years. Between The Lines spoke with Daniel Ellsberg, who assesses the significance of Richard Clarke's testimony and the damage that could result to Bush's presidency. Daniel Ellsberg's release of "The Pentagon Papers" in 1971 bolstered opposition to the Vietnam War. Ellsberg's book, "Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers" is published by Viking. Visit his website at www.ellsberg.net.

Related links

"Bush Puts a 'Cancer on the Presidency' - Watergate Insider calls this White House 'Scary'," by Robert Scheer, the Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2004

"Daniel Ellsberg Sees a New Trend -- Telling All While the Issue is Hot," by Matthew B. Stannard, The San Francisco Chronicle, March 29, 2004

"Heads-Up To Ashcroft Proves Threat Was Known Before 9/11" by Harley Sorensen, The San Francisco Chronicle, June 3, 2002

"Running Scared," by Philip James, The Guardian U.K., March 26, 2004

"Clarke's Public Service," by Tom Maertens, Star Tribune, March 28, 2004

"Ex-Advisor Says Bush Eyed Bombing of Iraq on 9/11," Reuters, March 19, 2004 Those Who Dared to Come Forward In-depth compilation on Washington insiders who are speaking out on Bush administration policies and actions

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