Rating: 
Summary: You can smell the truth in it
Review: Considering the ranting of a couple previous reviewers, you can tell this book has struck a motherload of truthfulness. The objective and detailed anaylsis is what you will never get from Rush Limbots or the Fox News channel. It is refreshing to hear the truth from a level headed, registered Republican, conservative, defense hawk, with impeccable credential of the highest level concerning our nations security. Clark has exposed the outright incompetence and coverup of how the administration de-emphasized the internal terrorist threat. There were apple warnings by a multitude of people throughout the government who encouraged putting Bin Laden & Co. on the front burner, but it never happened.
Rating: 
Summary: You're Right, I'm wrong... Al Qaeda doesn't care...
Review: Help! Amazon's been invaded by Moveon.org! I've never seen such pathetic, politically charged drivel in my entire 6 years of reviewing books on Amazon. While we sit here and point fingers at one another (strictly and pitifully along party lines) Osama and crew are plotting the next attack. They want us to be divided, and it looks like we are. Divided nations don't make good decisions. Exactly what Osama and his terrorist brethren are hoping for... If we can cast aside how we feel about Bush, and cast aside how we feel about Richard Clarke for just a minute and look at this whole situation objectively (if you are able to look at things objectively) then its obvious that you cannot "fix" the past. Who's right and who's wrong doesn't really matter, our dead are not coming back. Our government was simply not structured to handle the new form of terror we faced prior to 9/11. Osama was and still is sort of like an AIDS virus, there is no vaccine or cure, and he keeps mutating. We have put in place effective treatment, but he's still deadly. All we can do is hope to adapt as fast as possible and stay one step ahead. Bush, Clinton, Bush 2, and Dick Clarke didn't fly those planes into the WTC, though based on some of the criticism I've read here, Bush 2 may as well have been the co-pilot on all four planes. This type of criticism really unobjective and ignorant because Bush was barely in office long enough (234 Days to be exact) to know who the President of Pakistan was, never mind fixing 20 years of ineptness on behalf of our intelligence agencies. Remember some things, Osama and crew want to KILL US, Democrat, Republican, male, female, independent, whatever. It doesn't matter, Al Qaeda wants you and me DEAD. Terrorism trumps everything else (the economy (a terror attack would destroy the economy), civil rights, Richard Clarke's book, Bush Bashing, Clinton hating, etc) because none of it matters (your opinion or mine)... If we're DEAD. Islamic Extremeists are little more than a modern day KKK. They are Islamic Supremicists. They are serial killers of the worst kind, they kill and discriminate (they are so blinded by their hatred that if you are American, Jewish or a 'suspected collaborator' with either, no questions asked you're executed, no judge, no trial, no jury.) It's their way or the highway. You can't leave terrorist alone, the same way you can't leave a serial killer alone, you have to go after them, or innocent people will continue to die. As I've mentioned, our government through no fault of it's own (the government is not immune to classic organizational failings that every company faces) left the terrorists alone for the past 20 years, and look what that got us... You may disagree with Bush, and that's OK, you may think that Clarke has creidibility problems, so what, maybe you believe Clinton did nothing in his 8 years in office, true or not true none of it matters now. Bush sent out the vice squad to Afghanistan and Iraq, though a link between Saddam and Al Qaeda was never confirmed, no one will dispute that Saddam was a terrorist. Bush used WMD as the reasoning to go into Iraq, but heck, if our intelligence was so inept not to stop 9/11 on our home turf, why's it so hard to believe our intelligence was wrong about WMD half a world away in Iraq? We were so grossly unprepared for this kind of unconventional attack, we didn't even see the threat gathering. Shame on us as a nation of Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Be careful how much you criticize Bush for not doing enough to stop 9/11 while he pre-emptively went after Saddam in Iraq. You may sound hypocritical as your ripping him apart for being 'apathetic' about Al Qaeda before 9/11 and ripping him apart for being a 'cowboy' by going into Iraq. You can't have it both ways. No one likes war, it is ugly, it is unfair, innocent people die. But it is a necessary evil to defend our great nation. Don't forget, they attacked us first. Osama declared war on the US in 1997, we didn't take him seriously, we paid dearly, he's running scared today and he HATES GEORGE BUSH, why? Because Bush wants him dead. I only hope we get him before it's too late. Of course, this review and my opinion won't matter... if Osama gets us and we're DEAD.
Rating: 
Summary: Clarke is professional and honest
Review: First of all, I have read this book cover to cover. How many of the reviewers have? In my mind the most important fact is that Clarke was there and tried his best to offer advice to his presidents in a non-partisan way which is what good civil servants are supposed to do. That his advice was not taken or acted upon is regretful, but the blame for failure lies around the table not with his perceived weakness of not handling things efficiently. After all, the commander in chief has got to make the final decision not a staff member. Now then, for the Republicans attacking this book, I think one has to see clearly from what Clarke proposed in the book, that he was hawkish in most circumstances. Clinton the dove of peace failed to measure up and his team dawdled while Osama plotted. Tenet said as much in his TV appearance and accepted blame for the CIA not having the proper focus, but truthfully what else could he do? Bush apparently mishandled Osama from the start with his pathological vendetta against Saddam consumming his passions, time, and energy. Clarke spells this all out quite convincingly giving us names, dates, memos, conversations, and other fairly reliable data to judge the scenario. This is seminal reading on the terrorist threat for the objective reader who wants more facts and less spin than the White House allows us. As for poor Leslie Stahl, why in heaven's name attack her? Perhaps her detractors would rather have Connie Chung hold the interview or even Rush himself, the epitome of objectivity and decency in the media.
Rating:
Summary: Finally...Let the Truth Be Told!
Review: It's about time someone stood up to the hypocracy that is the Bush Administration! Reading this entire book in ONE SITTING, many unanswered questions are brought to life and answered, not only for the families who lost loved ones on 9/11, but for the nation as a whole! And right now the Bush cronies are in a mad panic to save-face, including VP Cheney and his truly inane "recollections" of Clarke not being present during any of the post-9/11 meetings (yeah, that makes total sense as Clarke was the Counterterrorism Czar...HELLO!!) Oh, and ATTN: MICHAEL T - did you even read the book??? Your so-called review below looks like it's based on a newscast you saw, not a reaction to actually reading the book. There's a difference there, sir!
Rating:
Summary: 1 and 2 star raters are the sore losers
Review: They obviously have their heads buried so far up Bush's backside they can't even SEE the truth, let alone know what it is. Read their rants and it's obvious that to them, this is the most serious threat yet to Bush's credibility on Iraq with people who have either given him the benefit of the doubt or not kept informed so far.
Consider that Bush stoolies in the media have gone so far as to insinuate Clarke is a racist for not kissing up to Rice, and you get the story.
If you want the story and don't know it, read the book, not their pathetic whinings.
Rating:
Summary: An enlightening and insightful view -- the truth will out
Review: This book provides an insightful view of our national security 'policy' It should be required reading by all Americans interested in learning how our government has handled the war on terror (critisms on both Clinton and Bush administrations are included by the way). Intelligence, facts and an understanding of history should be included in making national security policy decisions. Unfortunately, Bush appears to have been incapable of doing so in waging war on terror. This text outlines how Bush and his administration have missed opportunities and misdirected our efforts on the war on terror, by taking us to Iraq, underfunding our agencies (in favor of huge tax cuts), and alienating us from much of the world. We need someone who can understand complex and nuanced information (rational, intelligent thought) in the White House -- we cannot hope to win the war on terror with the current policies that are in place. Regardless of your own political 'bent' take the time to look the facts. Don't be afraid of the truth...Mr. Clarke provides us with a view of the world we live in and helps us to understand how we got where we are today...This is a must read book.
Rating: 
Summary: Against all Emenies Richard Clarke
Review: This book should be in the fiction catagory.
I give it no stars. Its a disgrace to write such a book
when we are in a time of war.
Richard Clarke is just spewing sour grapes. To bad for
him he could of went out on a high note, but looks like
a fool or worst now. Shame Shame on Clarke.I'm sure he will
pushing his book at the democrat convention later this
year.
Rating:
Summary: It just confirms what we knew all along
Review: Bush's number 1 priority was to invade Iraq. I believe that Clarke is telling the truth about this administration. If he's lying, the White House should charge him with perjury. The Republicans blame everybody but themselves. Let the truth speak for itself, no weapons of mass destructions have been found and we have hundreds of soldiers dead and thousands wounded.
Rating:
Summary: A Damning Indictment Of Bush's Misleadership
Review: How sad that all the 'no star' reviews seem to parroting the same, tired suggestions made by Rush Limbaugh and the Right Wing hate machine. Read the book and understand why Bush is going to lose in 2004, deservedly.
Rating:
Summary: The truth told with regret and candor
Review: Richard Clarke writes a compelling, personal account of his and his administrations' failings in recognizing and dealing with threats against the United States. His candor in telling all sides of the story, not just that which protects the party in power, is an essential step in learning from the tragedy of 9-11 and returning to reality in the world political sphere. His illustrative accounts of specific turning points, some foreseeable, some only recognized in hindsight, provide a rare glimpse into the tortured channels intelligence information must navigate before becoming part of administrative consideration or policy. His insights into the hidden agendas of various aides and policymakers are invaluable in understanding how we have come to this point in our history. I highly recommend this book for all brave enough to face, unflinching, the need for self-examination and clear understanding of events before making decisions about our future.
| 
