“Clarke’s revealing book Against All Enemies makes clear that he is perhaps the single most improbable hero American liberals have ever revered…He was a strong believer in the use of US military power…Some of his views might ordinarily be greeted with a dollop of skepticism were it not for the fact that Clarke was right, clearly and spectacularly so, about one big thing, the biggest of all: al-Qaeda and the threat its terrorism has posed to the United States.” It is also the story of one man’s effort to make the complex bureaucracy of the federal government respond to undefined but devastating threats as well as to unforeseen emergencies. “A highly readable, often exciting, and authoritative account of America’s most dangerous immediate problem, how to deal with terrorism and al-Qaeda. 357 sidearm to return to the West Wing the night after 9/11, at least he was not dozing through High Noon.” Even if he was a bit of a cowboy, loading up his. “Clarke has struck a chord because his passionate efforts reflected those great American virtues of ingenuity and brashness.

I'm sure the author put a positive spin on his own involvement as the counter-terrorism chief, but the book helped me to better understand the United States' ongoing conflict with terrorism.' 'A pretty in-depth look at the government's reaction on September 11, the history of Al Qaeda, and the Bush/Cheney administration. The charges Clarke levels against the current administration must be taken seriously by every American, Democrat or Republican. Thanks to the determined, even conspiratorial views of Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, and Bush, we went after the wrong enemy. Clarke knows why we failed to shut down terrorist financing within our borders prior to 2001.Īfter ignoring existing plans to attack al Qaeda when he first took office, George Bush made disastrous decisions when he finally did pay attention. His aides had little interest in Usama Bin Laden, preferring to talk about Saddam Hussein at every turn. When President Bush took office, Clarke was ready to present him with a master plan to roll back and destroy al Qaeda - yet the president did not grant a briefing for months. terrorism sponsored by Iran and Iraq - and his great frustrations - failing to kill Usama Bin Laden despite many attempts. He has had a front-row seat at every major battle in this war, from the first World Trade Center bombing, to 9/11, to Afghanistan, to Iraq.Ĭlarke knows the secret stories of Bill Clinton's great victories - shutting down anti-U.S. Bush and Bill Clinton, the man who has led our efforts against al Qaeda and all other terrorist enemies for years, serving under seven presidents and in the White House for George H. There is no man who knows more about it than Richard Clarke, the former Counterterrorism Czar for both George W. The real war on terror has happened largely behind closed doors, run by the White House, drawing on secret intelligence and operations around the world.

Against all enemies by richard a clarke