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Unfortunately, Bill Clinton Is Still A Player
By Carol Devine-Molin
October 7, 2002

Given the severity and scope of national problems that have emerged over the past year, it's become increasingly evident that Bill Clinton's presidency was largely "smoke and mirrors", an unmitigated disaster by any reasonable standard. Clinton's eight years of leadership, or lack thereof, left behind a legacy of rot and ruin for the American people that most notably reflected his:

a) failure to properly address insidious rogue regimes, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, which were radical Islamists in league with Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization that ultimately perpetrated the 9/11 atrocities;

b) abysmal and inadequate efforts to rein in Saddam Hussein, an out-of-control Iraqi despot that continued to develop Weapons of Mass Destruction throughout the 1990s and beyond, and who now poses a significant threat to America and other western democracies;

c) wrong-headed attitude toward America's premier intelligence agencies (CIA, FBI, DIA, NSA, etc.), systematically undermining, politicizing and co-opting these agencies by imposing "liberal philosophy", "an anti-intelligence bias" and "political correctness", which proved enormously destructive to their effectiveness. Essentially, counter- terrorism efforts and covert activities were roundly thwarted throughout the intelligence community, as brilliantly delineated by Bill Gertz ("Washington Times" Pentagon reporter) in his latest book, "Breakdown: How America's Intelligence Failures Led to September 11th ";

d) failure to set the appropriate moral tone required of American capitalism and the financial markets, a system that can only successfully function within the parameters of integrity and corporate transparency. During the "anything goes" unsavory Bill Clinton era, systemic corruption flourished inside the corporate world, especially among the "elites", the CEOs and CFOs who eschewed their fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders.

Undeniably, Bill Clinton still holds considerable influence not only within the Democratic Party, but among the Left in other nations, as well. He has always been a slick character, oozing with charm and charisma, incredibly able to hold sway over the liberal crowd. When speaking before the Labor Party in London last week, Clinton had the tremendous gall to criticize President Bush on foreign soil, something that former Presidents are generally loathe to do. But not our Billy Boy! He has no problems acting as the scoundrel that he truly is. In fact, Clinton's unseemly words represented considerable audacity, an effrontery to America, especially in light of this current patriotic climate, the "war on terrorism", and the threat posed by the Iraqi regime.

The UK's publication, "The Guardian", managed to hit all the right notes in their story on Clinton's recent London visit. In his piece dated 10/3/02, entitled "Swooning Blackpool Surrenders to the Seducer from Arkansas", journalist Simon Hoggart states with some hyperbole and sarcasm: "Bill Clinton was brilliant, dazzling, charismatic, seductive and utterly shameless. The Labour Party loved nearly all of it... They especially adored him when he warned about an unelected despot with access to weapons of mass destruction who had already dragged his own country to the brink of ruin and was now threatening the whole world. He also had harsh words for Saddam Hussein. But there was no doubt that the real enemy -- the man in the electronic cross-hairs -- yesterday was George W. Bush. Thank God there was one man who could still save the planet! Yes, that was the superman on his right, Tony Blair! Only he could save us from the looming holocaust! 'As an American, and as a citizen of the world, I am glad Tony Blair will be central to weighing the risks, and making the call', he (Clinton) said, implying that he (Blair) and he alone might manage to halt that demented freak in the White House".

The UK Mirror was a trifle more subdued in their analysis of Clinton, noting that, "In his wide-ranging speech, he laid into Republican Bush, praised Labour's once vaunted Third Way, (and) mocked Tories."

Certainly, any good politician is expected to be partisan, but in an overseas venue, with an America under siege, Bill Clinton's speech went beyond the pale. Clinton was over-the-top, unconscionably railing against an American President in the throes of international crisis, planning for the anticipated maelstrom on the horizon. Quite frankly, deep-down Clinton envies Bush for the terrific job that he is doing, and his great approval ratings. Oh, those pivotal poll ratings that Clinton once lived and died by! Moreover, Bush has the "Iraq Bandwagon" well under way, with both Houses of Congress "on board" poised to authorize military action, and with UN approval to postpone inspections until a tough resolution (unfettered, unconditional searches) is imposed. Clearly, Clinton still yearns for that incomparable position, that "master of the universe" job that he once held. Alas, poor Bubba!