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Home Front: Politix
Bubba Bill C. Goes Ballistic Over 9/11 Miniseries
2006-09-07
A furious Bill Clinton is warning ABC that its mini-series "The Path to 9/11" grossly misrepresents his pursuit of Osama bin Laden - and he is demanding the network "pull the drama" if changes aren't made.



Clinton pointedly refuted several fictionalized scenes that he claims insinuate he was too distracted by the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal to care about bin Laden and that a top adviser pulled the plug on CIA operatives who were just moments away from bagging the terror master, according to a letter to ABC boss Bob Iger obtained by The Post.

The former president also disputed the portrayal of then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as having tipped off Pakistani officials that a strike was coming, giving bin Laden a chance to flee.

"The content of this drama is factually and incontrovertibly inaccurate and ABC has the duty to fully correct all errors or pull the drama entirely," the four-page letter said.

The movie is set to air on Sunday and Monday nights. Monday is the fifth anniversary of the attacks.

Based on the 9/11 commission's report, the miniseries is also being provided to high schools as a teaching aid - although ABC admits key scenes are dramatizations.

The letter, written by Bruce Lindsey, head of the Clinton Foundation, and Douglas Bond, a top lawyer in Clinton's office, accuses the ABC drama of "bias" and a "fictitious rewriting of history that will be misinterpreted by millions of Americans."

Clinton, whose aides first learned from a TV trailer about a week ago that the miniseries would slam his administration, was "surprised" and "incredulous" when told about the film's slant, sources said.

Albright and former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger also dashed off letters to Iger, accusing the network of lying in the miniseries and demanding changes.

ABC spokesman Jonathan Hogan last night defended the miniseries as a "dramatization, not a documentary, drawn from a variety of sources, including the 9/11 commission report, other published materials and personal interviews."

"Many of the people who have expressed opinions about the film have yet to see it in its entirety or in its final broadcast form," he said. "We hope viewers will watch the entire broadcast before forming their own opinion."

Executive producer Marc Platt told The Washington Post that he worked "very hard to be fair. If individuals feel they're wrongly portrayed, that's obviously of concern. We've portrayed the essence of the truth of these events. Our intention was not in any way to be political or present a point of view."

The miniseries' creator and the 9/11 panel's former co-chairman, Tom Kean, who was a paid adviser on the film, said some scenes are made up and plan to include a statement at the show's beginning.

In the movie, FBI anti-terror agent John O'Neill, played by Harvey Keitel, and a composite CIA operative named Kirk grouse about bureaucratic red tape following a meeting with Berger and Albright.

"How do you win a law-and-orderly war?" Kirk asks.

"You don't," O'Neill snaps.

The movie then cuts immediately to a newsreel close-up of Clinton insisting he did "not have sex with that woman" - Monica Lewinsky.

Although the movie thrust Lewinsky into the mix as a White House distraction, the 9/11 commission's report found Clinton was "deeply concerned about bin Laden" and that he received daily reports "on bin Laden's reported location," Clinton's letter notes.

In another scene, CIA operatives working with Afghani anti-al Qaeda fighter Ahmed Shah Massoud, the leader of the Northern Alliance who was assassinated by bin Laden days before 9/11, gather on a hill near bin Laden's residence at Tarnak Farms - the terror thug easily in their grasp.

"It's perfect for us," says Kirk, a composite character played by Donnie Wahlberg. But the team aborts the mission when an actor portraying Berger tells them he can't authorize a strike.

"I don't have that authority," the Berger character says.

"Are there any men in Washington," Massoud asks Kirk later in the film, "or are they all cowards?"

The reps for an outraged Clinton wrote to Iger that "no such episode ever occurred - nor did anything like it."

The 9/11 commission report echoes his denial, and found that Clinton's Cabinet gave "its blessing" for a CIA plan to capture bin Laden and determined that ex-CIA Director George Tenet squashed the plan.

The third contested scene focuses on Albright, who is depicted alerting Pakistani officials in advance of a 1998 U.S. missile strike against bin Laden in Afghanistan - over the objections of the Pentagon. The movie claims the tip-off allowed bin Laden to escape.

But the 9/11 commission reported that it was a member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff - not Albright - who met with a senior Pakistani Army official prior to the strike to "assure him the missiles were not coming from India."
Posted by:Captain America

#42  another convienent rewrite of History for the folks at BUSH, inc.
Posted by: bk   2006-09-07 08:40  

#41  another convienient rewrite of history for the folks at BUSH ,inc.
Posted by: bk   2006-09-07 08:11  

#40  Conspiracy theory #1: ABC is running this to "harm" the Donkeycritters in order to provide cover for why they lose in 2006, and give them a talking point for 2008.

Conspiracy theory #2: The polls have shown that Hillary would get beaten in 2008 by a complete unknown Republican who was also a congenital moron. ABC is politely telling her not to run under any circumstances.

Hey, this is FUN!
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-09-07 22:00  

#39  Hillary say "Bill, you gotta fight this or I won't stand a chance in 08".

Posted by: john   2006-09-07 21:12  

#38  I'm confused. ABC is obviously MSM, but they're showing something that makes Dems look bad...?? Any idea what the reason behind the switch is? Going to compete head to head with Fox?
Posted by: Grash Threreter2447   2006-09-07 20:47  

#37  Clinton's office, accuses the ABC drama of "bias" and a "fictitious rewriting of history

I only wish we COULD rewrite history, and write that worthless piece of fecal matter and the Hilderbeast completely OUT of it!
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-09-07 20:35  

#36  Ed - Whatever held up your plane that day, it wasn't Clinton: LINK. Excuse the frequent reference to "wingnuts" in the post, but it refers back to a Newsday story that seems solidly sourced.
Posted by: Elmasing Unert1696   2006-09-07 20:31  

#35  See old but timely news on Wild Bill:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/12/5/153637.shtml?s=lh
Posted by: Snease Shaiting3550   2006-09-07 20:15  

#34  By David M. Bresnahan
© 1998 WorldNetDaily.com
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=16726

Clinton had tried to become an international hero by destroying hundreds of terrorists being trained by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and a chemical weapons plant in Sudan. Those two missile attacks were chosen through use of the SIOP computer to which Clinton has access, according to Tomlin.

The computer predicted the result of the attacks would bring about the death of hundreds of terrorist forces and eliminate a chemical weapons factory. Someone intervened to change the results, according to an intelligence source who spoke only on condition of anonymity.

Reports in European newspapers after the attacks by Clinton corroborate what that source claimed. "There were no dead terrorists, and the chemical weapons plant was an innocent pharmaceutical plant. Instead of being a hero, Clinton is an international laughing stock. The terrorists were tipped off and cleared the area. The real chemical weapons plant was two miles away. It was a combination of bad intelligence and purposeful intervention," said the source.

Clinton has been searching the SIOP system ever since the failure in an effort to find another opportunity to prove himself to the world and become the international hero he envisions for his legacy, according to the source. Tomlin agrees.--

Posted by: SwissTex   2006-09-07 19:51  

#33  That's true, NS.

"See the scenes the Clinton Administration didn't want you to see."
Posted by: Danking70   2006-09-07 19:35  

#32  ABC probably "caved" because Burglar told them "I never said X. If you put X in my mouth it will be with malice. and I will sue." and probably had a good case. So the insurance company and lawyers said take it out. And they did. And Burglar proably signed a release on the balance of the script.

But that will create even more publicity and audience.

And Rush will spend all Monday and Wednesday talking about the differences.

And there will be a DVD with the censored portions included that will sell very well, thank you.

The Clintonistas are PR deaf.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-09-07 19:17  

#31  Weenies, gutless weenies.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-09-07 18:09  

#30  Is ABC caving in?
Posted by: Dave D.   2006-09-07 18:01  

#29  Could be much more simple Dave D. They looked at reality, lost 'faith' in the leftist meme. or lost a loved ones to terrorism.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-09-07 15:56  

#28  "Have you guys noticed something? No one squealed about this series, they were blindsided."

Good point; I hadn't noticed that. I don't know what to make of it, though. Brain fart? Sabotaging Hillary? If so, on whose behalf? Quest for ratings? Genuine concern for the issues?

Whatever it is, they've strayed off the reservation. There's gonna be some red asses over this, guaranteed...

Posted by: Dave D.   2006-09-07 15:22  

#27  Well, we have this new MRI truth detector, why doesn't Slick Willy and the Bergler take a shot at it ? Could make an hour or so of fine TViewing.

I can see it now;
'Did you or any of your staff cover up any CIA failures ?'
'It depends on what failures means.'
'Answer yes or no dipshit.'
Posted by: wxjames   2006-09-07 11:53  

#26  ABC announces series 'postponement' in 5....4....3....2....1....
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-09-07 11:10  

#25  Â“Â…although ABC admits key scenes are dramatizations.”

All dramatizations of historical events of importance should have a disclaimer especially if the content is proven to be factually inaccurate or in dispute.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-09-07 11:08  

#24  The Liberal Prayer

Do as I say,
but not as I do
Freedom for me,
but none for you
Posted by: Texas Redneck   2006-09-07 11:00  

#23  Troll IP Finder®

131.191.58.12

"OrgName: City of Tacoma
OrgID: TACO
Address: 733 Market St #31
City: Tacoma
StateProv: WA
PostalCode: 98402
Country: US

NetRange: 131.191.0.0 - 131.191.255.255
CIDR: 131.191.0.0/16
NetName: TACOMA
NetHandle: NET-131-191-0-0-1
Parent: NET-131-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS1.CI.TACOMA.WA.US
NameServer: MAILGATE.CI.TACOMA.WA.US
Comment:
RegDate: 1989-01-04
Updated: 2001-12-06

RTechHandle: ZC91-ARIN
RTechName: City of Tacoma
RTechPhone: +1-253-502-2200
RTechEmail: hostmaster@ci.tacoma.wa.us

# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2006-09-06 19:55"
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2006-09-07 10:51  

#22  Troll IP Finder®
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2006-09-07 10:48  

#21  I remember that cause my (and hundreds of other) flights were delay for 2 hours that day. I figure that was a $10 million haircut.
Posted by: ed   2006-09-07 10:39  

#20  Bill delayed a civillian flight for an hour or so so that he gets his haircut on Ai Force One. That seems okay. When Bush flew low over New Orleans to view the hurricane's destruction, it was considered not correct.
Posted by: Duh!   2006-09-07 10:16  

#19  Have you guys noticed something?

No one squealed about this series, they were blindsided.

All this does is make people want to watch it more.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2006-09-07 10:06  

#18  Republicans are mercilessly attacked, smeared, lied about, slandered, demonized on an HOURLY basis by both the MSM and nearly every member of your party, Bill. You dirty hypocrite. You're not worth talking to.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-09-07 09:53  

#17  then they'll have to answer questions under oath

From a known perjurer ? Right. It all depends upon what the meaning of "is" is.
Posted by: Elmeamp Hupaque9699   2006-09-07 09:41  

#16  Cry us a river Clinton. We put up with your stupid propaganda for years. Now let some light in on the lies.

Looooooser.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-09-07 09:41  

#15  Who is he to demand anything?

Former Lord High God of the Democrats, of course.

Oh, you should read the letter quoted over at LGF. Lots of bitterness directed towards Disney. Now, I know the left loves to slander Walt himself (he resisted a communist-backed unionization drive; the animators were unionized, but not by a group connected with the CPUSA), but the bitterness seems to overflow in that letter.

That's it, Dems. Stake yourselves out as being in opposition to Walmart and Walt Disney.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2006-09-07 09:04  

#14  Just a yapping puppy from Starbucksistan. But since my back is hurting and I'm feeling cranky this morning, I had to kick something.
Posted by: Steve   2006-09-07 09:02  

#13  Oops. Somebody already did it!
Posted by: Dave D.   2006-09-07 08:59  

#12  "troll in asile #10."

Aisle Five, too. I could sinktrap this fool on grounds of stupidity, I suppose; but it wouldn't be worth the effort.
Posted by: Dave D.   2006-09-07 08:58  

#11  repeating the same tripe twice in a thread is not smart, it merely reaffirms the first impression
Posted by: Frank G   2006-09-07 08:50  

#10  Link to the official website here. Rush Limbaugh has seen the movie and says it's devastating to the Clinton administration.
Posted by: Steve   2006-09-07 08:47  

#9  troll in asile #10.
Posted by: RD   2006-09-07 08:42  

#8  It seems that these people act like CAIR or other minority group leaders. Do as I say but not as I do.
Posted by: SwissTex   2006-09-07 08:27  

#7  Finally we know what story Sandy Berger wanted to cover up.

Wait. Don't tell me there are other skeletons in the Clinton closets!
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever)   2006-09-07 08:21  

#6  What fragile people! Let there be a hint that 10% of the crap they fling about is coming back at them, and they squeal like stuck pigs. Almost as if they believe that they are on the verge of extinction.
Posted by: Ptah   2006-09-07 08:14  

#5  What did he say about that show 'Commander in Chief' eh? (Is that still on?)

And Clinton was distracted by Lewinsky and the whole Lewinsky scandal. That was *his* fault for not keeping his cigars in his pocket.

And don't forget that this man lied under oath.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-09-07 08:11  

#4  Who is he to demand anything? He is a private citizen now. He has been disbarred. The more he complains, the more the vewing audience shall be.

Looks like ABC is about to get ratings.
Posted by: newc   2006-09-07 07:53  

#3  Unaimble Glomoth4491 is me. I cleared out my cookies yesterday, and forgot to get another.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-09-07 07:19  

#2  Mr. Clinton is a lawyer. Let him sue for libel or slander or something, if he really means it. Ms. Albright and Mr. Berger can join in, too, if they are that upset. Of course, then they'll have to answer questions under oath, and the defendants will have the opportunity for discovery, and...

Maybe not sucha good idea after all.

Posted by: Unaimble Glomoth4491   2006-09-07 07:10  

#1  What did any of these folks say about Farhenheit 911?

Oh, that's right.

It was a 'documentary' without any disclaimers.
Posted by: Bobby   2006-09-07 06:36  

00:00