# It Begins: Clarke goes public with allegations of terror mishandling **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681 "2004-03-22T04:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/221 "2004-04-12T23:00:57Z")
> [@](#): > > According to a former customs agent who was involved, Clarke’s version, laid out in one chapter of his book, wrongly implies they were on “heightened alert” and somehow looking for terrorists. **blowero** what this statement say is that Clarke’s book says (or implies) that the agents were on heightened alert by his directive (and therefore he is responsible for foiling Millenium), which according to them is not true. **rjung** , I have better things to do than search for items to discredit Clarke. He does a good enough job of it on his own. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/222 "2004-04-12T23:21:41Z")
How fortunate for you, friend **Flickster**. In that case, you will have no difficulty coming up with more substantial instances of Clarke’s mendacity. There is no reason for you to go so easy on him, we are all grown-ups here, you can go ahead and release the full force of your prosecution. In this instance, Mr. Clarke seems to have indulged himself in some _post hoc_ wishful thinking, he seems to have assumed that the happy result of the terrorist’s interception was directly related to this warning. This, it appears, may not be the case, and Mr. Clarke may be guilty of blowing his own horn. I doubt anyone who saw any of Mr. Clarke’s various testimonies imagine that he is unassertive and shy. I am not shocked. Perhaps you are just warming up? ---
**Author:** ![rkts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@rkts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rkts)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/223 "2004-04-12T23:21:49Z")
> [@](#): > > blowero what this statement say is that Clarke’s book says (or implies) that the agents were on heightened alert by his directive (and therefore he is responsible for foiling Millenium), which according to them is not true. I don’t see that in what is quoted. I see: a) that a warning was sent to law-enforcement agencies (not that it was acted upon); and b) that Ressam was caught during (in Clarke’s own words) a “ **routine** screening,” i.e., one that would have happened with or without the warning. I don’t see any connection between the two, stated or implied. There may be one in the book, but it isn’t in the article. Feel free to quote the book if you think it does make such a claim. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/224 "2004-04-13T00:02:13Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > I have better things to do than search for items to discredit **RICE**. [B}S\*\*He does a good enough job of it on **HER** own. Fixed that for ya. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/225 "2004-04-13T03:16:17Z")
**rjung, if you are going to quote my words, then quote them intact.** ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/226 "2004-04-13T04:21:13Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] rjung, you KNOW you can’t misquote people, even jokingly. Don’t do it. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/227 "2004-04-13T05:47:21Z")
I thought it was rather obvious that thouse _weren’t_ his original words, but okay. (Would make things easier if there was a “strikethrough” formatting option, though) ---
**Author:** ![rkts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@rkts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rkts)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/228 "2004-04-13T06:59:51Z")
Is that a new rule? Because I’ve seen people do that numerous times on these boards but this is the first time I’ve seen someone be admonished for it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/229 "2004-04-13T14:41:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > In this instance, Mr. Clarke seems to have indulged himself in some _post hoc_ wishful thinking, he seems to have assumed that the happy result of the terrorist’s interception was directly related to this warning. This, it appears, may not be the case, and Mr. Clarke may be guilty of blowing his own horn No need to give in entirely. A few relevant proverbs: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” “Luck is the residue of design.” “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” To whatever extent that Clarke helped make the people on the ground aware of the possibilities, he’s entitled to take a bit of credit for it. Hell, even massive police investigations of ordinary crimes usually seem to turn on what might seem in isolation to be lucky breaks, but those bits of luck are prepared for by the intensity of the work. And, when the mind is unprepared, chance does not favor it. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681/230 "2004-04-13T15:08:26Z")
> [@rkts](#): > > Is that [misquoting] a new rule? > > Because I’ve seen people do that numerous times on these boards but this is the first time I’ve seen someone be admonished for it. > [bracketed word added by me! Me! I admit it!] Nope. From the ATMB sticky [FAQ - guidelines for posting at the SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=106617) > [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > **misquoting** > > Falsely attributing a quote to another user, or modifying another’s post in order to cast him/her in a bad light, even if meant in jest, is grounds for revocation of your posting privileges. This does not apply to parodies to which no name is attached. > > Be aware that for legal reasons we do not edit posts, except to rectify coding errors or remove unacceptable links - changes that do not require editorial judgment on our part. We will delete offensive posts on request if we feel deletion is warranted, or delete the thread if removal of the offending post would render the thread meaningless. > > We appreciate your cooperation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-begins-clarke-goes-public-with-allegations-of-terror-mishandling/235681.md?page=11)