Jeb Bush: Bill Clinton Made ‘Mistake’ In Approach To Osama Bin Laden

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

After repeatedly defending his brother, President George W. Bush, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) took an opportunity on Monday night to criticize how former President Bill Clinton addressed Osama bin Laden and the threat posed by al Qaeda.

On Fox News Monday night, Sean Hannity played an audio clip for Bush in which Clinton discussed that the U.S. could not take bin Laden when he was released by the Sudanese government in 1996 because bin Laden had not committed a crime against America, although he had made his intentions known.

Hannity said that the Sudanese “offered Bin Laden on a silver platter.” As the Washington Post noted, the commission formed to investigate the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks could not confirm that the Sudanese offered bin Laden to the U.S. government.

“If Bill Clinton knew he wanted to commit crimes against America and was offered him and he didn’t take him, isn’t that in and of itself a legal basis to take the guy?” Hannity asked Bush, referencing bin Laden.

“I think there’s two ways to look at Islamic terrorism,” Bush said in response. “One is a threat that has to be taken out as it relates to, you know, creating a strategy that calls it a war, or we view is as a law enforcement operation where people have rights. I think the Clinton administration made a mistake of thinking bin Laden had to be viewed from a law enforcement perspective.”

“Similarly, President Obama’s policy seemed to be focused on that as well. This is a war against Western civilization,” Bush continued.

Hannity also asked Bush about Donald Trump, who has recently suggested George W. Bush is partially responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Trump’s remarks have prompted Jeb Bush to fiercely defend his brother.

“His view of history is just wrong,” Bush told Hannity, referencing Trump. “The simple fact is that when we were attacked, my brother created an environment where for 2,600 days we were safe. No one attacked us again. And he changed the laws, he did everything necessary, united the country and he kept us safe.”

Watch the “Hannity” interview via Fox News:

H/t Washington Post

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: