Richard Clarke goes there, suggesting GOP national security assaults on Obama are designed to position Republicans for political gain in event of terror attack.

GOP terror attack machine: Criticism of Obama is irrational, irresponsible and painfully partisan

BY Richard Clarke

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/0...


.........

It has been hard to escape the conclusion that the goal of these critics is to discredit the President's handling of terrorism for political advantage, whether or not the administration is actually doing a good job. Indeed, they seem to be posturing themselves simply so that if there is a successful terrorist attack on America, they can say "I told you Obama doesn't know how to fight Al Qaeda."

....................

• Cassandra calls from Republicans apparently helped convince Mayor Bloomberg to fear holding a terrorist trial in Manhattan, and that trial now looks like it will be moved elsewhere. But there were numerous Al Qaeda trials in Manhattan when Rudy Giuliani was mayor and the world did not end. Yes, Manhattan will become a target of Al Qaeda if a trial takes place there. But it already is target No. 1 for Al Qaeda; it can't get any more so.

The evidence is clear that the GOP talking point machine, repeated by Fox television commentators and others, does not bother to learn the facts about terrorism before they leap to attacking the party in power's handling of the issue. They are wrong on the facts and they are wrong morally to attempt to make political gain on the damage inflicted by terrorism.

There may well be another successful terrorist attack in the U.S. someday soon. No system can stop all of the attempts all of the time; ask Israel. When and if that attack does come, let us hope the American people will reject any attempt to make it a partisan issue. It is not conduct worthy of real patriots.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/0...