Found notes may show Bush plan on Clarke (Moonie UPI)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040331-112127-9812r

WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- The White House was worried about the damaging testimony of a former counter-terrorism chief to a commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks last week but was trying to let the issue die on its own, according to Pentagon briefing notes found at a Washington coffee shop.

"Stay inside the lines. We don't need to puff this (up). We need (to) be careful as hell about it," the handwritten notes say. "This thing will go away soon and what will keep it alive will be one of us going over the line."

The notes were written by Pentagon political appointee Eric Ruff who left them in a Starbucks coffee shop in Dupont Circle, not far from U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's home.

The notes are genuine, a Pentagon official said. They were compiled for an early morning briefing for Rumsfeld before the Sunday morning talk shows, during which administration officials conducted a flurry of interviews to counter the testimony of Richard Clarke, President George W. Bush's former terrorism czar who left the post in 2003. Rumsfeld appeared on Fox and ABC.

more

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Well, not exactly a shocking revelation...

Sort of common sense, but if its real it shows they are scared...which is nice.

[Fovea]

2. But perhaps it can raise the bar on the whole

competition to be the first out with the most behind the scenes stuff.
I am certain there are leakers. If the plumbers shoot themselves in the foot on the job, the leaks will multiply.

[TruthIsAll]

3. Another Rove scam. He has conveniently "dropped" notes/Cd rom's, etc...

There is a reason for this. It was planted to get Rove ahead of the curve and make it appear that he is being circumspect in going after Clarke.

Just another distraction.

[Stephanie]

4. I don't know

These guys are not geniuses. It's entirely plausible their intern or assistant or whatever would be an idiot.

[Must_B_Free]

5. Old Turd Blossom is out of tricks

how many times does he think he can pull the same stunt? Mr "Gap pants".

Lets do the old "Kerry bugged our headquarters" trick...

[Zinfandel]

6. I think they pretty much already put their plan into play for all to see

[VolcanoJen]

7. Add Eric to the "ABB" roll.

Eric is likely unemployed by now.

No more Starbucks for you, Eric!!! Learn to love Folgers....

[librechik]

8. that's some security they have over there in the Pentagon--

I wonder what else they thoughtlessly throw out?

Do ya think he did it on purpose?

check out this funny commentary on the incident:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37321-2004Mar30.html?nav=most_emailed_emailfriend

[Selwynn]

9. Notes are posted at the Center for American Progress, fwiw