Why would Bush ignore Clarke and every other serious anti-terror expert after taking office? Today Clarke talked about how hard it was to get a measly couple hundred thousand to fund the armed predator overflights in Afghanistan.
Why would we cheapskate it? Remember, Ashcroft turned down hiring more anti-terror agents right before 9/11?
Easy. The old heavy-iron cold war stuff like Missile Defense have big, fat government contracts that can be given to contributors.
Paying $100,000 to a undercover mole in Kandahar doesn't grease anybody's palm but the mole's.
Thanks for the priorities, President Thumb-up-your-Butt.