Claim vs. Fact: Administration Officials Respond to Richard Clarke Interview.

The Center for American Progress has compiled a response to the White House's attempted character assasination of Richard Clarke. This White House and those who carry its water continually refuse to engage on the issues. Their first instinct is always to destroy the messenger rather than the message. Once they've weakened their prey, then perhaps they respond to the issues at hand.

We've seen this repeatedly over the past few years when dealing with criticism from former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

There's another good article by Fred Kaplan at Slate explaining why Clarke has been effective in his message. The Bush Administration is deeply worried about the impact of these recent events, because their integrity on the issue of fighting terrorism is vanishing.