C.D. HARRIS ON RICHARD CLARKE AND HIS DEFENDERS:

Let no man say that Josh Marshall is not a master craftsman of the art of spin.

Not even Marshall’s considerable talents, however, can save Clarke and his book from the fact that the transcript completely and utterly contradicts what he’s saying now. As such, it is anything but an ‘attack on Clarke’s character.’ It is proof – dispositive proof, from the man’s own mouth – that his recent accusations are patently false. “The best they can do”? Indeed.

Read the whole thing.

UPDATE: Roll Call notes that more people are questioning Clarke’s truthfulness. Here’s an excerpt that’s not on the free page:

House Intelligence Chairman Porter Goss (R-Fla.) said Wednesday that former White House anti-terror czar Richard Clarke, the author of a new book critical of President Bush’s handling of the al Qaeda threat before Sept. 11, 2001, may have lied in testimony to his committee, and said he plans to explore whether Congressional action on the matter is warranted.

Clarke’s “testimony to our committee is 180 degrees out of line with what he is saying in his book,” Goss said. “He’s either lying in his book or he lied to our committee. It’s one or the other.”

Yes, a number of us have been pointing this out.