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Argues that, contrary to the recent claims of former counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke, the administration of U.S. president George W. Bush has legitimate excuses for failing to prevent the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the war against Iraq will help stem future terrorist activities. Details of Clarke's criticisms of the Bush administration; Claim that the Bush administration had developed a counterterrorism strategy prior to September 11; Argument that neither Bush nor Bill Clinton would have been allowed to take military action against Afghanistan or Iraq prior to September 11; Discussion of whether the attacks could have been predicted; Argument that Bush's decision to take pre-emptive action against Iraq was a key step in the effort to stop weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists; Report that CIA director George Tenet has claimed that the U.S. has taken out as much as two thirds of Al Qaeda leadership.

Discusses former anti-terrorism adviser Richard A. Clarke's case against the Bush administration concerning the global war on terror. Highlights from interviews on "60 Minutes"; Failure of the U.S. to mobilize against terror before September 11th; Concern of Clarke about the focus placed on Iraq instead of al-Qaeda; Comments on weapons of mass destruction; Suggestion by Clarke that the U.S. enterprise in Iraq is equivalent to indifference to the greater threat of al-Qaeda.