WASHINGTON, March 23 (UPI) -- The Senate's leading Democrat called Tuesday for an investigation into allegations the Bush administration didn't take al-Qaida seriously before Sept. 11.
The charge was leveled by a former White House counter-terrorism coordinator in a personal memoir attacking the administration of President George W. Bush and its handling of homeland security and the war on terrorism.
"We think these charges ought to be investigated," Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota said. "We think there ought to be a very thorough review of these allegations."
Daschle's call came as the White House again insisted charges made by Richard Clarke, who resigned in January 2003, were untrue, politically motivated and self-serving.
Spokesman Scott McClellan produced a portion of Clarke's resignation letter to Bush, in which he praised the president.
McClellan said the letter undercut Clarke's assertion he disagreed and disapproved of Bush's actions on terrorism.
