WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- The White House accused former counter-terrorism coordinator Richard Clarke Wednesday of revisionist history in allegations about Iraq after Sept. 11, 2001.
Clarke's assertion in his book "Against All Enemies" and in interviews that Bush ordered the Pentagon to draw up Iraq invasion plans just days after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington were incorrect, the White House said.
Clarke said the directive was given Sept. 17 at a meeting in which the administration said the focus was military action against Afghanistan and its Taliban masters and al-Qaida allies.
"The facts contradict the cornerstone of Mr. Clarke's assertions," spokesman Scott McClellan said.
McClellan said Iraq only came into play in necessary contingency planning in case Baghdad, which was shooting at U.S. aircraft enforcing no fly zones, attempted to exploit or interfere with action against Afghanistan.
No order was given to draw up Iraq invasion plans, McClellen said.
Clarke has charged that President George W. Bush failed to adequately counter terrorist threats to the United States before the al-Qaida attacks and then myopically focused on Iraq after them.
Clarke's allegations, the White House said, are politically motivated.
