Clarke Ignites Debate Over Sept. 11

By Liane Hansen

Published March 27, 2004 at 11:00 PM CST

Former counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke's assertions that the Bush administration downplayed the threat presented by al Qaeda before Sept. 11, 2001, spark debate over national security. Critics of Clarke, who testified this week before the Sept. 11 panel in Washington, say he is merely promoting his book, Against All Enemies. Hear NPR's Liane Hansen and Dana Milbank of The Washington Post.

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Liane Hansen

Liane Hansen has been the host of NPR's award-winning Weekend Edition Sunday for 20 years. She brings to her position an extensive background in broadcast journalism, including work as a radio producer, reporter, and on-air host at both the local and national level. The program has covered such breaking news stories as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Columbia shuttle tragedy. In 2004, Liane was granted an exclusive interview with former weapons inspector David Kay prior to his report on the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The show also won the James Beard award for best radio program on food for a report on SPAM.