Pointing a finger at former President Bill Clinton for terrorism for the first time, using the word "mistake," helps the former mayor eclipse his own clear doubts about Bush administration policies before Republicans -- but differs in emphasis from what the shrewd candidate said last year as recounted by the Associated Press:
"Last September, Giuliani defended Clinton's record amid political bickering over which president - Clinton or George W. Bush - missed more opportunities to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don't think he deserves it," Giuliani said during a stop in Florida. "I don't think President Bush deserves it. The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists - the Islamic fanatics - who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it."
Dan Janison