Freeh Continues Criticism of Clinton Terror Record

On the Khobar Towers investigation, Mr. Freeh asserted that when evidence was developed linking Iran to the attack, the Clinton administration appeared uninterested. He said the initial response of Mr. Clinton's national security adviser, Samuel R. Berger, was, "Who knows about this?" followed by a dismissive assessment of the evidence as "Well, that's hearsay"....Once an Iranian link emerged, Mr. Freeh maintained, the Clinton administration handled it poorly. "Talk about ineptness and compromising an investigation," he said. "The president of the United States writes a letter to the Iranian president in 1999, a letter that says: 'We think you may be involved in the murder of our 19 Americans at Khobar. Please help us or you won't get better trade assistance or foreign relations by the United States.' They never told me they were writing that letter."

He said that while the letter was supposed to have gone to President Mohammed Khatami, "it was misdelivered."

"It was delivered to the spiritual leader, who went berserk," Mr. Freeh said. "It compromised the Saudis, because it was clear from the letter that the Saudis had told us about the Iranians."

Citing the striking differences in the versions of events told by Mr. Freeh and Mr. Clinton and his supporters, Mr. Russert asked Mr. Freeh if he would be willing to debate Mr. Berger on his program.

Mr. Freeh replied, "Absolutely."

Mr. Berger could not be reached for comment.