Path to 9/11: Causing the Clintonites to froth at the mouth

Let's first put to rest the rumor that ABC has re-filmed a scene in the mini-series called Path to 9/11 whereby Monica Lewinsky, in the revised piece, is seen leaving a Subway eating a Spicy Italian with extra-mayo, some of which has dripped on her little blue dress.

It's simply not true.

What is true however is that Monica's main squeeze is very upset about ABC's upcoming show:

President Clinton and a phalanx of Clintonistas from the old days have rolled out of the barracks and are putting up a fierce fight over a movie.

The complaint from the Clinton troops is that the movie "The Path to 9/11," which ABC will air this weekend, contains scenes that did not happen. Particularly, they complain about a scene in which CIA agents and Afghanis have bin Laden cornered and a character modeled after former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger won't give permission to capture or kill him.

Now 9/11 Commission co-chair Tom Kean says the scene is a composite of events which much the same things happened. Namely, the Clinton team did not pull the trigger on bin Laden when they had a chance... several chances in fact.

Former White House anti-terror chief Richard Clarke has made a career in retirement of blaming 9/11 on George Bush, while claiming he manfully tried to hunt bin Laden down until the last second of his government service.

In the reality check department, here's what Michael Scheuer, a 22-year veteran of the CIA and head of the agency's bin Laden unit, has to say, published today in The Washington Times:

"Mr. Clarke never mentions that President Bush had no chances to kill bin Laden before September 11 and leaves readers with the false impression that he, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Clinton's National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, did their best to end the bin Laden threat. That trio, in my view, abetted Al Qaeda."

Mr. Scheuer says the CIA gave Mr. Clarke and Mr. Clinton eight to ten shots at bin Laden — eight to ten times they had him in the crosshairs — and Clarke, Clinton, Berger et al never could pull the trigger.

Now comes word that ABC is bowing to the pressure being applied and is making changes:

...from the Ostroy Report:

The Ostroy Report has learned from a reliable source connected to ABC that an unnamed ABC executive said that former President Bill Clinton called Disney President and CEO Robert Iger this week to voice his anger and frustration over the network's plan to air a six-hour movie, "The Path to 9/11," on Sunday and Monday, and that Iger agreed to make certain changes requested by Clinton. According to this ABC source, the film is currently being edited. In seeking confirmation, our call to Iger's office went straight into voicemail. We will update our story if and when we hear from a Disney official. Disney is the parent company of ABC.

ABC succumbs to the pressure and bows at the altar of Clinton.

Interesting stuff.  Will you be watching?

UPDATE: Blue Crab Boulevard makes a most interesting comparison.