Meaning: The quote you've provided is attributed to Sidney Blumenthal, a journalist and former aide to President Bill Clinton. In this quote, Blumenthal is highlighting the approach of the Bush Administration to the issue of terrorism, particularly in the context of how they perceived and handled it in the aftermath of the Clinton presidency.

During the presidency of George W. Bush, the United States experienced a significant shift in its approach to national security and counterterrorism. The Bush Administration came into power in 2001, just months before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which dramatically reshaped the government's priorities and policies.

Blumenthal's quote suggests that the Bush Administration initially viewed terrorism as a secondary issue, perhaps downplaying its significance in comparison to other policy areas. Furthermore, the reference to associating terrorism with the Clinton era indicates a perception that the issue was seen as a legacy of the previous administration rather than an urgent and immediate concern for the new administration to address.

This interpretation of the Bush Administration's attitude towards terrorism aligns with broader discussions and analyses of the period following 9/11. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the administration's focus was initially directed towards responding to the events themselves and pursuing military action in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime was harboring the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization responsible for the attacks.

However, there were criticisms and debates about the extent to which the Bush Administration prioritized and effectively addressed the broader, long-term challenges of counterterrorism and national security. Some critics argued that the administration's initial approach to terrorism was reactive and lacked a comprehensive strategic vision for confronting the evolving threats posed by terrorist groups.

The notion of terrorism being perceived as a "Clinton issue" reflects the partisan political context in which national security and foreign policy decisions were being made. The transition from the Clinton to the Bush Administration occurred against the backdrop of sharp political divisions, and the handling of terrorism became entangled with broader debates about the legacies of the two administrations and their respective approaches to global affairs.

In the years following the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Administration would go on to implement significant changes in national security and counterterrorism policy, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act. These actions reflected a heightened focus on preventing future attacks and disrupting terrorist networks, and they represented a departure from the initial perception of terrorism as a secondary issue.

Overall, Sidney Blumenthal's quote encapsulates a particular perspective on the early response of the Bush Administration to the challenge of terrorism. It highlights the complexities and political dynamics that shaped the government's approach to national security in the wake of a transformative and tragic event, offering insight into the historical and ideological context of post-9/11 policymaking.

In conclusion, the quote serves as a reminder of the intricate interplay between political narratives, policy priorities, and the evolving threats facing the United States in the aftermath of 9/11. It prompts us to consider how different administrations have approached the issue of terrorism and how these approaches have been shaped by broader political and historical currents.