A forged letter linking Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks was ordered on White House stationery and probably came from the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a new transcript of a conversation with the Central Intelligence Agency’s former Deputy Chief of Clandestine Operations Robert Richer. Suskind’s new book asserts that senior Bush officials ordered the CIA to forge a document “proving” that Saddam Hussein had been trying to manufacture nuclear weapons and was collaborating with al Qaeda. The alleged result was a faked memorandum from then chief of Saddam’s intelligence service Tahir Jalil Habbush dated July 1, 2001, and written to Hussein.
The bogus memo claimed that 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta had received training in Baghdad but also discussed the arrival of a “shipment” from Niger, which the Administration claimed had supplied Iraq with yellowcake uranium — based on yet another forged document whose source remains uncertain.
“To characterize it right,” Richer also declares in the transcript, “I would say, right: it came to us, George had a raised eyebrow, and basically we passed it on–it was to–and passed this on into the organization. You know, it was: ‘Okay, we gotta do this, but make it go away.’ To be honest with you, I don’t want to make it sound–I for sure don’t want to portray this as George jumping: ‘Okay, this has gotta happen.’ As I remember it–and, again, it’s still vague, so I’ll be very straight with you on this–is it wasn’t that important. It was: ‘This is unbelievable. This is just like all the other garbage we get about . . . I mean Mohammad Atta and links to al Qaeda. ‘Rob,’ you know, ‘do something with this.’ I think it was more like that than: ‘Get this done.’”
The memo subsequently was treated as fact by the British Sunday Telegraph, and cited by William Safire in his New York Times column, providing fodder for Bush’s efforts to take the US to war. Suskind posted the transcript at his blog, saying, “This posting is contrary to my practice across 25 years as a journalist. But the issues, in this matter, are simply too important to stand as discredited in any way.”
Now, back to the Olympics.
Rather #18 instead of #17.
#17, CZ,
what ever happened to inocent untill proven guilty?
A concept the Republicans have done away with.
#21 – Fuser
Yeah, now we just toss their ass in Gitmo, or send ‘em out for extreme rendition.
I hope President Cheney gets a taste of his own medicine.
#15 – Mister Mustard’s brain on drugs
Quality post. Thanks for sharing. Steam thanks you too.
#19, CZ,
Because I disagree with you, I’m throwing BS?
No. I claim you are throwing bullshit because that is exactly what you did. Here is a claim from a reputable, investigative reporter that claims Cheney ordered a devious fraud. Your response is to downplay that and turn the topic by saying they all do it. They all don’t break the law.
Also, see my last point.
But in reality they are different sides of the same coin. If you take an objective look at both parties (and some of the minor parties as well.) you will find criminal acts that have been thoroughly prosecuted and punished.
More FUD. If you take an objective look at ANY group you will find criminal activity. Red Cross, Catholic Church, Evangelical churches, Wing nut universities, whomever, the greater the power the position holds, the greater the potential for criminal acts. The position does not need to be political.
Having said that, over the past few years there have been far more Republicans charged with Felony crimes than have Democrats.
I am only saying that if there were, as stated in this and many other blog entries, true proof of criminal acts they would be put in jail.
What hole in the sand has your head been in ??? The White House has blocked every attempt to investigate these crimes. Even though there is proof of illegalities, the Justice Department won’t prosecute because of White House interference.
Dan Rather was a credited journalist who produced fake news, BTW.
What the fuck has that to do with anything ??? Oh ya, just more FUD because his “story” was about the President. Well guess what. There are no records he completed his service. That means he didn’t complete his service. Rather is correct and has not been disproved.
This is the wing nut attitude of throwing bullshit and hoping it sticks. All you really wanted to do is turn the attention from the damage being done to your boy.
#23, Mustard,
While I understand your sentiments, I don’t agree. Bush, Cheney, and company are common criminals and should be treated as such. The refusal of a fair trial for detainees is their crime, not their punishment.
During the Nuremberg trials of former Nazis, Herman Goering wanted to be executed, as a soldier, by firing squad. The court said no. His crimes were criminal, his punishment would be accordingly and he was to be hung.
Remember, when we stoop to their level, we become no better than them. But having said that, it would be nice. Can you picture Cheney trying to convince someone he deserved to die wrapped in the American flag?
#26 – Fusion
OK, I could agree with that. I just hope that President Cheney and his puppet are held accountable for their transgressions.
#20 CZen wrote, “I am only saying that if there were, as stated in this and many other blog entries, true proof of criminal acts they would be put in jail.”
One of the very few acts that is undisputably criminal for a sitting President is lying under oath (not just any old form of lying). Bush deftly sidestepped this possibility when he agreed to talk to the 9-11 Commission only under the conditions that he would not be under oath to tell the truth, no transcript or recording would be made, and his trusty Vice-President would be at his side (separate interviews could show dangerous contradictions).
Not knowing the questions in advance, he may not have gone into the interview intending to lie in his responses, but he certainly didn’t want to preclude that possibility, and he especially didn’t want any such lying to constitute an impeachable offense.
The biggest problem with prosecuting Bush’s lies is that he has never been under oath. Nonetheless, knowingly raising a false case for war and deceiving many Americans leaves Bush’s hands drenched with the blood of the innocent.
Food for thought:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares
and reportedly never broadcast in the USA!
[Violation of Posting Guidelines]
>> enuf_is_enuf said,
>> Pres. Bush is in charge. Nothing that Cheney or anyone else did could happen without his approval – either formally, or with a wink.
Have you been following this presidency at all?
There has been book-after-book describing how out-of-touch Bush as been with the workings of his administration.
Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Tenet, Wolfowitz, Pearl, Gonzales, Feith – all need to be put on the stand for treason. The list of crimes are too long to post here…
Journalist Seymour Hersh stated that Cheney wanted to build and paint up boats that looked like Iranian PT boats. Then put Navy seals on them with a lot of arms. And next time one of our boats goes to the Straits of Hormuz, start a shoot-up. What were the other 10 plans Cheney cooked up to get us into a war with Iran that were NOT told?
We are ruled by criminal nutcases.
#28, Gary,
Not quite.
Misleading Congress is at least impeachable. It is also a criminal exercise as Contempt of Congress.
Contempt of Congress is not pardonable by the President.
#30, Lou
Horse shit? Nice ad hominem attack, but do you have any comment to disprove or rebut it?
Bush is the worst president in American history. Bush facilitated the 9/11 attacks. Subsequently, Bush lied to Congress and the American people relative to the reasons for invading Iraq. Bush purposefully misled Congress and the American people. Then, Bush murdered more than 4,000 United States service members. And Bush wounded more than 30,000 United States service members. In torturing prisoners of war, Bush patently violated the Geneva Convention. Bush unlawfully wiretapped United States citizens. In using “signing statements” to challenge hundreds of laws passed by Congress, Bush violated the Constitution. Bush has ignored global warming. Bush is guilty of criminal negligence relative to the response to Hurricane Katrina. Bush disobeys our democratic values and Constitution. Bush is a disgrace to the United States.
Furthermore, Ron Suskind has revealed that Bush directed the forgery of a letter connecting Iraq to the 9/11 attacks. Bush is beyond help.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA