Beyond Wilkerson’s Remark on Cheney as a War Criminal
The Nation – David Corn
WASHINGTON (2 hours ago) — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s chief of staff says President Bush was “too aloof, too distant from the details” of post-war planning, allowing underlings to exploit Bush’s detachment and make bad decisions.
In an Associated Press interview Monday, former Powell chief of staff Lawrence Wilkerson also said that wrongheaded ideas for the handling of foreign detainees after Sept. 11 arose from a coterie of White House and Pentagon aides who argued that “the president of the United States is all-powerful”, and that the Geneva Conventions were irrelevant.
Wilkerson blamed Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and like-minded aides. Wilkerson said that Cheney must have sincerely believed that Iraq could be a spawning ground for new terror assaults, because “otherwise I have to declare him a moron, an idiot or a nefarious bastard.”
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He said Powell now generally believes it was a good idea to remove Saddam Hussein from power, but may not agree with either the timing or execution of the war. Wilkerson said Powell may have had doubts about the extent of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein but was convinced by then- CIA Director George Tenet and others that the intelligence girding the push toward war was sound.
Powell was widely regarded as a dove to Cheney and Rumsfeld’s hawks, but he made a forceful case for war before the U.N. Security Council in February 2003, a month before the invasion. At one point, he said Saddam possessed mobile labs to make weapons of mass destruction that were never found.
Wilkerson criticized the CIA and other agencies for allowing mishandled and bogus information to underpin that speech and the whole administration case for war.
He said he has almost, but not quite, concluded that Cheney and others in the administration deliberately ignored evidence of bad intelligence and looked only at what supported their case for war.
A newly declassified Defense Intelligence Agency document from February 2002 said that an al-Qaida military instructor was probably misleading his interrogators about training that the terror group’s members received from Iraq on chemical, biological and radiological weapons. Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi reportedly recanted his statements in January 2004.
A presidential intelligence commission also dissected how spy agencies handled an Iraqi refugee who was a German intelligence source. Codenamed Curveball, this man who was a leading source on Iraq’s purported mobile biological weapons labs was found to be a fabricator and alcoholic.
Beyond Wilkerson’s Remark on Cheney as a War Criminal
The Nation – David Corn
Larry Wilkerson, who was chief of staff to Colin Powell at the State department, is in the news again. He first made headlines several weeks ago by accusing Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld of running a “cabal” that seized control of national security decision-making in the Bush administration prior to the Iraq war. This Tuesday, he’s in the news for blasting Cheney for pushing for an anything-goes policy when it comes to detainees held by US forces. Asked during a BBC interview if he believes Cheney is guilty of war crimes for shoving aside the Geneva accords and pushing for harsh treatment (perhaps torture) of detainees, Wilkerson replied,
Well, that’s an interesting question. It was certainly a domestic crime to advocate terror and I would suspect that it is–for whatever it’s worth–an international crime as well.
That’s some statement from a former Bush administration official. As might be expected, news outfits, bloggers and websites are having a field day with this. But you should read the entire interview, for Wilkerson makes several points that are less melodramatic but as, if not more, important.
For instance, he attacks the White House for its recklessly negligent handling of the post-invasion planning for Iraq. This was a criminal–at least in policy terms–act for which Bush and his crowd have escaped accountability. (See what happens when Congress is controlled by the party of the president?)
How Bush botched the post-invasion period should have been a bigger issue in the 2004 elections. It wasn’t. But it’s still not too late to complain and point an accusing finger. Wilkerson told the BBC,
The post-invasion planning for Iraq was handled, in my opinion, in this alternative decision-making process which, in this case, constituted the vice-president and the secretary of defence and certain people in the defence department who did the “post invasion planning”, which was as inept and incompetent as perhaps any planning anyone has ever done.
It consisted of largely sending Jay Garner and his organisation to sit in Kuwait until the military forces had moved into Baghdad …
BREAKING NEWS
Hariri Killing – Chief Witness Retracts Accusation
Where are the screaming headlines in the U.S. Media ::
U.N. Report based on false witness account
SYRIA POSSIBLY INNOCENT IN HARIRI MURDER!
«« click on pic for BBC story »»
Syrian witness Hassam Taher Hassam
speaks during a press conference with
Ibrahim Draji, spokesman of... AFP Photo
Folks should appreciate Soj’s analysis of UN Detlev Mehlis Report.
≈ Cross-posted as diary @EuroTrib ::
Hariri Killing – Chief Witness in Lebanon Retracts Accusation ≈
See also my earlier diary –
Hariri Assassination By Suicide Truck Bomb ¶ Mitsubishi Stolen in Japan
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
I’m really torn; it’s a tough call:
Is Cheney “a moron, an idiot or a nefarious bastard”?
I think I may have to add, “or all of the above” and choose that as my answer.
My question is, if Wilkerson is Powell’s designated hit man, why is Poweel still hiding? Why isn’t he coming forward?
Amazing that I once thought he was a patriot.
Me too, Steven. I have met Powell. I was very impressed to his heart on things. Anyhow, all I seemed to hear from him was “I serve at the pleasure of the president” Well, he sold out, plain and simple! He sold his soul to the devil this time. Powell broke my heart over this and he is not just like the rest of them. NO matter that now Wilkerson is out speaking the truth. They should have done that early on. They chose Powell to go to the UN for he was the only respectable person in the administration to do it and they knew it. Powell was used like a pawn that he was. Such a shame too.
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Beyond Wilkerson’s Remark on Cheney as a War Criminal
The Nation – David Corn
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY
The depth of support for torture varies according to the questions asked. In the Newsweek poll, a total of 62% said torture is either often (17%), sometimes (27%) or rarely (18%) justified; 33% said it never is. But in the same poll, 57% of respondents say they wouldn’t support the US use of torture if it made the torture of Americans more likely, a proposition that seems to be if not a slam dunk, at least more probable than not.
http://www.btcnews.com/btcnews/1161
We need to rescue the framing of this issue. It seems as if in our 24-induced environment, too many people are imagining that torture is occurring when a known terrorist, who absolutely knows about an impending terror plot, is tortured to produce that information. That aint what’s happening, not by a longshot. This information needs to be explained to the public.
Another interesting facet of this polling: that Americans would not support torture if Americans would in turn be tortured. It seems quite ridiculous to imagine that the abandonment of the Geneva convention would not cause reciprocal atrocities visited upon our servicepeople. I have to say: what the hell are people thinking?
Thinking? You give them too much credit.
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Picked up some bits of a report on BBC radio, first impression they were speaking of Colin Powell, so I searched for the story but found Lawrence Wilkerson.
I’m afraid Colin Powell’s ties with the Bush Cabal are too strong, or he fears demotion and his pension rights, poor soul.
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
The depth of support for torture varies according to the questions asked. In the Newsweek poll, a total of 62% said torture is either often (17%), sometimes (27%) or rarely (18%) justified; 33% said it never is. But in the same poll, 57% of respondents say they wouldn’t support the US use of torture if it made the torture of Americans more likely, a proposition that seems to be if not a slam dunk, at least more probable than not.
http://www.btcnews.com/btcnews/1161
I lost complete respect for Powell during the 2000 recount when he was trotted out at Bush’s “ranch” to assure all the “moderates” that Bush would have a good cabinet and to just stop the madness of “one person, one vote”.
Everything since then has been predictable for me.
and about his insistence that loyalty to one’s employer or leader is a high virtue. It seems that he has never understood that this “virtue” crosses the line into just plain selling out and can turn the most earnest person into a robot or tool of the evil. My “done with Powell” moment was his presentation in front of the UN Security Council. That’s when it became clear that this was a man willing to subordinate basic ideas of honesty, integrity, and respect to his allegiance with crooks. He will never be able to rehabilitate his image or legacy. Another casualty of the Bush Crime Family.
So good to see you here my friend, I hope you stop by more often! 😉
Why isn’t he coming forward?
Powell is too busy with speaking engagements for the Carlyle Group, playing squash with Bandar Bush, and doing anything else he can to avoid getting his fingerprints all over this scandal. It is just another Iran-Contra affair OR My Lai massacre to him.
He will try and shrug this scandal off leaving himself with as few scars as possible. (IE: lying to the UN)
Why?
Because that is the most profitable thing to do. He is just another “political-businessman” to me. He sold out years ago.
Wilkerson seems to have come forward on his own. Powell’s still playing the loyal soldier. At least publicly — who knows what he’s said to Fitzgerald.
Asked about Powell by Amy Goodman in an interview last week, Wilkerson replied:
COL. LAWRENCE WILKERSON: That’s a question that would better be asked of him. This has been very painful for me, because we have been friends for 16 years. I joined him in 1989 at the U.S. Army Forces Command in Atlanta, Georgia, and we have been together ever since pretty much. And this has forced an estrangement, I’ll be very honest about it. I would prefer to let him comment, prefer to let you ask him how he feels about it.
Just a reminder that as the Iraq debacle continues unabated, the US has been intimately involved in another instance of regime change. Under the direction of US Ambassador Thomas Foley and accompanied by armed US troops, the democratically elected leader of Haiti, President Aristide, was escorted out of the country. Things aren’t exactly going too well
When Amy Goodman asked him about Powell & the State Deptartment’s role in the coup, he suggested that, just as with the Iraq policy decisions, Powell was once again sidelined. See Amy Goodman, Col. Wilkerson & Maxine Waters on Haiti — Powell Sidelined Again? for more.
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Another Breaking News story —
Where are the screaming headlines in the U.S. Media ::
U.N. Report based on false witness account
SYRIA POSSIBLY INNOCENT IN HARIRI MURDER!
«« click on pic for BBC story »»
Syrian witness Hassam Taher Hassamspeaks during a press conference with
Ibrahim Draji, spokesman of... AFP Photo
Folks should appreciate Soj’s analysis of UN Detlev Mehlis Report.
See also my diary –
Hariri Assassination By Suicide Truck Bomb ¶ Mitsubishi Stolen in Japan
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY
.
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Intrigue deepened over the CIA leak scandal clouding the White House, after TIME magazine revealed special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald had demanded testimony from another of its reporters.
The revelation seemed to indicate Fitzgerald was still aggresively probing Rove, President George W. Bush’s closest political aide, a scenario sure to dent White House’s hopes for a swift end to the damaging affair.
TIME magazine said Sunday that Washington correspondent Viveca Novak would testify under oath about her conversations with Robert Luskin, lawyer for White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair was 'double crossed' by aides to US President George W. Bush who pushed for war in Iraq, Joseph Wilson, the former US diplomat in the eye of the CIA-leak storm said in a BBC radio interview. AFP/File/Brendan SmialowskiThe Post meanwhile reported that Valerie Plame would retire from the CIA, where she has been recently working on non-covert matters, on December 9.
Joseph Wilson to Speak at CSUMB
Joseph Wilson, former U.S. diplomat and husband of exposed CIA agent Valerie Plame, will discuss his book “The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed my Wife’s CIA Identity” on Dec. 6 at California State University, Monterey Bay.
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY
Qui, as always, fantastic post…hope you don’t mind if i ask.. on the European side of the pond what’s your impression on the collective wisdom about that oil thingy related to the Iraqi constitution and negotiations with multi-nationals to allow for substantial foreign control of Iraq’s oil? Re: the latter: This Belfast Telegraph article is a reprint of and article published in the Independent by Philip Thornton on November 22nd
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=670335
At least European press is reporting on this….
For a bit more apologist coverage from Reuters check this out: Reuters 11 22:
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2005-11-22T200545Z_0
1_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-224634-1.xml&archived=False
includes this <snip>
“In order to make major quantum increases in oil, we need to have production-sharing agreements,” Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi said recently”