Tape: Top CIA Official Confesses To 9/11-Iraq War Forgery Came From White House
By Nicole Belle Friday Aug 08, 2008 11:00am
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.
The transcript was posted Friday by author Ron Suskind of an interview conducted in June. It comes on the heels of denials by both the White House and Richer of a claim Suskind made in his new book, The Way of The World. The book was leaked to Politico's Mike Allen on Monday, and released Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the White House released a statement on Richer's behalf. In it, Richer declared, "I never received direction from George Tenet or anyone else in my chain of command to fabricate a document ... as outlined in Mr. Suskind's book."
The denial, however, directly contradicts Richer's own remarks in the transcript.
"Now this is from the Vice President's Office is how you remembered it--not from the president?" Suskind asked.
"No, no, no," Richer replied, according to the transcript. "What I remember is George [Tenet] saying, 'we got this from'--basically, from what George said was 'downtown.'"
"Which is the White House?" Suskind asked.
"Yes," Richer said. "But he did not--in my memory--never said president, vice president, or NSC. Okay? But now--he may have hinted--just by the way he said it, it would have--cause almost all that stuff came from one place only: Scooter Libby and the shop around the vice president."
"But he didn't say that specifically," Richer added. "I would naturally--I would probably stand on my, basically, my reputation and say it came from the vice president."
"But there wasn't anything in the writing that you remember saying the vice president," Suskind continued.
"Nope," Richer said.
"It just had the White House stationery."
"Exactly right."
Later, Richer added, "You know, if you've ever seen the vice president's stationery, it's on the White House letterhead. It may have said OVP (Office of the Vice President). I don't remember that, so I don't want to mislead you."
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." It was first picked up by ThinkProgress and Congressional Quarterly's Jeff Stein.
But wait, there's more...
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.
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. [..]
Today, The American Conservative also published a report saying that the forgery was actually produced by then-Defense Undersecretary Douglas Feith's Office of Special Plans, citing an unnamed intelligence source. The source reportedly added that Suskind's overall claim "is correct."
"My source also notes that Dick Cheney, who was behind the forgery, hated and mistrusted the Agency and would not have used it for such a sensitive assignment," the magazine wrote. "Instead, he went to Doug Feith's Office of Special Plans and asked them to do the job.
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Let's hear it for "honor and dignity" in the White House.
IMPEACH these bastards, and imprison them.
But, what about John Edwards?
Don't try to change the subject. He is the most read story on cbsnews.com.
So does this count as actual evidence of a crime as far as Pelosi is concerned or is impeachment still off the table? Even if it's not enough to connect Bush to anything, can we at least go after Cheney?
Impeachment still off the table, Nancy. American is much like Germany before Nuremberg...
Can it be executing time yet?
If Pelosi hasn't managed to "see" any crimes up to now, this certainly won't be considered a crime either.
Wow, their surveilance program managed to dig up dirt on Nancy, too.
Sometimes Batman has to do things that are unpopular to save Gotham City.
(see rushlimbaugh, he explains it real good)
Nancy Pelosi, do you have a statement?
The two statements are not mutually exclusive. Mr. Cheney is not in anyone's 'chain of command.' He is merely an understudy for the President and president of the senate. As one former veep is reputed to have said 'the duty of the vice president is to preside over the senate and to inquire daily as to the health of the President." It sounds to me like the White House is obfuscating things again.
This Administration has been allowed to get away with everything, including--quite literally--murder. I have to wonder if they have any intention of stepping down at the end of Bush's reign...uh, term. Considering their utter lack of concern for law, truth, the Constitution, and America, it wouldn't be surprising if Bush and Co. decide to stay in power.
After all, who would/could stop them? Congress? HA! They've been helping all along, including the Dems (with a few exceptions). And Bush has a private army that answers to him and not to the Constitution--can anybody say Blackwater?--and he can legally deploy them in America.
Unless Congress acts NOW to impeach and imprison these traitors (Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, and even Powell), they'll be in power when the November election is being decided, and they will have the power (and clearly the will) to simply ignore the election and hold onto the White House. Again, who would stop them?
When an administration is this corrupt and this unConstitutional, how can we expect them to respect elections? I seriously doubt we'll see such a coup, but then again, in 2000 I would have doubted we'd see the last 8 years happen, so...who knows?
Any Canadians out there willing to adopt a 37-year-old graduate student? I might be looking for a new country soon...
Off the table...stop with that tripe. Impeachment must succeed or it only strengthens the one impeached. Sure the goods on W are overwalming but so is the mendacity of the GOP.
Impeach and you will not get the votes to convict. Bush will walk, vindicated and history will record him an innocent man.
Americans want to be entertained.
Stop bothering them with this silly stuff. Pass the Doritos®.
That is a non-denial denial if I ever heard one.
Nothing that he didn't actually do it or that somebody outside his "chain of command" told him to do it. I wonder if the WH is considered part of his chain of command?
That was a rhetorical question, btw...
CatAtomic @ 1:
Here, here!!!
Steve @ 6:
There is no need to dig anything up. She is complicit in American War Crimes. If prosecutions get started, her neck is on the block as well.
The Republicans may be Party before Country, but the Democrats are Self before Country.
Sad, really.
elvisgoat @ 4:
America is a few notches worse than whatever the Nazis were heading toward around 1933.
Three words: give it up. Can you not see by now, after all that's happened, after everything that has been documented and done, that nothing that emerges will bring this corrupt government down?
The church lady would say isn't the office of special plans just "special".
Richard @ 11:
History will never record him as an innocent man! Ever...
right on! @ 14:
Since when is treason on this level punishable by mere prison time?
If this stands, we are creating a precedent for future Presidents and their administrations to lie us into war. We need to impeach to set a clear signal to future wannabe dictators.
right on! @ 14:
OK...I protested big time during Viet Nam...all you young folks out there...time to get your feet wet and march on the Whitehouse. Thousands and thousands of us protested in D.C., on campus..and it was the young that finally got movement going in Congress. People are saying no marches because there is no draft...prove us wrong. It is about our country.
PS - Pure PWNAGE OMGWTF!1!!!!11w
Sorry, that just slipped out.
The sad reality is that none of this truly matters to the average U.S. citizen, who has been dumbed down with endless coverage of the Olsen twins, the Brangelina twins, Paris & Nicole, Britney & whomever, etc, etc.
It
just
doesn't
matter.
So what if Cheney ordered CIA or the Office of Special Plans to forge a few documents to link Al Qaeda to Iraq. Its not like he cheated on his wife. Until he does impeachment is off the table
IMPEACH!
Can we IMPEACH Nancy??? She is not upholding her oath!!!!
US Americans know the truth (except maybe the Moron Factor) and have known it for a long time. The leaks we are seeing now from the pretty well scuttled Ship of State are coming fast and furious. It's just too bad they are sinking the damn thing right in the entrance to the harbor of the American Justice System. It will be hard to maneuver around the hulk left by this administration. I don't envy Obama's job when he gets in office (if he gets in office) and if the Moron Factor (which has grown exponentially) elects McCatastrophy then they deserve what they get.
Never underestimate the Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large groups.
Sue @ 22:
They are prematurely worn out ahead from all those protests for the right to party and drink beer on campus.
Leave it alone. Democrats have a good chance of getting some serious power in 2009.
They will be able to freely wiretap the Republicans.
Obama will have a precedent for outlandish signing statements.
The world will be our oyster. BWHAHAHA
Impeachment is hardly enough.
Hey! Maybe we should form a government!
This guy is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Wow so interesting. Impeachment Cheney/Bush. You can bet your bottom dollar that Bush new. Put them under oath this time. They seem to hate putting their hands on a bible to tell the truth. The american people have a right to the truth. Maybe than the republicans will see that the democrats arent the bad guys all the times.
Welcome to the Soviet Republic of America.
Central Intelligence Agency’s former Deputy Chief of Clandestine Operations Robert Richer.
Oh we're supposed to trust the CIA now?
CatAtomic @ 1:
Unfortunately impeachment is highly unlikely. Now if Cheney would have dictated the letter to an intern who moonlighted as a high-level escort while having sex with her on the desk in the Oval Office, then Pelosi might mention impeachment.
Nancy is busy pimping her new book so there is no time for impeachment.
Here is a link for Cindy Sheehan, put your money where your mouth and let's get fat cat Nancy the hell out of there.
My mama always said that a liar is worse than a thief. And we have a nest of liars in the GOP and the executive office. She would have jerked them up and put them in detention forever... Can we finally be done with liars??? Please
Proofread, proofread, proofread!
Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 37:
Again the eternal question comes to my mind....Why aren't Cheney and Bush being impeached at this moment???? I found out some Congressional Committee had hearings yesterday concerning impeachment. Surprise, surprise...not a whisper of it in any the media. This country is being held hostage by the Bush Administration...why is it being allowed to happen. I used to crank out letters left and right to my Senators and Congressman, whom are all democrats and one of those Senators is Barak Obama. The responses I get....'I am just as unhappy with the President...am opposed also to this and that...my committees are doing this and that...impeachment is simply not an option... it would not be good for the country at this time...blah,blah,blah. It's all smoke and mirrors babies... it's all
BULL-FUCKING-SHIT.
This will probably get my comment deleted but I have to say it...9/11 was an inside job and Our country is being groomed to become a Police State to be governed by a full-blown imperial Presidency.
There was no intel failure on 9/11 OR with WMD. The Neo Cons wanted a New Pearl Harbor. There were Zionist Israeli Spies, working, In the Pentagon, the Office of Special Plans. Throw in Ahmed Chalabi and Curveball, and voila. a Global War on Terror, uh in Iraq. If there really was a war on terror, there would be buses and malls blowing up 3 times a day here in the homeland. If you believe that the Homeland has been safe because Bush is fighting them in Baghdad instead of Baltimore I have a watch to sell you. If there really was a war on terror we would be fighting Al Qaeda in Pakistan. What happend to the Bush Doctrine?
USA! USA! USA! lol
Sue @ 22:
If you want anything done at all you gotta do it yourself. I was out there protesting Vietnam as well. Once again I find myself out there protesting this mess.
Ironically, the largest group of young people that I've seen at a Phoenix area demonstration is the "Young Republicans" who demonstrate IN FAVOR of the war and the administration.
Blah blah blah....
Who cares? John Edwards had an affair!! What's the terror alert color today?
It's time to grab our pitchforks and torches and march on DC!!
So what happened to the site yesterday? Is there anyway of knowing whether and where technical glitches were happening or whether it was a hacker?
Saying you're having trouble with the servers make it sound like the servants forgot to cut the crust off your watercress sandwiches, that are so small they wouldn't fill a titmouse (the sandwiches not the servants.)
Post American @ 40:
Your Right of course, but the dumbed-down part of the country (I wont point fingers, but you all know where and of whom I speak) still is hung up on the reality shows and not really interested in Reality.
right on! @ 14:
Yeah. Personal indiscretions are more important than treason.
36 Gretchen Says: CatAtomic @ 1:
Let’s hear it for “honor and dignity” in the White House.
IMPEACH these bastards, and imprison them.
Unfortunately impeachment is highly unlikely. Now if Cheney would have dictated the letter to an intern who moonlighted as a high-level escort while having sex with her on the desk in the Oval Office, then Pelosi might mention impeachment.
Your turning me on.
Waddya bet chainey likes to be spanked by twenty-somethings young enough to be his granddaughter?
So will we finally get an impeachment ? Fact after fact after fact is uncovered and the more that is uncovered the more we learn that the current administration is nothing more than a bunch of crooks and liars.
Fil Hussein Oaks @ 43:
You'll be leading the charge out front right?
I ordered 15 Decks of Bush Impeachment Cards a while back. I gave them to most of the American Ex-Pats in my little compound here in Chiang Mai.
Now the Germans and the Canadians want them also.
nothing is going to happen to these bastards, unless the msm gets on board, which will never happen. the msm is much better off financially with neocons running the country. something about wars and tax cuts for the wealthy really get them off.
Nicole Belle, john Amato, the whole C&L team...
you guys rock
seriously, i could rage on about this story (and i will eventually), but i must give kudos to you guys--for many, many things, but specifically for covering this CRUCIAL story while the msm has reacted with complicit silence (again)
signed, C&L junkie
Arthur: What is the greatest quality of a knight?
Merlin: Well they blend, like the metals of a sword.
Arthur: No poetry, just a straight answer.
Merlin: Truth, it must be truth. Whenever one lies a part of the world dies.
(Roughly paraphrased from the movie Excalibur.)
Paul B. @ 10:
Well, I've been postulating about this for quite a while. Cheney/Bush and Congress have put in place myriad laws, directives, acts, what-have-you that provide them with a legal basis to declare a national emergency (I'm sure they could easily arrange one) and then declare themselves leaders forever - or at least for the foreseeable future.
Some type of September or "October" surprise - wouldn't surprise me.......
Murray Rizberg @ 24:
You don't see the rising popularity of political blogs such as The DailyKos, Huffington Post, and Crooks and Liars??
Samson- @ 52:
Seconded.
He's provoked wars on three fronts - Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Georgia ..
Our economy is in the toilet & looks like it could go down the drain ..
His administration is leaking lies, high crimes, corruption, deception ..
AND GEORGE BUSH IS WAVING A FLAG AT THE OLYMPICS
JSM @ 31:
Treason has some consequences.
Fil Hussein Oaks @ 43:
It’s time to grab our pitchforks and torches and march on DC!!
"Fire, not goood!"
who cares about Bush/Cheney treason when we can obsess about Edward's Love Child?
Orangutan. @ 56:
THIRDED! It will be a pleasure to meet you in a FEMA Camp soon....
I suppose his denial is technically correct. he did not get the orders from someone in his chain of command, since the VP is not supposed to be in his chain of command. He's playing mighty coy here.
Suskind is attacking like the spineless dems should.
Woodward has a book coming out too.
The pieces are adding up and the spineless dems will have no option but to hold them accountable.
Mulitple choice response might look like this---
If Vice-President Cheney did it we then should conclude--
A. The Vice-President did it so it is legal
B. So?
C. Vice-President wanted his war with Iraq and who do Americans think they are to question Richard B. Cheney?
D. Truth,fact and knowable intel did not/do not matter to Vice-President Cheney because he is Vice-President of United States --and you/we are not--so Dick is telling us to "go ***k ourselves--the power is mine"
E. Doug Feith should be arrested and prosecuted for several failures/crimes in/over conduct of his DOD office for Cheney
F. All of the above
...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi? ...oh but impeachment is off the table right Pelosi?
I can't scream loud enough.
L.A. Confidential @ 16:
You are such a fucking idiot.
L.A. Confidential @ 49:
Damn straight! Along with Bugs22!
Dr. Britney Hussein Matt @ 66:
Prove me wrong instead of running your mouth off.
CatAtomic @ 1:
You do realize that if impeached in the House and convicted in the Senate, these guys would only be removed from office, right?
To imprison them there would have to be a regular trial in front of a Federal judge and a jury of regular old citizens, argued by a prosecutor from a US Attorney's office and defense counsel.
I have no faith in the House/Senate proceedings, but only because there's no way that you can get 67 votes to convict in the Senate. The vast majority of GOP senators will disregard the evidence and vote along partisan lines.
Now if there's a Democratic President inaugarated in January, and an Attorney General in place who doesn't have a conflict of interest, there should be procedings in a Federal courthouse within the next year.
Thank God impeachment is off the table!
Richer has a response to Suskind's release of partial transcript at suskindresponse.googlepages.com
Two British former intelligence guys also responded to the book's allegations
shootthatarrow @ 64:
How many smoking guns do we need before the pussy Democrats IMPEACH these criminals. Without REAL investigations and prosecutions for 911, Iraq/Afghan wars, wiretapping, torture and many more crimes And without abolishing the federal reserve, the CIA and the income tax, THIS COUNTRY IS DOOMED.
Glad to see you guys talking about at least one of the real issues facing this country, instead of prattling on about Obama and McCain. Both of those guys are 'new world order' puppets and will continue right were Bush leaves off. WAKE UP!
L.A. Confidential @ 68:
If your the one who raises the point, the burden of proof is on you, LAC.
Andy K Jong Il @ 74:
Fixed.
I just finished reading the front section of the Dallas Morning Nudes whilst I waited for my last comment to appear (I had a pause whilst waiting for the t in comment to show up).
You know what their lead editorial was? It wasn't the taped CIA confession that the 9-11 Iraq memo came from the White House; it was John Edwards admits adultery.
The Corporate media shows how complicit and evil they really are, when they are witnesses to high CRIMES of the Bush Regime and really how shameless they really are with the HOURS spent on John edwards during the day , ie larry king an HOUR , and that wasn't enough former CIA student and over rated Anderson Cooper had an HOUR and do you think that was enough , NOOOO.
But when hundreds of thousands of civilians are murdered in Iraq , and over 6000 U.S. military are killed for a fabricated war , yes they'll speculate about everything under the sun , yet won't try to come up with an honest number of troops deaths , because when any military person is moved off the " field of combat " is NOT COUNTED as a death or KIA . So if he dies in a helicopter or field hospital or even driven away , let alone after being flown to Germany for treatment or even a U.S. hospital , he or she is NOT COUNTED as casualty from the Iraq War or occupation). So common sense dictates there has been (few have the accurate estimation ) over a well over a thousand deaths , bringing the actual number not above 4000, but at LEAST 5 - 6 thousand troop deaths resulting from the illegal and evil actions of the BUSH REGIME .
If there is any justice the entire bush regime should be put on trial, including powell and all of the neocons , who orchestrated this massacre in Iraq .
Doubtfully this will appear in the MSM with John Edward's wandering weewee now dominating the news cycyle with dire predictions of it's effect on the Democratic Party ... sometimes I have to laugh ...
ysbaddaden @ 59:
I'm so glad to see this! I have been saying for at least 2 years that I continue to be amazed that the White House is not surrounded by a vast sea of people carrying pitchforks and torches. I'm glad to know there is at least one kindred spirit.
Marvin El Canucki @ 78:
Has Rielle Hunter got her book deal yet?
John Edward @ 79:
clamorem et uthesium!
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7soN6HNU3Y
Andy K Jong Il @ 69:
After a lot of reflection on the "to impeach or not to impeach" issue .. I agree.
If Bush-Cheney-etc were impeached (that means "indicted" .. the House finds there is sufficient evidence to bring charges) the ReTHUGs in the Senate would surely block conviction.
End of story.
And this then raises the issue of double jeopardy: could Bush-Cheney-etc be charged, after leaving office, with the same crimes again? I think not.
So I agree. The only solution is to keep the investigations going, bring all the material to light, use it to score political points, run the ReTHUGs out of town, and then pressure the Democratic Congress and President to do the right thing in 2009.
L.A. Confidential @ 35: