Saturday, April 22nd 2006
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Did you read the story about the Big Thumper ? Happy Spring !!!! |
'Plame' It On Bush & Co. ---
The [senior Bush] aide said that guys like me were
"in what we call the reality-based community," which he defined as people who
"believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality."
I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism.
He cut me off.
"That's not the way the world really works anymore," he continued.
"We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality.
And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again,
creating other new realities, which you can study too,
and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors
... and you, all of you,
will be left to just study what we do."
~ an article by Ron Suskind, NYT Magazine Oct. 2004
"...The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought
significant
quantities of uranium from Africa.
Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted
to purchase
high strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production.."
~ George W. Bush, State of the Union Address - January 28, 2003
The International Atomic Energy Agency told the United Nations in March
-- after the State of the Union --
that the information about the uranium procurement efforts
was based on forged documents.
On Feb. 26, 2002, Joseph Wilson arrived in Niger, where he met with former
government officials and business contacts He concluded there was
"nothing to the story" of a Niger-Iraq deal. The State Department, meanwhile,
quickly dismissed the documents when they surfaced later in 2002.
Wayne White, who served as the deputy director of the State Department's
intelligence unit until March 2005, and was the principal Iraq analyst,
reviewed the papers in fall 2002 and said that after a 15-minute review
he doubted their credibility.
"If they were referring to Niger when they were referring to uranium sales
from Africa to Iraq, ... that information was erroneous and ...
they knew about it well ahead of both the publication of the British white paper and the president's State of the Union address.
I have every confidence that the answer I provided was circulated to the appropriate officials within our government."
~ Joseph Wilson, Former US Ambassador - July 6, 2003
In an op-ed piece published in Sunday's New York Times, Wilson wrote that the CIA sent him to Niger in February 2002 at the request of Vice President Dick Cheney's office."Cheney did not request information about Wilson's mission to Niger, was not informed of his mission and was not aware of it until press reports accounted for it." ~ Ari Fleischer, then White House Press Secretary - July 6, 2003
In an interview on NBC, Wilson insisted his doubts about the purported Iraq-Niger connection reached the highest levels of government, including Vice President Dick Cheney's office.
"There's no doubt in my mind that when it's all said and done the facts will show the world the truth. There's going to be, you know, a lot of attempts to try to rewrite history, and I can understand that. But I'm absolutely confident in the decision I made."
~ George W. Bush - July 9, 2003"The president took the nation to war to depose a bloody tyrant who had defied the world for 12 years, who was building a weapons of mass destruction program and had weapons of mass destruction."
~ Condoleezza Rice, then Nat'l Security Advisor - July 13, 2003
On CBS' "Face the Nation"."This revisionist notion that somehow this is now the core of why we went to war, a central issue of why we went to war, a fundamental underpinning of the president's decisions, is a bunch of bull. We don't know if it's true but nobody -- but nobody -- can say it was wrong."
~ Ari Fleischer, then White House Press Secretary - July 14, 2003
"I think the intelligence I get is darn good intelligence. And the speeches I have given were backed by good intelligence. When it's all said and done, the people of the United States and the world will realize that Saddam Hussein had a weapons program."
~ George W. Bush - July 16, 2003
"I'm not concerned about weapons of mass destruction,
I'm concerned about getting Iraq on its feet. I didn't come (to Iraq) on a search for weapons of mass destruction. I'm not saying that getting to the bottom of this WMD issue isn't important. It is important.
But it is not of immediate consequence."
~ Paul Wolfowitz, then Deputy Defense Secretary - July 23, 2003
Four senior scientists and more than a dozen lower-level scientists have failed to yield any evidence to support the U.S. contention that Saddam was developing WMDs.
The scientists interviewed by the U.S. deny that Saddam Hussein had restarted his nuclear weapons program or secretly developed chemical and biological weapons since U.N. weapons inspectors left the nation in 1998.
~ July 31, 2003 - Washington Post
<<< FLASHBACK 2001 <<<
- Condi Rice & Colin Powell "No WMDs in Iraq." - Watch Video<<< FLASHBACK <<<
March 7, 2003 - Statements of the Director General, IAEA
Statement to the United Nations Security Council - New York, NY
In conclusion, I am able to report today that, in the area of nuclear weapons - the most lethal weapons of mass destruction - inspections in Iraq are moving forward. Since the resumption of inspections a little over three months ago - and particularly during the three weeks since my last oral report to the Council - the IAEA has made important progress in identifying what nuclear-related capabilities remain in Iraq, and in its assessment of whether Iraq has made any efforts to revive its past nuclear programme during the intervening four years since inspections were brought to a halt.
At this stage, the following can be stated:
- There is no indication of resumed nuclear activities in those buildings that were identified through the use of satellite imagery as being reconstructed or newly erected since 1998, nor any indication of nuclear-related prohibited activities at any inspected sites.
- There is no indication that Iraq has attempted to import uranium since 1990.
- There is no indication that Iraq has attempted to import aluminum tubes for use in centrifuge enrichment. Moreover, even had Iraq pursued such a plan, it would have encountered practical difficulties in manufacturing centrifuges out of the aluminum tubes in question.
- Although we are still reviewing issues related to magnets and magnet production, there is no indication to date that Iraq imported magnets for use in a centrifuge enrichment programme.
The Inspectors left on March 17, 2003 due to ongoing military action.
March 19, 2003
Combat Operations Begin in Iraq.
"Shock & Awe"
"...These are opening statements of what will be a
Broad and Concerted Campaign.."
~ George W. Bush, doesn't need a formal Declaration of War through Congress.
The Niger Documents were declared forgeries by the
International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2003.
>>> FAST FORWARD >>>
March 2, 2004 - A report from U.N. weapons inspectors says they now
believe there were no weapons of mass destruction of any significance in Iraq after 1994. The study, a quarterly report on Iraq, notes that the U.S. teams' inability to find any weapons after the war mirrors the experience of U.N. inspectors who searched there from Nov. 2002 until Mar. 2003.
Iraq's nuclear weapons program was dormant.
Iraq's nuclear weapons program was dormant.
Iraq's nuclear weapons program was dormant.
No evidence was found to suggest Iraq possessed chemical or biological weapons.
U.N. officials believe the weapons were destroyed by U.N. inspectors or Iraqi officials
in the years after the 1991 Gulf War.
Iraq was attempting to develop missiles capable of exceeding
a U.N.-mandated
limit of 93 miles.
March 24, 2004
"Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere.
Nope, no weapons over there. Maybe under here."
~ George W. Bush, his attempt at humor regarding the lack of WMDs found in Iraq.
While attending the Radio & Television Correspondents' Association
Dinner
in Washington
(Why does he think the lack of WMDs is so funny?
This was the MAIN reason given for going to WAR in Iraq in the first place.
This must be some private inside joke. Did they know there were never any WMDs to be found ?
To all the people that laughed at this disgusting, shameful display..
WAR is still going on, SIGN UP HERE -pdf file)
DOWNLOAD and WATCH HIS Lil' SKIT HERE
>>> FAST FORWARD >>>
April 25, 2005 - "After more than 18 months, the WMD investigation
and debriefing of the WMD-related detainees has been exhausted, as matters now stand, the WMD investigation has gone as far as feasible."
~ Charles Duelfer, head of Iraq Survey Group.
His final word, in an addendum to the final report he issued in the fall of 2004,
closing an investigation into the purported programs of Saddam Hussein
that were used to justify the 2003 invasion.
July 14, 2003 - Columnist and CNN "Crossfire" co-host Robert Novak names
Valerie Plame, wife of ex-diplomat Joseph Wilson, as a CIA operative on
weapons of mass destruction, citing Bush Administration sources. In that piece,
Novak said two senior administration officials told him Plame suggested sending
Wilson to Niger to investigate the Iraq uranium claim. Novak has refused to say
publicly who his sources were and what cooperation he may have given
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, if any, remains unclear.
July 16, 2003 - "All roads still lead back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The question is,
Who in the White House was so determined to put information
in the State of the Union
which had been discounted so dramatically by
American intelligence sources?"
~ Sen. Richard Durbin, D. Illinois
August 6, 2003 - Hans Blix Says "Iraq War Was Illegal"
Former chief weapons inspector Hans Blix gave his sharpest critique of the
U.S.-led war in Iraq, which he said violated International Law.
The comments were not Blix's first criticisms of the war, which the United States
and Britain said was launched because intelligence indicated Iraq possessed
illegal biological and chemical weapons material and was working towards
developing nuclear arms. Since the fall of Baghdad on April 9,
no illegal weapons have been reported found,
despite extensive searches and interviews with numerous Iraqi officials and scientists.
September 26, 2003 - In a response to a request made by the CIA,
the Justice Department launches a criminal investigation into the leak of a
CIA operative's identity.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft confirms the
investigation and relays to the White House the need to preserve all documents
that might be relevant to the probe.
"The criminal division of the Department of Justice, with the assistance of the FBI
as the
lead investigative agency, opened a full investigation."
September 29, 2003 - Former Ambassador Joe Wilson,
an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policy,
blames the White House for telling a newspaper columnist that his wife,
Valerie Plame, is a CIA operative. Wilson speaking to CNN anchor Paula Zahn:
ZAHN: Are you still saying this goes all the way to the top levels of the White House?
WILSON: No, on the contrary, I don't have any specific information.
I would hope that an investigation would yield the information as to who
was responsible for the precise leak. What I do have are any number of journalist sources, none of whom I have any reason not to believe, who have said that the
White House was pushing this story after the leak, after the Novak article,
and including Karl Rove.
ZAHN: The Washington Post reported over the weekend that at least
six Washington correspondents were fed this same information. Why?
WILSON: Well, I think if The Washington Post article is correct,
I think there were probably two waves. The one wave was being this --
of the phone calls to the six journalists. The only person who published
an article was Mr. Novak. He's now claiming that he wasn't called.
But it was in that timeframe, apparently. Then, I believe there was a second wave
that occurred later on in the week, when I started getting phone calls from
different journalistic outlets, saying things like, the White House is telling us that
the real story is not the 16 words. (referring to the Iraq-Niger documents.)
The real story is Wilson and his wife, culminating in the day that I actually did
an interview on another network, saying that my understanding was that this
might be against the law, after which those calls stopped.
September 30, 2003 - Bush Welcomes CIA Leak Probe
President discusses job creation with business leaders - Chicago, Illinois
"Listen, I know of nobody -- I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked
classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it,
and we'll take the appropriate action. And this investigation is a good thing."
"And again I repeat, you know, Washington is a town where there's all kinds
of allegations. You've heard much of the allegations.
And if people have got solid information,
please come forward with it.
And that would be people inside the information who are the so-called
anonymous sources, or people outside the information -- outside the administration.
And we can clarify this thing very quickly if people who have got solid evidence
would come forward and speak out.
And I would hope they would."
"And then we'll get to the bottom of this and move on. But I want to tell you something --
leaks of classified information are a bad thing. And we've had them --
there's too much leaking in Washington. That's just the way it is.
And we've had leaks out of the administrative branch, had leaks out of the legislative branch, and out of the executive branch and the legislative branch,
and I've spoken out
consistently against them and I want to know who the leakers are."
Shortly before 9 a.m., most White House employees discovered the probe
was under way when they turned on their computers and found an e-mail
from counsel Alberto Gonzales.
PLEASE READ: Important Message From Counsel's Office. -
"You must preserve all materials that might in any way be related
to the department's investigation."
Officials indicated that would include telephone logs, e-mails, notes and other documents.
Four Senate Democrats urged Attorney General John Ashcroft
to appoint a person of "unquestioned independence and impartiality".
Letter signed by Sen. Tom Daschle,SD; Sen. Carl Levin, Mich;
Joseph Biden, Del; Jay Rockefeller, W.VA
"We do not believe that this investigation of senior Bush administration officials..
can be conducted by the Justice Department because of the obvious
and inherent
conflicts of interests involved."
"Reports indicate that senior administration officials were allegedly motivated
to engage in
potentially criminal behavior, risking our national security
and the lives of our intelligence
agents, in order to punish someone who
raised questions about the administration's
rationale for going to war with Iraq."
"Because of ongoing investigation of criminal violations,
I will not be making any further comment at this time."
~ John Ashcroft, then Attorney General, declining a direct response.
White House Denies Leaking CIA Name
McClellan urged anyone with information about the alleged leak
to contact the Justice Department.
"It's a serious matter and it should be looked into."
"The president expects everyone in his administration to adhere
to the highest standards of conduct."
"No one would be authorized to do such a thing."
Asked whether Mr. Bush should fire any official found to have leaked the information,
"They should be pursued to the fullest extent by the Department of Justice.
The president expects everyone in his administration to adhere
to the highest standards of conduct -- and that would not be."
October 1, 2003 - Bush endorses probe into CIA leak
"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is.
And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of."
~ George W. Bush, University of Chicago
October 6, 2003 - Bush rejects calls for a special counsel to investigate leak
"I've got all the confidence in the world the Justice Department will do a good job."
"There's a lot of leaking in Washington, D.C. It's a town famous for it.
Hopefully [the case] will help set a clear signal we expect other leaks to stop as well.
And so I look forward to finding the truth."
October 7, 2003 - Bush expresses doubt, CIA leak may not be traced
"I have no idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is. I'd like to. I want to know the truth." "But the truth could be elusive given Washington's long history of leaks and the news media's record of protecting their anonymous sources."
December 31, 2003 - Independent probe of CIA leak called for by Democrats
"If somebody did leak classified information,
I'd like to know it and we'll take appropriate action."
~ George W. Bush, also expressed confidence that the Justice Department would get to the bottom of the matter, saying "career employees -- as opposed to political appointees -- will handle the investigation.
Attorney General Ashcroft recuses himself from CIA leak probe
Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Comey appointed Patrick Fitzgerald, currently the
Chicago-based U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois -- as the special prosecutor to take over the investigation.
Republicans say no need for special counsel.
"No one's covering anything up. No one's obstructing anything."
~ Tom DeLay, Republican House Majority Leader - Texas
>>> FAST FORWARD >>> September 28, 2005 -
Indicted DeLay Steps Down From House Post
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of conspiring to violate political fundraising laws,
forcing him to temporarily step aside from his GOP post.
The grand jury accused the men of conspiring to route corporate donations from DeLay's Texas committee to the Republican Party in Washington, then returning the money back to Texas legislative candidates. It was a scheme intended to evade a state law outlawing donations going to candidates,
the indictment said.
October 3, 2005 - Grand Jury Indicts DeLay on New Charge
A Texas grand jury indicted Rep. Tom DeLay on a new charge of money laundering less than a week after another grand jury leveled a conspiracy charge that forced DeLay to temporarily step down as House majority leader.
January 7, 2006 - DeLay relinquishes House majority leader post
February 11, 2004 - Bush welcomes probe of CIA leak
"If there's a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. If the person has violated law, that person will be taken care of." I welcome the investigation. I am absolutely confident the Justice Department will do a good job. I want to know the truth. Leaks of classified information are bad things." Also added that he did not know of "anybody in my administration who leaked classified information."
~ Impromptu news conference during a fund-raising stop in Chicago, Illinois
Bush also said he has told his administration to cooperate fully with the investigation and asked anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward.
June 6, 2004 - Bush consults lawyer in CIA leak case
"I've told our administration that we'll fully cooperate with their investigation."
"I want to know the truth. I'm willing to cooperate myself."
In terms of whether or not I need advice from counsel, this is a criminal matter, it's a serious matter." I have met with an attorney to determine whether or not I need his advice, and if I deem I need his advice, I'll probably hire him."
Run-up to the 2004 Presidential election pushes this issue to the back-burner
for the time being.
April 19, 2005 - Federal Appeals Court rejects reporters' appeal
Judith Miller of The New York Times and Matthew Cooper of Time Magazine had asked the entire appeals court to hear their contempt case, after they refused to divulge their sources to the prosecutor investigating another reporter's leak of the name of an undercover CIA operative.
May 1, 2005 - The Secret Downing Street Minutes Memo
A London Times article disclosed the details of a classified memo recounting the minutes of a July 2002 meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair with his advisers that depicted an American president already committed to going to war in the summer of 2002, despite contrary assertions to the public and the Congress. The minutes also described apparent efforts by Bush administration officials to manipulate intelligence data in order to justify the war to the international community.
"...'C' reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action."
"The Foreign Secretary said he would discuss this with Colin Powell this week. It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin.
Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran."
June 27, 2005 - World Tribunal on Iraq - Declaration of Jury Conscience
World Tribunal on Iraq - Istanbul, June 23rd - 25th 2005
In February 2003, weeks before an illegal war was initiated against Iraq,
Millions of people protested in the streets of the world. That call went unheeded.
No international institution had the courage or conscience to stand up to the threat of aggression of the U.S. and U.K. governments. No one could stop them. It is two years later now. Iraq has been invaded, occupied, and devastated.
The attack on Iraq is an attack on Justice, on Liberty, on Our Safety,
on Our Future, on US ALL.
We, people of conscience, decided to STAND UP.
We formed the World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) to demand Justice and a Peaceful Future.
June 30, 2005 - Time magazine to hand over reporter's notes
"I think it's a terrible case. I wish the court had taken our appeal, but given that they did not, we're not above the law and the law was clear that I think we had no choice but to turn over the information."
~ Norman Pearlstine, editor-in-chief of Time Inc. - on CNN's "America Morning"
July 6, 2005 - Judge Jails Times Reporter Over Source
New York Times reporter Judith Miller was jailed for refusing to divulge a confidential source to a grand jury investigating the Bush administration's leak of an undercover CIA operative's name. Matthew Cooper of Time magazine agreed to talk and avoided jail.
"If somebody broke the law to get back at Mr. Wilson,
every eyewitness should come forward to testify.
The grand jury wants to know the truth.
We are having the whole thing derailed by one person."
Patrick Fitzgerald, Special counsel statement to Judge Hogan
July 18, 2005 - Bush shifts course on CIA leak
"It's best people wait until the investigation is complete before you jump to conclusions.
I don't know all the facts. I want to know all the facts. I would like this to end as quickly as possible. If someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my administration."
~ George W. Bush, appearing with visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India
These new statements appeared to differ from a response Bush gave in June 2004,
when he was asked whether he stood by his promise to 'fire' whoever was found to have
leaked Plame's name. "Yes", Bush said at the time.
July 24, 2005 - CIA leak inquiry probes delay -
Gonzales and Card spoke hours before all White House staff told
Appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation" Gonzales said the Justice Department had informed his office around 8 p.m. and that White House lawyers said he could wait until the next morning before notifying the staff. He acknowledged telling one person, Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff.
And immediately the next morning told the president, shortly thereafter, there was notification sent out to all the members of the White House staff.
Senator Joseph Biden, D-Del., also appearing on the same program, questioned why Gonzales would not have notified the staff immediately by e-mail and suggested Fitzgerald pursue whether Card may have given anyone in the White House advance notice to prepare for a criminal investigation.
"The real question now is, who did the Chief of Staff speak to?
Did the Chief of Staff pick up the phone and call Karl Rove?
Did the Chief of Staff pick up the phone and call anybody else?"
>>> FAST FORWARD >>> March 28, 2006 -
Andrew Card Resigns as White House Chief of Staff Budget Director Joshua B. Bolten Will Step in for Card on April 14, 2006.
Andrew Card, Chimp Whisperer 9.11.01
October 17, 2005 - Bush Refuses to Discuss CIA Leak Probe
"There's a serious investigation.
I'm not going to prejudge the outcome of the investigation."
In response to reporters' questions during a meeting with Bulgaria's president,
Georgi Parvanov.
October 28, 2005 - I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr. Indicted and Resigns
The Vice President's Chief of Staff was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice,
perjury and making false statements in the CIA leak investigation.
"Libby was advised by the vice president of the United States that Wilson's wife worked
at the CIA in the counter proliferation division. Libby understood that the vice president had learned this information from the CIA."
~ Fitzgerald, Special Counsel
November 4, 2005 - Bush Sidesteps Questions About CIA Leak
"You're trying to get me to comment on the investigation, which I'm not going to do.
And I hope you understand that. It's a serious investigation, and it's an important investigation. But it's not yet over. The way you earn credibility with the American people is to set a clear agenda that everybody can understand, an agenda that relates to their lives, and get the job done. And the agenda that I'm working on now is one that is important to the American people."
>>> FAST FORWARD >>> February 9, 2006 -
A Glimpse into Bush's agenda ?
The National Guard honored President Bush with a life-size bust at a gala ceremony in Wash., D.C.
The inscription noting the duration of Bush's presidential term doesn't read "2001-2009". It reads "2001-BLANK".
Everyone knows that Bush is supposed to leave office in January of 2009.
No Big Mystery. No Uncertainty. The 22nd Amendment says so. It's the law.
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| "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." 12.19.00 " A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it." 7.27.01 ~ G.W. Bush |
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We'll get to the latest in the CIA leak probe in a moment...
...before I bring you up to date,
it's necessary to include some other information that has come out..
November 16, 2005 - Woodward testifies in CIA leak probe
In his testimony to Fitzgerald, Woodward said he revealed under oath that a
senior Bush administration official casually told him in mid-June 2003 about
Plame's position at the CIA. Woodward, one of the two Post reporters who led the newspaper's coverage of the 1970s Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.
December 16, 2005 - Bush Authorized NSA to Spy in U.S.
His order bypassed the FISA Court that approves wiretaps and searches in the most sensitive terrorism and espionage cases.
December 17, 2005 - Bush Defends Warrant-less wiretaps
Bush says his use of warrant-less wiretaps for eavesdropping is necessary to protect the nation from terrorists. He's done it since 9/11 repeatedly, and will continue.
<< FLASHBACK << April 2004 -
Bush speaking in support of the Patriot Act:
"Anytime you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so."
December 24, 2005 - NSA Spying Broader Than Bush Admitted
The NY Times story quoted a former technology manager at a major telecommunications firm as saying that companies have been storing information on calling patterns since the Sept. 11 attacks, and giving it to the federal government.
Neither the manager nor the company he works for was identified.
February 12, 2006 -
Bush Sells Major Control of 6 US Ports to UAE Firm
A company in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai Ports World) is poised to take over significant operations at six American ports as part of a corporate sale, leaving a country with ties to the (alleged) Sept 11 hijackers with influence over a maritime industry considered vulnerable to terrorism.
February 16, 2006 -
Senate panel Decides Against Eavesdropping Inquiry
For Now The Senate Intelligence Committee decided not to investigate Bush's domestic surveillance program, at least for the time being.
March 2, 2006 - Senate Approves Patriot Act Renewal
The Senate in a 89-10 vote renewed the USA Patriot Act
'No' votes came from Jim Jeffords, I-Vt; Russ Feingold, D-Wi;
Robert Byrd, D-W.Va; Daniel Akaka, D-Hi; Jeff Bingaman, D-N.Mex;
Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Patrick Leahy, D-Vt; Carl Levin, D-Mi;
Patty Murray, D-Wa; Ron Wyden, D-Or.
There were also 174 'No' Votes in The House.
('Real' Patriots, All of Them.)
March 4, 2006 - White House Trains Efforts on Media Leaks
The Bush administration, seeking to limit leaks of classified information, has launched initiatives targeting journalists and their possible government sources. The efforts include several FBI probes, a polygraph investigation inside the CIA and a warning from the Justice Department that reporters could be prosecuted under espionage laws.
(They want to go after their own Whistle-Blowers.)
March 21, 2006 - Bush Says Troops to Stay in Iraq through 2008
 |
Bush has adamantly refused to set a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. |
March 24, 2006 - Bush Shuns Patriot Act Requirement
When president Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, he included an addendum saying that he did not feel obliged to obey requirements that he inform Congress about how the FBI was using the act's expanded police powers. In Bush's signing statement, he did not consider himself bound to tell Congress how the Patriot Act powers were being used and that, despite the law's requirements, he could withhold the information if he decided that disclosure would "impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberate process of the executive, or the performance of the executive's constitutional duties."
Okay. Let's pause here for a moment. Please read the 3/24/06 post again. Now read it again. Bush, by issuing his own signing statements has pronounced himself above the law. Pronounced himself above the law. He has pronounced himself KING.
He's done this before with the McCain Torture Amendment.
Have you read any of the Patriot Act ? Beowulf has a good outline here.
(...I'm all verklemmt, please -talk amongst yourselves.)
April 7, 2006 - Whistle-Blower Outs NSA Spy Room
AT&T provided NSA eavesdroppers with full access to its customer's phone calls, and shunted its customers' internet traffic to data-mining equipment installed in a secret room in its San Francisco switching center,
according to a former AT&T worker cooperating in the
EFF's lawsuit against the company.
Now back to the Current Revelation in regards to the CIA leak probe.
April 6, 2006 - Bush Authorized Leak to Times - I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Testifies
A former White House aide under indictment for obstructing a leak probe, I. Lewis Libby,
testified to a grand jury that he gave information from a closely-guarded
"National Intelligence Estimate" on Iraq to a New York Times reporter in 2003 with the specific permission of President Bush, according to a new court filing from the Special Prosecutor in the case.
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald stated in a court filing in the CIA leak case
that his investigators have obtained evidence during the course of the two-year old
probe that proves several White House officials conspired to discredit
former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.
"Defendant testified that he was specifically authorized in advance of the meeting
to disclose the key judgments of the classified NIE to Miller on that occasion
because it was thought that the NIE was 'pretty definitive' against what
Ambassador Wilson had said and that the vice president thought that it was
'very important' for the key judgments of the NIE to come out."
"There exist documents, some of which have been provided to defendant and
there were
conversations in which defendant [I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr.] participated, that reveal a strong desire by many, including multiple people in the White House,
to repudiate Mr. Wilson before and after July 14, 2003."
April 7, 2006 - White House: Bush did not flip-flop on leaks
The White House rejected suggestions that President Bush contradicted himself
by repeatedly railing against leaks of classified information even though he
had approved the release of classified information to bolster the U.S. case
for the Iraq war in 2003.
April 8, 2006 - McClellan Spars with Reporters over CIA Leak Latest Revelations
Press briefing for reporters with Scott McClellan was dominated by questions
about the latest revelations in the CIA leak case,
with the president being tied
more closely.
This is some of the relevant portions of the transcript.
You can find the rest of it HERE
Q: Back when the NIE was released on July 18, 2003, you were asked that day when that had been actually declassified. And you said in that gaggle that it had been declassified that day. And if that's the case, then when the information was passed on to the reporter 10 days earlier, then it was still classified at that time.
McClellan: Well, I think you're referring -- a couple of things. First of all, it was publicly released that day, so that's when a portion of the National Intelligence Estimate that we were making available to the public was released. The second part of your question is referring to an ongoing legal proceeding, and referring to a filing in that legal proceeding.
We have had a policy in place, going back to October time period of 2003,
that we are not going to comment on an ongoing investigation or an ongoing legal proceeding. That policy remains unchanged.
But let me point out a couple of facts, step back from this legal proceeding. The President of the United States has the authority to declassify information. I also included to some reporters earlier today that the President would never authorize the disclosure of information that he felt could compromise our nation's security. Now, the NIE was declassified -- portions of it were declassified. We made sure that we did not -- that we continued to protect sensitive sources and methods within the NIE.
Q: I understand the reason why you thought it needed to be declassified, because of the debate at the time. The question was, when was it declassified. And you were asked that day, when -- the question was, "When was it actually declassified?" And you said, "It was officially declassified today."
If it had been officially declassified on July 18, 2003, then 10 days before, when the information was given out, it was still classified at the time.
McClellan: Again, you're going back to an assertion that is made in a filing related to an ongoing legal proceeding when you talk about the second part of your question. There is no way for me to separate that question and talk about this issue without discussing an ongoing legal proceeding. And I can't do that. We have a policy that's been established, and I'm obligated to adhere to that policy.
Q: But answer the question, it's a factual question.
McClellan: Yes, but you can't separate that question from the legal proceeding --
Q: Was it declassified that day --
McClellan: because of one of the assertions that was made in the filing.
Well, you can go back and look at comments that were made at that time.
That was when it was --
Q: Those were your comments.
McClellan: --that was when it was publicly released at the time. I haven't looked back at exactly what was said at that time.
Q: Well, let's be really clear about this. It says right here on July 18th,
"When was it actually declassified?" Mr. McClellan, answer, "It was officially declassified today."
Is that correct?
McClellan: Again, you're asking me to get into the timing. I'm not backing away from anything that was said previously -- that's when the document was released, so that's when it officially --
Q: They don't say "released". They say "declassify".
McClellan: I know Jim. Let me tell you. That's when it was officially released. So I think that's what I was referring to at the time. I'd have to go back and look at the specific comments, but I'm not changing anything that was said previously, so let me make that clear.
April 10, 2006 - Bush Is The 'Leaker in Chief' !
Bush acknowledges declassifying Iraq intelligence
President George W. Bush acknowledged he ordered the declassification of parts of a prewar intelligence report on Iraq to respond to critics.
"I will say this, that after we liberated Iraq, there was questions in people's minds about, you know, the basis upon which I made statements, in other words, going into Iraq."
"And so I decided to declassify the NIE for a reason.
I wanted to see -- people to see what some of those statements were based on,
so I wanted to see -- I wanted people to see the truth.
And I thought it made sense for people to see the truth.
And that's why I declassified the document."
April 19, 2006 - McClellan Leaves White House Press Office
McClellan announced that he is stepping down as White House press secretary.
(Whew... I'm going to just let that soak for awhile. I do have some questions.)
If this information was declassified in the interest of
"wanting the people to see the truth",
"wanting to help people with questions
about why statements were made for going to WAR in Iraq"
Why in Blazes Was There a Leak Probe in The First Place ?
Why did Judith Miller spend 85 days in jail ?
Why was Libby Indicted for Obstructing Justice ?
Libby obstructing justice should be Moot.
Judith Miller Not Revealing Her Sources Should Be Moot.
WHY DID BUSH & CO. KEEP UP THE CHARADE ?
IF THE INFORMATION WAS DECLASSIFIED BEFORE THE REPORT,
WHY WERE 3 YEARS SPENT ON THIS ?
The Truth Only Takes A Few Seconds.
When asked in 2003 about the leaking of a CIA operative,
All Bush had to say was "I declassified those documents already."
But, he didn't. He couldn't. Because it wasn't true.
Bush is NOT capable of telling the TRUTH.
Bush is a COWARD.
The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982
Effective June 1982, today it can be found in
Title 50, Sections 421-426 of the United States Code
Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly disclose the identity of a covert operative.
Several criteria must be met before someone can be found in violation of this law.
- The disclosure must reveal the identity of a covert agent.
- The disclosure must be intentional.
- The person disclosing the information must have "authorized access" to classified information.
- The person disclosing the information must be aware that the information disclosed will reveal the identity of the covert agent.
- The person disclosing the information must know that the U.S. government was taking active steps to protect the identity of the covert agent.
Definition of a 'covert agent'
- A current or retired member of an intelligence agency or of the U.S. Armed Forces or any U.S. citizen assigned to duty with an intelligence agency.
- An agent whose identity is classified.
- An agent who has served outside the United States within the past five years.
- A non-U.S. citizen whose past or present intelligence relationship to the
United States is classified and who is either an agent or source to a U.S. intelligence agency.
Penalties for violating this law
- Up to 10 years in prison and/or fine if the disclosure is made using classified documents that reveal the identity of a covert agent.
- Up to 5 years in prison and/or fine if the person making the disclosure learns the identity of a covert agent from having had access to classified information, but not from classified information that specifically identifies the agent.
- Up to 3 years in prison and/or fine if the person making the disclosure is engaged in a "pattern of activities" intended to expose a covert agent.
"W"
WRONG !
Wrong for America.
Wrong for The World.
2,591 Total US & Coalition Deaths in Iraq
17,269+ Wounded
est. 100,000+ Iraq Civilian Deaths
34,511 Iraq Deaths confirmed
as of April 22, 2006
356 US & Coalition Deaths -Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
See All These Stats (updated daily)
Question Everything.
~Rayvn
Disclaimer: My Own Blog, My Own Musings.
