Blumenthal: The Bush* orthodoxy is in shreds

A series of investigations has shattered neocon self-belief

At a conservative thinktank in downtown Washington, and across the Potomac at the Pentagon, FBI agents have begun paying quiet calls on prominent neoconservatives, who are being interviewed in an investigation of potential espionage, according to intelligence sources. Who gave Ahmed Chalabi classified information about the plans of the US government and military?

The Iraqi neocon favourite, tipped to lead his liberated country post-invasion, has been identified by the CIA and Defence Intelligence Agency as an Iranian double-agent, passing secrets to that citadel of the "axis of evil" for decades. All the while the neocons cosseted, promoted and arranged for more than $30m in Pentagon payments to the George Washington manque of Iraq. In return, he fed them a steady diet of disinformation and in the run-up to the war sent various exiles to nine nations' intelligence agencies to spread falsehoods about weapons of mass destruction. If the administration had wanted other material to provide a rationale for invasion, no doubt that would have been fabricated. Either Chalabi perpetrated the greatest con since the Trojan horse, or he was the agent of influence for the most successful intelligence operation conducted by Iran, or both.

The CIA and other US agencies had long ago decided that Chalabi was a charlatan, so their dismissive and correct analysis of his lies prompted their suppression by the Bush White House.

In place of the normal channels of intelligence vetting, a jerry-rigged system was hastily constructed, running from the office of the vice president to the newly created Office of Special Plans inside the Pentagon, staffed by fervent neocons. CIA director George Tenet, possessed with the survival instinct of the inveterate staffer, ceased protecting the sanctity of his agency and cast in his lot. Secretary of state Colin Powell, resistant internally but overcome, decided to become the most ardent champion, unveiling a series of neatly manufactured lies before the UN.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1225688,00.html

Read the whole thing. Sid is the bard of the counter-Bushist revolution.

(or should I say faithfully blind). Ohh!!! I'm gonna do some happy dance stompin' and rain on the parade of some conservatives with this.

What I love about this article is that Sid is actually UNDERSTATING the problems! And still it sounds horrible!

This is what happened when the people's choice for President was denied by five members of the Supreme Court. Don't forget, those are the people we have to thank for the present situation.

a cheater. Oh well, c'est la vie as they say.

Now, just because WE have 20-20 vision, don't expect the neo-CONS to feel that way.

Expecting a little soul-searching right about now? Don't count on it. Things not going their way? DO NOT expect these guys to have a change of heart in the 11th hour.

They are completely vested in their philosophy. They didn't come up with this last year. This is an ideology which has festered for about 20 years, maybe even more. With the advent of Reagan, we started to see the first inklings of these radicals.

They'll change their plans when Hell Freezes Over.

...is how Harry Shearer put it on Le Show last week.

..of this whole reeking mess, that the army and the CIA did an end run around all the neocons and raided Chalabi when they got the goods on him, leaving the White House slackjawed and scrambling for an explanation/pack of bullshit excuses.

This is the first sign of a real break between the military and CIA and the lying neocons. Keep watching, it's going to get really interesting from now on.

Treason.

dp

They are blaming Chalabi but if he weren't there the result would have been the same. It was cheney, bush and the gang who couldn't shoot straight who wanted the war, made up 'evidence' and lies to support it and insisted on attacking. I remember when it was all about how evil Saddam was and how he had to be taken out of power, then when it was suggested that he might go into exile, the WH said it wouldn't matter, they would still attack. Now it chabali who "perpetrated the greatest con since the Trojan horse." Its all smoke and mirrors, spin and lies.

but the story keeps coming back to the idea that Chalabi was giving them WHAT THEY WANTED.

snip>

All the while the neocons cosseted, promoted and arranged for more than $30m in Pentagon payments to the George Washington manque of Iraq. In return, he fed them a steady diet of disinformation and in the run-up to the war sent various exiles to nine nations' intelligence agencies to spread falsehoods about weapons of mass destruction. If the administration had wanted other material to provide a rationale for invasion, no doubt that would have been fabricated. Either Chalabi perpetrated the greatest con since the Trojan horse, or he was the agent of influence for the most successful intelligence operation conducted by Iran, or both.

The CIA and other US agencies had long ago decided that Chalabi was a charlatan, so their dismissive and correct analysis of his lies prompted their suppression by the Bush White House.

In place of the normal channels of intelligence vetting, a jerry-rigged system was hastily constructed, running from the office of the vice president to the newly created Office of Special Plans inside the Pentagon, staffed by fervent neocons. CIA director George Tenet, possessed with the survival instinct of the inveterate staffer, ceased protecting the sanctity of his agency and cast in his lot.

snip>


In other words, Bushco was DELIBERATELY allowing Chalabi to do what they wanted him to do, even while everyone knew it was a scam.


Great article. Thanks

Most of us already know this, but it is worth repeating. American taxpayers supported this known criminal with how many millions of dollars? (In addition to the embezzlement.) Why is this not an article of impeachment against Bush?

to these lieing bastards and is a true American hero for doing so. She no doubt knew it meant the end of a 20 year career in the Air Force to speak out about what was going on there and did so anyway. I am so proud of her ,Richard Clark, Gen. Zinni and the others I should be honoring. Thank all of you for doing your DUTY and upholding the oath all service members took " to protect and defend the constitution of the U.S. against all enemies foreign and domestic". ...Oscar

Washington, which was just weeks ago in the grip of neoconservative orthodoxy and absolute belief in Bush's inevitability and righteousness, is now in the throes of agonizing events and being ripped apart by investigations. Things fall apart; all that was hidden is revealed; all sacred exposed as profane: the military, loyal and lumbering, betrayed and embittered; the general in the field, Lt. Gen. Sanchez, disgraced and cashiered; and the most respected retired generals training their artillery on those who have ill-used the troops, still dying in the field; the intelligence agencies, a nautilus of chambers, abused and angry, its retired operatives plying their craft with the press corps, seeping dangerous truths; the press, hesitatingly and wobbly, investigating its own falsehoods; the neocons, publicly redoubling their passionate intensity, defending their hero and deceiver Chalabi, privately squabbling, anxiously awaiting the footsteps of FBI agents; Colin Powell, once the most acclaimed man in America, embarked on an endless quest to restore his reputation, damaged above all by his failure of nerve; everyone in the line of fire motioning toward the chain of command, spiraling upward and sideways, until the finger pointing in a phalanx is directed at the hollow crown.

Sid is right on this and that they are moving with all due speed. We can't last as a Nation much longer with these guys in charge. The damage they could do between now and the election is too frightening to imagine. :scared:

It's good that people are finally waking up to all this, but every time one of these revelations hits the news, it just reminds me that it all should have been in the news many months ago.

The damage has already been done. The only thing that could redeem this, is if people became wiser the next time around. But I'm not getting that impression. They'll all wail "we were lied to!!!", but a few years from now, when the next (neo?)neo-cons make a grab for power to start their latest war, will anyone investigate, or question their plans?

bargains. Otherwise you are correct and it will be like Watergate and Iran Contra which didn't bring down enough of the "operatives" and throw them in the clinker for the rest of their lives.

The folks from both those dirty operations came back and are with us today. They profited! If this isn't seriously prosecuted with a dragnet operation, then sadly we will be right back years from now, fighting over whether poor Bush was "misused" by a group of fanantics, not the other way around. :-(

disastrous deficits. How Bush could get away with something that stupid and irresponsible, with plenty of support from Dems in Congress, still amazes me. Clinton took 8 years to dig us out of the Reagan/Bush hole and Shrub took one to throw us right back in. The media were as responsible for this disaster as for the election theft and the runup to war.

At least it took America 25 years to forget that ground wars in Asian countries that don't pose a threat to us are not a good idea. That alone wouldn't make me feel hopeless about the stupidity of the government, media and public. But when they forgot, in only 8 years, that you can't cut revenues and increase spending without creating deficits, I lost all faith in the intelligence of voters, media, and government.

asks the neocons "Who gave Ahmed Chalabi classified information?"

that Sidney Blumenthal would get to wright this story.
First Al Gore, now Blumenthal. Last week it was Rober Reich.

Nice to see the Clinton administration getting its chops back online.