Another Thunderbolt from Wilkerson

Another shocking accusation by former administration insider Lawrence Wilkerson appears to be going under the media radar today.

On NPR yesterday, the former chief of staff to the secretary of state said that he had uncovered a "visible audit trail" tracing the practice of prisoner abuse by U.S. soldiers directly back to Vice President Cheney's office.

"Mr. WILKERSON: I'm privy to the paperwork, both classified and unclassified, that the secretary of State asked me to assemble on how this all got started, what the audit trail was, and when I began to assemble this paperwork, which I no longer have access to, it was clear to me that there was a visible audit trail from the vice president's office through the secretary of Defense down to the commanders in the field that in carefully couched terms -- I'll give you that -- that to a soldier in the field meant two things: We're not getting enough good intelligence and you need to get that evidence, and, oh, by the way, here's some ways you probably can get it. And even some of the ways that they detailed were not in accordance with the spirit of the Geneva Conventions and the law of war.

"You just -- if you're a military man, you know that you just don't do these sorts of things because once you give just the slightest bit of leeway, there are those in the armed forces who will take advantage of that. There are those in the leadership who will feel so pressured that they have to produce intelligence that it doesn't matter whether it's actionable or not as long as they can get the volume in. They have to do what they have to do to get it, and so you've just given in essence, though you may not know it, carte blanche for a lot of problems to occur."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

Those bastards! I don't know why Colin Powell didn't just resign in protest. I would have a lot more respect for him.

I still do. He never looks pleased to be where he is. IN my mind's eye I see a dog who knows he has to follow the evil master's orders no matter what.

Powell was bought and paid for since he covered-up that deal. As for his 'distinguished' career, a diplomat, sure. Smart, you bet. But still bought and paid for. Always has been and always will be. Why else do you suppose Bu$h wanted him on the team?

All of a sudden he will get honest? Get that old time religion? Don't think so. He may have regrets, but he chose do do everything he did, and benefited greatly by aligning himself with these sorts of people. He'll stay in the compound.

The time for him to have made a stand, was My Lai. And he chose to protect the 'Service' rather than doing what was 'right' and 'moral'.

:nopity:

Kucinich he's not. For such a small guy that Kucinich has got a set of gonads.

Now who really is 'the man'? The powerful international operator like Powell or some small fry Congressman like Kucinich.

Shameful. Still don't think he feels any too good about what he's done with regard to this administration. I really feel that there's an "aura" of regret around him. Earned it for himself well enough, I have no doubt. But you're right. No gonads.

And a good many folks, back then as well as today, have got the moral fortitude and the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Thank the goddess for that!

I agree, he's a real public servant. He'd never steer us wrong intentionally, and if we only had that in the White House, we'd never be where we are today.

Powell just flat out broke my heart.

is letting Wilkerson do all the talking

that stinkin Powell makes me puke

Why is this NOT the headline on Page 1 of major newspapers ?

Good find, did not hear this yet, or only heard part of it.

He was telling the whole story - the cabal, the stovepiping, the torture orders direct from Rumsfeld (including helpful hints).

This is big. The CBC rarely does in-depth stories on American politics.

It really made it sound bad for Cheney. Too bad you'll never hear half of what he said on American MSM.

I hope that bloggers like you help spread the info from sea to shining sea down here, we need the truth out so badly!

I could, but I don't have the time....

And as for the truth, it's getting out ... only not in your own country.

He can't divorce himself from the global community, thanks for
your original post!

I was thinking it might be As It Happens but it's not in their archives that I could see. I would like to hear it if it is still available.

I don't know if it will be repeated.

I don't think we could get most Americans to care about this. After all, they're all terrorists over there and we gotta git them before they git us and all that. I have been astounded at the number of coworkers I've talked to who are perfectly fine with torturing possibly innocent people because if they can prevent another 9/11 they think it would be worth it.

make it personal...

they have isolated the Fueh... err President with another Wans... err OSP conference?

say....the Republican Controlled Congress?