FLASH UPDATE: Jim Marcinkowski just added to guest list for tomorrow night’s BRAD SHOW!
Jim Marcinkowski, former CIA case officer, gave some remarkable testimony at today’s Joint Democratic House/Senate Hearings on Karl Rove’s TreasonGate. He described the leak about Valerie Plame’s identity and its subsequent coverup by the White House as “a disservice to our country,” resulting in an “increase in the risk to the people of the United States.”
Blasting those attempting to protect themselves with attacks on Ambassador Joe Wilson and others trying to sound the alarm bell about what this Administration has done, Marcinkowski said those who would “shine up your American Flag lapel pin and fix your patriotism to your sleeve, [should] think about what impact your actions are gonna have on the security of the American people.”
The resulting message he says is sent around the world: “Politics in this country does indeed trump National Security.”
Crooks and Liars has the video of his testimony.
ConyersBlog has more details on today’s proceedings.
Here are a few of the stunning key passages from Marcinkowski’s testimony:
Each time a distinguished ambassador is ruthlessly attacked for the information he provides, a foreign asset will contemplate why he should risk his life when his information will not be taken seriously.
Each time there is perceived a “political success” in deflecting responsibility by debating or re-debating some minutiae involved in this case, such actions are equally effective in undermining the ability of this country to protect itself against its enemies because the two are indeed related.
Each time the political machine, made up of primetime patriots and partisan ninnies display their ignorance by deriding Valerie Plame as a mere “paper pusher” or belittling the varying degrees of cover used to protect our officers or continuing to play partisan politics with our national security, it’s a disservice to this country.
…
So may fool the American public by distracting minutiae, but your not doing it for people overseas. They know better.
Those who would advocate the “I’m okay, you’re okay” politics of non-responsibility should think about the impact of those actions on our foreign agents.
Non-responsibility means: “We don’t care.” Not caring means a loss of security. A loss of security means the loss of an agent. The loss of an agent, means the loss of information. The loss of information means an increase in the risk to the people of the United States.
There’s a very simple message here: Before you shine up your American Flag lapel pin and fix your patriotism to your sleeve, think about what impact your actions are gonna have on the security of the American people.
Think about whether your partisan obfuscation is creating confidence in the United States in general and in the CIA in particular. If not, a true patriot would just simply shut up.
Those who take pride in their political ability to divert the issue from the fundamental truth, ought to be prepared to take their share of responsibility for the continuing damage done to our national security.
When this unprecedented act first occurred, the President could have immediately demanded the resignation of all persons even tangentially involved. Or at a minimum he could have suspended the security clearances of those persons and placed them on administrative leave. Such methods are routine across the country in every police department in every American citizen understands that.
That would have at least sent the right message around the globe that we take the security of those risking their lives on behalf of the United States seriously.
Instead, we have flooded the foreign airwaves with two years of inaction, political rhetoric, ignorance and partisan bickering.
That’s the wrong message.
In doing so, we have not lessened, but increased the threat to the security and safety of the people of the United States. And we’ve done since the time of this first breach of trust.
I thank you.
UPDATE: Looks like David Corn also has both the transcript and additional info and thoughts on today’s hearings.
RAW STORY has the testimony from Valerie Plame’s CIA colleague Larry C. Johnson who sets out to “correct a malicious and disingenuous smear campaign that has been executed against a friend and former colleague, Valerie (Plame) Wilson.”
Great…good for Jim…he is absolutely right and I hope this shames the right people into finally putting our country first.
I think that the info at this link still applies.
C-Span has the link for the entire hearing posted on its site, here.
If you have not seen the hearing, it is your patriotic duty, seriously, to watch all two hours and twelve minutes. It is impossible to describe the impact of what these former intelligence agents had to say with respect to the profound harm this leak has wreaked on our national security for the foreseeable future.
Please, please, email this link to everyone you know and ask them — indeed, beg them — to forward it to everyone they know (chain letter style) until everyone in this country sees it. It’s that important!
Subj: The truth continues to surface
Each day more information surfaces. You’re making progress. Good luck with the Downing Street Memo reviews. [More . . .]
You’re winning.
/s/
Constant
Larry Johnson’s letter on Rawstory is also stunning and eviscerates all the partisan spin. And he voted for Bush in 2000.
"John Bolton Was Regular Source for Judith Miller WMD and National Security Reporting"
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/
Not that I’m surprised by this.
Sounds like George Galloway without the British accent.
Power to the people.
I watched the hearings on my computer. I almost cried.
Since I have like very bad TV reception, and don’t give a shit anyway, I "see" all these voices on my screen , but
never see them in action.
Nice room, no brooms!!
And the mics weren’t cut off!
Like the way he says,"some may fool the American public but you’re not going to fool people overseas." You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time. Some people that voted for Bush based on the mainstream media information that was presented at that time had no idea they were voting for a disgraceful lying murderer who cheated to win teh presidency for the 2nd time. Here’s to your Bushit aerospace nukes program Dubyas.
BRAD, CONYERS & ALL: MASSIVE WARNING, POSSIBLY NOT A FALSE ALERT! DICK CHENEY HAS LOST IT; I REPEAT THE VICE PRESIDENT MAY HAVE CRACKED!
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/20.../22/11532/9662
" **Justin Logan excerpts an article that’s apparently in the print issue of The American Conservative:**
The Pentagon, **acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney’s office** , has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing–that **Iran** is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack–but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections. "
This is very serious and must be investigated!!!!! The Vice President seems to be suffering from a vast mental disorder, and may be unfit for command!
He is going to order Bush out of the area, allow another terror attack and then proceed to nuke Iran! If he nukes Iran we could be looking at nuclear war! I repeat: PNAC’s final plan, which Cheney always said he would follow, is a nuclear attack against Iran & the middle east.
http://newamericancentury.org
Sir it has come to my attention, that we may be forced to assault the VP’s office and take him into immediate custody. Along with either shooting or arresting any army officers who are protecting him at the W.H. If we do not seriously investigate the threat and possibly remove him for mental health reasons, Bush and everyone else will pay the price.
TWO ENTIRE COUNTRIES MAY PAY THE PRICE. WE **CANNOT** WAIT. THIS HAS TO BE DEALT WITH, CAREFULLY.
Doug E.
All,
Someone is deleting the links which reference the article. This news is evidently the most damaging in some time,
http://www.libertyforum.org/sho...#Post293807275
Remember this has been taken from the August issue of American Conservative, one of the nation’s largest conserv. magazines.
Doug E.
Look at it this way, Doug–if Cheney goes insane and starts WWIII, the Republicans will probably lose control of all three branches of government.
I don’t know what else to say. It’s not like we can demand that the Vice-President be evaluated for mental health. If we could do that, the whole damned administration would be gone by now.
These 7/22 entries were not on the blog yesterday. What Happened?
For Doug E.: Don’t overlook the possibility that the conservative magazine has planted this as a red herring. very possibly at Karl Rove’s direction.
Strategy: Get "liberals" to overreact to suspicions that we’re about to attack Iran. Paint them as conspiracy theorists, operating without hard evidence. Then demand proof, which is lacking because of secrecy.
Rove is entirely capable of this kind of trick. And an Iran debate would also serve to take the heat of the Valerie Plame affair.
No I’m very careful, but the United Kingdom is **also** reporting it.
http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/...ic.php?t=38408
If it wasn’t a real proposal I don’t think the links would constantly be dissapearing, so I have to take it as……He is threatening to Nuke Iran, off the record.
Doug E.
I couldn’t access the brad blog yesterday till my 7:30 post yesterday. I waited 5 minutes after pressing submit. Then gave up and minimized. The format was 2X times wider than my screen.
I had a problem yesterday too. when my BradBlog page was loading it was jumping up and down like someone on amphetamines who could also speedread. I went to some other pages and it continued, but after fidgeting with stuff a while and rebooting my machine it finally went away.
I don’t know if this is really bad webpage management or if somebody out there is feeling the heat and did a little terrorizing.
Anyway, the story about Cheney would definately take some attention away from Karl Rove and we should consider it both important, but, as usual, just one part of a very large sordid story, like a Van Gogh painting on acid.
Dick Cheney is also the original one conspiring about Valerie….He wanted the CIA force out of the way badly, very badly.
Might want to read this story here too which goes all over it.
"SCOOP: John Bolton Was Regular Source for Judith Miller WMD and National Security Reporting
TWN has just learned from a highly placed source — and in the right place to know — that John Bolton was a regular source for Judith Miller’s New York Times WMD and national security reports.
The source did not have any knowledge on whether Bolton was one of Miller’s sources on the Valerie Plame story she was preparing, but argues that he was a regular source otherwise.
It’s all “thickening.”"
http://www.thewashingtonnote.co...es/000797.html
Also implicates Bolton directly, conspiring with Libby at the **same time** Judith was getting her orders to not reveal her sources.
Doug E.
Glory be to God on High! Looks like the rats in the White House might finally be getting exactly what they deserve. I loved the way Larry Johnson and Jim Marcinkowski made Ken Mehlman and the Republicans with their talking points look like complete fools. Wonder what dirty tricks and smears evil Karl is planning for these truth-tellers. Karl’s in the spotlight now, hopefully his gig is up.
Tin Foil Allert!
I think Cheney is the source of all evil in this administration. We know he’s a war proffiteer.
He has the most to gain or lose from Valerie Plame’s (and others) intelligence on WDM because he’s involved in illegal weapons sales up to his eye balls.
These weapons include nuclear.
RLM #14 Good thinking.
Imagine what a cornered Rove would do when we have already seen how maniacal he is even when not cornered.
CAUTION!
Doug E # 18 I saw that story too …
I wonder why the story about Bolton (bu$hit ambassador to UN) being the one Judith Miller is protecting (link here) did not come up during the confirmation hearings?
Is the coverup so massive that even full blown Senate investigations can not find out?
dredd I read that Boltan may have signed his
confirmation info before testifiing. Can’t remember where, though.
I also had trouble accessing the Brad Blog yesterday.
#14 has a point that the neocons may be playing misdirection w/ the Iran story. Thing is, it’s actually believable-these people are that crazy. If true, we may have to rely on the conscience of a few good men to save the earth.
Dredd,
As I understand it, Pat Roberts is head of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He chaired the hearing on Bolton, was prepared to hand the documents over….
But John Negroponte then gave him authorized marching orders to not hand them over under any **circumstances** , citing national security as a chief concern.
Office of special plans….It all fits. They covered Bolton’s ass in the Libby scandal because of treason.
Doug E.
DOUG E,
Here is a link you should read.
http://www.amconmag.com/03_24_03/cover.html
The article is by Pat Buchanan, and the date is March 2003, but I believe it to be pertinent to all the current events. Read it, and see if you agree.
Lindy #26 Thanks for the link. Here is a quote from the Buchanan article you cited: "We charge that a cabal of polemicists and public officials seek to ensnare our country in a series of wars that are not in America’s interests. We charge them with colluding with Israel to ignite those wars and destroy the Oslo Accords. We charge them with deliberately damaging U.S. relations with every state in the Arab world that defies Israel or supports the Palestinian people’s right to a homeland of their own. We charge that they have alienated friends and allies all over the Islamic and Western world through their arrogance, hubris, and bellicosity.
Not in our lifetimes has America been so isolated from old friends. Far worse, President Bush is being lured into a trap baited for him by these neocons that could cost him his office and cause America to forfeit years of peace won for us by the sacrifices of two generations in the Cold War." (link here)
That view is what I have been urging (link here) on this blog. For republicans to cast the neocon madness from their ranks.
For Pat Buchanan to see the neocons as way right of him is telling. And it is telling a scary story.
Scary because "criminal" has morphed into "political" and anyone politically sane, i.e. having American interests above partisan interests, can see it clearly.
The polls showing increasing decline in congressional and presidential popularity only confirm it more.
Dredd,
It is my belief that Bush not only sold out his entire soul to Israel–But his political capital as well.
The USA is now Israel’s own guinea pig. We no longer show any restraint, we will nuke countries….
And if Bush shows any sign of **easing off** the genocide, Israel’s ultimate ally, Dick Cheney will send him packing. Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle they are all vicious and completely hell-bent neoconservatives.
This goes way beyond one simple man, the PNAC team has been in control the entire time.
Paul Wolfowitz if president would nuke Mecca right now. **He would invade the entire Middle East, and declare war based on alliance, on Moscow Russia. **
Wolfowitz a persecuted jew has adopted the view of the original nazis, as has Dick Cheney by studying Richard Nixon. These men are completely out of their minds.
Lets say if someone in the white house **didn’t** agree with them, or didn’t agree with the reason for the masses to be controlled…..They could be assassinated. There could be nukes also fired on the United States.
There probably could be anyway, but Israel is so out of control by its blind leaders in AIPAC- Israel is for the most part not responsible. It is Israel’s regime, which is a dictatorship. Israel could fire nuclear weapons on the USA if we for any reason, decided to not comply.
Remember they sold our secrets to China? Traitors in the United States have helped the AIPAC do it already. We are **vulnerable beyond measure** to tyranny if we do not, line up in lockstep behind the agenda.
**The world has found its new Third Reich: And it is the American forces of Cheney combined with the vicious jews of AIPAC!**
Doug E.
Sorry folks… We were under serious attack here yesterday. Started just minutes after I posted Marcinkowski’s testimony and continued all night long. Made the blog virtually unaccessable all day and much of the night.
We’ve added additional security, but the bad guys always seem to find out new ways to work around it. Hope all stays well for tonight’s BRAD SHOW!
Doug #28
I see no reason to bring any race or racial ideology whatsoever into the discussion and debate.
Crime has no race and applies to all. Suffice it to keep the discussion to the law and the facts.
IMO.
I also had a problem accessing Brad’s Blog last night around 11:30 p.m. central time,But his wasn’t the only one.I also couldn’t access Conyers blog either.When I can’t access Brad’s Blog I get really upset. I worry for you Brad because of your truth telling.I don’t know about all you guys but I’ve had a really creepy feeling all week.Brad watch your back, I think things are really going to roll and you need to be extra super secret careful. Just be safe!
Dredd,
Probably so, but for these neoconservatives they only see it **one way** and you have to see it from their way, to see how serious this is.
Remember, all the radical members of AIPAC are jewish and have forced Cheney into their belief systems "speculously"
The country of Israel may not be responsible, but the **regime** of Israel which is AIPAC is and they just happen to be neoconservative jews. To me this looks like a very complex story, going back to persecution and the holocaust of 1941.
This is why they all declare anti-semitism whenever you oppose their agenda, you have to actually see it too.
Now, there is also clear alterior motives in the whole PNAC movement but a huge amount of it has to do with Israel policy and oil production….The AIPAC is very much on a quest to control the world it has been disgusted with. Very interesting.
Doug E.
It is common knowledge that Pat Buchanan has made some odd statements along the way, but he has nailed one or two right on the money along the way. Take a look at this transcript;
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRAN...19/ldt.01.html
citation from that: "LOU DOBBS: Coming up next here — why Pat Buchanan says the Republican Party will be at war in the 2008 presidential election. Pat Buchanan is our guest next. Stay with us."
Brad, I hope your show goes well tonight. I’ll be listening if you are. It promises to be a HOT one!
Hi, Doug & Dredd – I’m with Dredd on this one. Criminals are criminals, regardless of whether they are jewish, muslim, black, white, of Asian descent. Criminals are criminals, regardless of their so-called religion or ideology. We must NOT set nation against nation, country against country, race against race, religion against religion. We must all stand together as people of the world against ALL thugs, criminals and dictators who thirst for, and steal, political power in ANY country for their own selfish, evil, criminal and insane goals.
I agree with Peggy. We lower the bar if we resort to pitting race against race, or ideology against ideology. These are ethical and moral standards which are being trampled. Americans expect and deserve to have truth become the pillar around which we can gather.
Israel is a country, not an ethnicity. Don’t confuse Jews, many of whom are liberal Americans, with Israelis. Many Israelis are just as disillusioned with their leadership as many of us here, as well.
Several things to think about: military planning is always occuring, and many scenarios are studied and planned on contingency all the time. That in itself is not unusual, though I can see why some in planning for this administration might be more worried than they have been in the past.
On the other hand, Worldnetdaily has been reporting that "terrorists" have old soviet nukes (including suitcase nukes) in the US and plan to use them. This isn’t realistic given the technological requirements for moving and storing nukes. But if anything happens, the Christofascists will have already been alerted and motivated to attack Islam autmatically.
FEMA has also scheduled a drill for, I believe, August 6, to practice for a nuclear detonation at Charleston, S.C. They do such drills routinely (though usually at Quantico). Still, there were FEMA drills in place at 9/11 and also privately contracted drills in London, as many of you know.
The thing to do here is to press for accountability through DSM and Rove/Libby/Plame. Larry Johnson gave the democratic radio address today as a registered republican and it made NPR. Strong stuff.f Hope someone was listening.
I agree with most of you. That is why we are on this blog. Right!? However, each of you should become familiar with:
1. http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html
as to who the members were or are of The Carlyle Group
2. who belongs to PNAC and what do they do:
http://newamericancentury.org
http://newamericancentury.org/aboutpnac.htm
Established in the spring of 1997, the Project for the New American Century is a non-profit, educational organization whose goal is to promote American global leadership. The Project is an initiative of the New Citizenship Project (501c3); the New Citizenship Project’s chairman is William Kristol and its president is Gary Schmitt.
——
http://newamericancentury.org/s...principles.htm
"Such a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity may not be fashionable today. But it is necessary if the United States is to build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security and our greatness in the next.
Elliott Abrams Gary Bauer William J. Bennett Jeb Bush
Dick Cheney Eliot A. Cohen Midge Decter Paula Dobriansky Steve Forbes
Aaron Friedberg Francis Fukuyama Frank Gaffney Fred C. Ikle
Donald Kagan Zalmay Khalilzad I. Lewis Libby Norman Podhoretz
Dan Quayle Peter W. Rodman Stephen P. Rosen Henry S. Rowen
Donald Rumsfeld Vin Weber George Weigel Paul Wolfowitz "
———–
http://newamericancentury.org/d...e-20050128.htm
Letter to Congress on Increasing U.S. Ground Forces
January 28, 2005
Dear Senator Frist, Senator Reid, Speaker Hastert, and Representative Pelosi:
The United States military is too small for the responsibilities we are asking it to assume.
——
Now, your homework assignment is to complete the remainder of the research for yourself rather than get into an anti-anything else.
Doug-
Interesting information, possibly a ploy, but from my perspective the most likely course of action.
Lets not forget what the release of Valeria Plames identity cost the US, and where it came from (dick Cheney’s office)…. Doug can enlighten us a little more on that, i read it on conyers blog.
It seems that the release of her identity makes the same plans Doug is referring to a lot easier to accomplish. By focusing on the Rove scandal etc…it seems that we could pull this apart from the inside, but Doug’s theory does not give us that long. Before the end of 2005 or definatley before the 06 election right Doug?
My advice, by some potassium iodide(protects you from radio active fallout following a nucleur attack) and a gun, and pray to god that America comes threw these Dark Ages….
Charlie- New Orleans
Charles,
I started seriously contemplating things like that and spreading the news. I’m not ready to take any extreme actions though until this is fully reported…..CNN or someone out there must have something to say on this with Iran. If not them, then IWT News will…They will soon be broadcasted.
Its an issue that can’t wait though on the tip of DSM.
Doug E.
3 comments:
1. I find that Lou Dobbs is the best anchor and news on television, by far. He seems to be suppressing the least news. We still need a cable news channel not owned by Corporate America.
2. Michael Chertoff, our national security advisor, is an Israeli citizen. His mother is an Israeli citizen, making him an Israeli citizen by Israeli law. Chertoff doesn not directly answer questions about whether he is an Israeli citizen.
3. The comments about there being a difference between Americans of Jewish background, and the Israeli’s, is hitting the nail on the head. I have many American-Jewish liberal friends, and they agree that the neo-con "Israeli interests before American interests", is destroying our country. Did you know that there are ongoing investigations of Israeli spies in our government? It’s actually in the MSM. Is it a crime to say this? Douglass Feith was investigated for passing classified information to the Israeli’s, and one of his protoge’s, I can’t remember his name. How did these guys get into the Bush administration? They aren’t "America First" people, and this Iraq War isn’t "America First".
I am for whatever is in the best interests of the United States, and the neo-cons are not. These handful of creeps have taken over our country.
Doug E
your multiple entries are beyond bizzare and edge on irrational. "Speculously"??? What is that?
Reading you is like reading Jimmo, only your entries are more spitful and hate-filled. I am shocked–shocked–at how mildly this thread responds to ignorance of a flamming
Anti-S such as you.
The neocon vision of the future …
Big Dan,
Yes it was Larry Franklin who got convicted and thrown in jail for passing on information. I hope they nail Douglas Feith too, he’s one of the real neocons behind this coverup.
By the way, it seems the comments about the jews have already spurred hateful remarks of anti-semitism from the likes of Cole. It must have struck a nerve. However I still think it must be scrutinized, that nearly all of these neocons are israeli jewish people. That isn’t anti-semitic that is a fact that we need to grasp.
Is it something about their way of viewing the world? Could be, there is some very interesting things on the PNAC website. Dredd’s picture brings to light what kind of vision they have.
Doug E.
Doug E #43 You said: "By the way, it seems the comments about the jews have already spurred hateful remarks of anti-semitism from the likes of Cole."
On this BLOG we have traditionally respected all races, creeds, religions, etc.
You first brought up the issue of jew in the context of neocons. I think that was a mistake and I said so in my post #30.
You replied "probably so" and now you are saying Cole made "hateful remarks" in likewise objecting to the linking of jew with crime.
I trust you can see that this takes away from the subject matter discussion and focuses on a wrong aspect.
Lets get back to our blog tradition here. Ok?
Again I say this isn’t about whether they are jewish or not, but the neocons are all israeli jews. This is why they can pin the label of anti-semitism on anyone who disagrees with them, you are missing the underlying point.
It is important to awcknowledge what they are, and by disagreeing with their ideaolology you are not falling into the trap of being "anti-semitic". It is **their** exscuse which creates anti-semitism, for if you look at their radical branch of government they do not behave in the same way jewish people do. This does not mean they aren’t jewish.
Don’t confuse the two and instead see it for what it is.
Doug E.
BRAD, If FEMA are holding another drill on August 6, like they did on 9/11 and in London on July 7, then we need to focus on these people…and act to protect ourselves on August 6 and any other time FEMA is afoot. We can pray there are American patriot moles in FEMA…as you can tell, I don’t trust FEMA!!!!
Struck a neve? Well Doug chalk one up for you.
Noecons are all Jewish? Sure except for the ones who are not–like the many X-tians.
No the label of
Antisemitic is
earned by your Antisemetic ramblings. Which will have an impact on the entire Blog and all threads from it.
Take heart you are not alone-shallow perhaps but unfortunately not alone.
Sorry but the Blog is in danger of coddling and encouraging Antisemitism and it is up to the Christians to call them out. If you have any respect and admiration for Brad you will speak out. The stain will not wash out.
This is not about a fight between Christians and Semites like someone would like to make it out to be. This is about the Project for New American Century, which by the way does not have any X-tians on its staff.
You must look beyond the forest for the trees, to the makeup of AIPAC. And AIPAC is completely constructed of Israeili nationalists like it or not.
Doug E.
of anti-semitism from the likes of Cole. It must have struck a nerve.
From the "likes of Cole" ?
Doug, you have made this an issue, made and repeated AND with an Antisemitic bias, FOR what purpose Herr Eldrich?
Let’s have a Poll of the thread,shall we. How many stand with Doug? By my count it is about 10 to 12.
Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing–that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack–but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections.
Several senior Air Force officers NEED TO STAND UP IN PUBLIC AND TELL THE WORLD.