Bush CIA Deputy Director Admits We Were Lied Into Iraq War

[FourScore]

Tue May 19, 2015 at 07:14 PM PDT
Bush CIA Deputy Director Admits We Were Lied Into Iraq War
by ericlewis0


On Hardball tonight, Chris Matthews interviewed ex-CIA Deputy Director (and Acting Director) under George W. Bush, Michael Morrell. Here is a partial transcript, courtesy of Mother Jones:

Host Chris Matthews asked Morell about a statement Cheney made in 2003: "We know he [Saddam Hussein] has been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons. And we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons." Here's the conversation that followed:

MATTHEWS: Was that true?

MORELL: We were saying—

MATTHEWS: Can you answer that question? Was that true?

MORELL: That's not true.

MATTHEWS: Well, why'd you let them get away with it?

MORELL: Look, my job Chris—

MATTHEWS: You're the briefer for the president on intelligence, you're the top person to go in and tell him what's going on. You see Cheney make this charge he's got a nuclear bomb and then they make subsequent charges he knew how to deliver it…and nobody raised their hand and said, "No that's not what we told him."

MORELL: Chris, Chris Chris, what's my job, right? My job—

MATTHEWS: To tell the truth.

MORELL: My job—no, as the briefer? As the briefer?

MATTHEWS: Okay, go ahead.

MORELL: As the briefer, my job is to carry CIA's best information and best analysis to the president of the United States and make sure he understands it. My job is to not watch what they're saying on TV.

The discussion went on:

MATTHEWS: So you're briefing the president on the reasons for war, they're selling the war, using your stuff, saying you made that case when you didn't. So they're using your credibility to make the case for war dishonestly, as you just admitted.

MORELL: Look, I'm just telling you—

MATTHEWS: You just admitted it.

MORELL: I'm just telling you what we said—

MATTHEWS: They gave a false presentation of what you said to them.

MORELL: On some aspects. On some aspects.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/michael-morell-bush-cheney-iraq-war

As Chris Matthews said, "This is a big deal." Big props to him for getting the confession.

I suppose it's only a matter of time before Morrell claims he didn't properly hear the questions.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/20/1386107/-Bush-CIA-Deputy-Director-Admits-We-Were-Lied-Into-Iraq-War

[No Vested Interest]

1. Morell's peddling a book.

Charlie Rose had him on, too.
Rose didn't press him as hard as Matthews.

[Wilms]

2. That's 'cause Rose doesn't press.

He interrupts.

[No Vested Interest]

4. Rose likely has a prepared set of questions, from which he

doesn't deviate.
When guest rambles on too long or goes too far off subject, he moves in - sometimes necessary.

Ever notice how he closes his eyes and appears to take a quick nap while the guest is speaking?

[Wilms]

5. I have.

And while I generally like his work, there have been too many times I wanted the guest to have a chance to finish an idea.

[No Vested Interest]

6. Rose is usually better than whatever else on at that hour.

I'm not interested in his showbiz guests.
His round table guests are often good.
I especially liked the series on the brain, mental illness, etc.

[Octafish]

3. That means Bush lied America into war.

Treason.

[bobthedrummer]

7. Turkey hires ex-CIA head for lobbying in US: Report (5-10-15 PressTV)

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/05/10/410297/Turkey-US-CIA-Director-Porter-Goss-Lobbying-Kelly-Syria

Porter Johnston Goss (The Center for Media and Democracy/SourceWatch profile)
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Porter_J._Goss

I know that Goss was breakfasting with Pakistan's intelligence chief on a September morning in 2001 in NYC. Just a coincidence.

K&R