Alternet interview with Joe Wilson

[G_j]

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING JOE WILSON
Lakshmi Chaudhry, AlterNet

The man responsible for striking the first major blow against Bush's case for war (and who is a centerpiece of the new film 'Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the War in Iraq') talks about Dick Cheney, White House lies and the vendetta aimed at his wife.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17091

<snip>
Alternet,
But as recently as September, Cheney was still reiterating the uranium purchase claims on NBC's "Meet the Press." He said that the claim that "Saddam was, in fact, trying to acquire uranium in Africa" had been "revalidated." He also said, "So there may be a difference of opinion there. I don't know what the truth is on the ground. ... I don't know Mr. Wilson. I probably shouldn't judge him."

Wilson,
Let me put it to you this way. I've had my credibility tested three different times by this administration ? my credibility versus their credibility. One on the uranium. One on who asked the question ? whether it was the vice president or not. One on my wife ? basically covering all aspects, including whether she is the one who sent me or not. On each of these occasions, I have been proven to have been correct and truthful by statements that the White House itself has made. So I'm batting three for three. And as far as I can tell, Dick Cheney is batting, with respect to me, zero for three. I would match my credibility, my integrity, against his any day of the week, thank you.

Alternet,
Why do you think that he is then reasserting the lie over and over again even when he's been resoundingly proved to be wrong?

Wilson,
I have no idea. I don't know Dick Cheney. And I must say that I take that as a badge of honor. I don't need to know Dick Cheney. I will say this about Dick Cheney. When I was in Baghdad, sending cables back, they were all signed "Wilson." And Dick Cheney as Secretary of Defense was an addressee on those most sensitive of cables. So I'm sorry that his memory is as faulty as it is with regards to me. But I'm sure his explanation would be that he is technically correct in saying that we've never shaken hands. But I don't know what he's thinking about other than he's promoting a set of justifications that quite frankly simply don't hold water. Every time he says it, he sounds a little bit less persuasive.

<more>
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[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. wow G_j i just posted about this MoveOn film on WillPitts thread..thanks

GMTA :7 spread the word...i can't wait to see it :yourock:

[G_j]

3. thanks for the info ED

I hadn't heard of this before now. It sounds awesome. I took the liberty of posting it here. thanks! :hi:
------------------------
http://www.centerforamericanprogress.org/site/lookup.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=10775

American Progress, Moveon.org Launch Breakthrough Documentary, Uncovered:
The Whole Truth About the Iraq War
Internet-Only Distribution, November 2003

• Watch Trailer (Real | Windows)
• Film Overview and Interviewees, including five clips in Real and Windows format

This event is by invitation only.

A new, provocative documentary produced and directed by award winning filmmaker Robert Greenwald and sponsored by MoveOn.org and The Center for American Progress will reveal the distortion of intelligence by the Bush Administration which lead to the first pre-emptive war in the history of the United States.

The film has extensive and never before seen interviews with over 20 experts including former Ambassador Joe Wilson, former head of the CIA, Stansfield Turner, CIA operative Robert Baer, weapons inspector David Albright, the former U.S. Diplomat to Greece, John Brady Kiesling, who resigned over the war, former anti-terrorism expert Rand Beers and more insiders at the CIA, the Pentagon, the foreign service and several weapons inspection teams. The information is hard hitting and uncensored.

Starting Monday, November 3, almost 3 million people will be informed of the film concurrently through screenings and an unprecedented non-profit online coalition:
High profile screenings will be hosted in Washington D.C. by The Center for American Progress and writer/comedian Al Franken (11/3), New York by George Soros (11/4), at Harvard by Tom Hayden (12/06), San Francisco by Alternet (11/25).

Additional screenings will be scheduled throughout the country.
On the Internet, MoveOn.org, the Center for American Progress, The Nation Institute, Allternet, Buzzflash and Working Assets will be alerting their readerships and members about the film, which can be purchased on www.truthuncovered.com for viewing.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. ...can't wait to see it

"loveya"

http://www.centerforamericanprogress.org/site/lookup.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=10775

[G_j]

6. I'm very impressed

by the number of important folks they interview. This should be an important step in outing the truth.
:loveya: 2

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. i am especially interested in this interview with Milt Bearden

Milt Bearden is the CIA covert agent who trained Osama bin Laden in our CIA for 5 years under Bush Sr.'s orders when bush was head of our CIA...read his book "Black Tulip"

Additional interviewed experts include:

Milt Bearden, CIA's Soviet/Eastern European division as the Soviet Union was coming undone. He was the CIA station chief in Pakistan and was responsible for that agency's covert action program in support of the Afghan resistance to the Soviet-supported government. Bearden recently co-authored the book, Main Enemy: the inside story of the CIA's final showdown with the KGB.

[HootieMcBoob]

2. Thank God Wilson is on our side

He is so damn good. He's clear, articulate and not a bit afraid or intimidated by the likes of Cheney or anybody in the whitehouse. He, unlike anybody in this administration, has actually stood up to Saddam Hussein. To stand up to this bunch of thugs is nothing to him. Every time he speaks he makes them sound more and more like the punks they are.

[lovedems]

14. I think he is great because

he is not a politician and doesn't TALK like one. Instead of sugar coating an insult like the DC dems have been doing for the past 3 years, he tells it like it is. I love how he is going after Cheney! He doesn't leave much room for doubt.

[G_j]

15. yep, that's make a big difference

politicians learn double-speak fairly quickly and go on to make an art of it.

[Blue_Roses]

5. this guy has

my utmost respect. He speaks for many of us and I hope he continues to speak out against this travesty.

[blm]

8. This is SO important, but, I fear too many will ignore it now

because they don't like that Wilson is part of Kerry's foreign policy team with Gary Hart, Rand Beers and William Perry. It's as if Wilson's patriotism no longer matters to them and THEIR political agenda.

[G_j]

9. off the media radar

it seems.

also at Alternet,

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17084

Leakgate: Pressure on Ashcroft to Recuse Himself Grows

By Murray Waas, AlterNet
October 31, 2003

Several senior federal law enforcement officials in recent days have spoken privately amongst themselves of what they believe to be an increasing necessity by Attorney General John Ashcroft to formally recuse himself from any further role in the probe as to who leaked the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame. Investigators have begun to interview a number of personal friends and political associates of Ashcroft and members of his senior staff.

That belief among the senior law enforcement officials has only intensified in recent days since as many as a half-dozen White House officials have been asked by federal investigators about contacts they had with the Republican National Committee and conservative political activists. Investigators apparently are looking at whether the contacts were aimed at discrediting Plame and her husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV.

Ashcroft's own deputy chief of staff and a recently departed director of public affairs for the Justice Department have held senior positions at the Republican National Committee. Several investigators question whether Ashcroft should continue to oversee the investigation as increasingly larger numbers of individuals close to Attorney General and his staff are drawn into the probe, according to federal law enforcement officials. A smaller number of investigators also privately support Ashcroft naming a special counsel to take over the probe entirely.

The White House and the RNC have worked closely together to stymie the political fallout from the Plame affair, according to administration and Republican party officials. At least a half dozen White House officials have been asked about their contacts with the RNC, according to two Bush administration officials.

The same officials also say they do not believe that investigators are probing the efforts by the White House and the RNC as criminal misconduct, but rather as a means of determining who leaked Plame's identity as a CIA officer last July to conservative columnist Robert D. Novak.
....more...

[blm]

18. Well, look at Tweety. He's part of the story, yet he ignores it now.

I think it will be hard for Wilson to get the attention now that polls show the American people really do see it as a serious scandal. Right after those polls came out, the media started to go soft. It makes no sense for that to happen. That also coincided with Wilson joining Kerry's team. Now we hear the media claiming Kerry's campaign is dying or in shambles. Weird, eh? I just don't believe in coincidence with this Bush gang.

[JNelson6563]

11. Gee that is like an epiphany to me

that anyone on the Dem side would even consider such absurd and assinine reasoning. Have you seen such? Whatever would prompt you to subtly assert that any and/or all non-Kerry supporters would take such a position?

Why would you want to lower the dialogue in this important thread like that? This smells like flamebait which is usually used to persue and agenda. You know, the sort of thing you just above appear to have such great disdain for. Interesting. Unnecessary and counter-productive but interesting nonetheless.

Julie

[blm]

19. You don't see it the way I do

and that's fine. You don't have to insult me as if my intention is nefarious. Sheesh.

Wasn't it just a few months ago when I interrupted an attack on your intentions?

[JNelson6563]

10. So glad I peeked in

After a few truly horrid days here in GD I have been avoiding it.

I thought I'd take and look in case there was something valuable in here this morning and here you are!! Great post! I have ordered the CD and can't wait to share it with everyone I know!

The great info posts/links that made DU great. Love to see them.

Thank you.

Julie

[Tatiana]

12. Way to go, Joe!

What do you think of the administration's strategy in trying to deal with the information you brought forward challenging their claims? Most recently, the neoconservative hawk Michael Ledeen suggested that the enriched uranium might have ended up in Iran, for example.

"Well, I quite frankly think they're pathetic."

So do I, Joe... so do I.

[JNelson6563]

13. Great info

worth a kick

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. I just donated 30 bucks to Moveon so I could

get that film. I cannot WAIT to see it.

Go get 'em Joe!

[Pastiche423]

20. Do you know if the video

only comes in DVD? I can't find where it gives you a choice.

Here: https://www.moveonvoterfund.org/donate/uncovered.html?id=2061-1376722-Z2yelvwIpfBYQTRDIN4kEw

or here:


https://secure.ctsg.com/truth_uncovered/contribute/DVD_Store.asp

[Dudley_DUright]

17. Bill Clinton has outed me!

<snip>

One last question. Bill Clinton called you a "true American hero"?

George Bush Sr. did. Clinton called me Dudley Do-Right.

<snip>

:-)