why Woodward did it

[donsu]

http://www.counterpunch.com/whitney10022006.html

Court Stenographer Finally Comes Clean
Woodward's 60 Minutes Bloodbath


-snip-

Most of what Woodward said on 60 Minutes was accurate and interesting. Bush has deceived the American people about the slow-rolling catastrophe in Iraq. He's obfuscated the truth about the 800 to 900 attacks on American troops per week and, yes, Rumsfeld is the greatest bungler in the history of the Republic. But why has Woodward decided to spill the beans now? And, how long has he been withholding this information from the public? (some of the crucial details date back to 2003!?!) And why would Woodward organize a book tour that is clearly designed to obliterate Bush's credibility just 6 weeks before the election?

Woodward speaks for establishment elites who have stood on the sidelines cheering on the war-effort regardless of the rivers of blood coursing down the streets of Baghdad. He doesn't care that people are blown apart in their homes as long as it serves the overall interests of a small cadre of white plutocrats. What affects Woodward's delicate sensibilities is the inefficiency of the slaughter which has yet to produce the desired results. That's why the gloves have come off. That's why he's been employed to mug the muggers and kill the killers.

Woodward's appearance on 60 Minutes was the moral equivalent of a Mafia Hit-man performing the one task for which he is singularly well-suited; snuffing out a rival with a quick jab to the rib-cage.

Et tu, Bobby?

Woodward is on a mission to dethrone the Bushies and send them packing. The solidarity among American powerbrokers has dissolved into a bitter dispute over incompetence. Disenchanted elites want a place at the policy-table again and Woodward is leading the charge. His appearance is just the first of many salvos which will be aimed in the direction of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
-snip-
--------------------------------


the article ends with this:

This is the real "State of Denial"; the belief that it's okay to slaughter people and destroy their civilization to enhance the wealth and power of a handful of western elites. It's a crime for which Woodward is just as guilty as Bush.

[greenman3610]

1. what did Bob know and when did he know it?

did he keep this from americans prior to the election of 2004,
so he could sell books now?

He is one creepy character.

[lyonn]

6. I read his book "Plan of Attack"

It was a waste of my money! He played real well to the bush crowd. It was like he was trying to make the admin. sound like they actually gave thought and debate to the issues yet said Nothing. Horse poop - - - I'm not sure I finished it.

I don't intend to buy this one!

Thanks for this post, it is food for thought and scary.

[Tuesday_Morning]

35. I agree w/ Arianna Huffington on this

Woodward as Journalistic Hero: the Real State of Denial

Bob Woodward is getting the journalistic hero treatment for "State of Denial," his self-revising reassessment of the Bush administration's handling of Iraq -- including a cover plug from Newsweek (which called him "the best excavator of inside stories in the nation's capital") and a laudatory lead story segment on "60 Minutes".


Talk about being in a state of denial: praising Woodward for his very-late-to-the-party Iraq pile-on is like a music critic writing a rave of "Let It Be" and getting credit for discovering The Beatles. Or, more fitting, having someone be the 100th -- or is 100,000th? -- person to call 911 to report a car crash and then getting credit for alerting the authorities.

Yet there was Mike Wallace gushing about how Woodward had "unearthed" a "secret" classified graph revealing that -- wait for it -- attacks on "US, Iraqi, and allied forces... have increased dramatically over the last three years." Wow. You don't say! What did Woodward have to do to "unearth" that one? Pick up a newspaper? Or log onto a blog or two -- or two hundred?

Then there was the revelation, breathlessly delivered by Wallace in his intro, that after two years and more than 200 interviews, including "most of the top officials in the administration," Woodward has come to "a damning conclusion: That for the last three years, the White House has not been honest with the American public." Stop the presses, hold the front page! And burn all the copies of "Fiasco," "Cobra II," "The One Percent Doctrine," "Hubris" -- plus 99.9 percent of the blog posts on Iraq that have appeared on HuffPost since we launched -- that have previously come to exactly the same "damning conclusion." Why fork over $30 for much-older-than-yesterday's news?

more at link...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/woodward-as-journalistic-_b_30769.html

[rock]

2. $

[Kurovski]

3. And still, the establishment elites will be benefiting

financially for years to come. The profits have been phenomenal thus far.

But I guess they decided they've gotten enough for now and that it's time to reel it in.

Chances are they'll be back in another 25 years to make another killing.

Please pardon my crazy talk and imaginary musings.

[Brundle_Fly]

4. Nutjobs

All are we.

:silly:

[CoffeeCat]

5. I know this is optimistic....

...but it appears that Woodward set up the entire White House.

In 2002 Woodward publishes, "Bush at War", and in 2004 he releases "Plan of Attack". Both
books were pro-BushCo books and treaded lightly around the high crimes and misdemeanors of
this administration.

I wonder if Woodward knew that he must get inside, and earn their trust--before the real
truth was unearthed.

It's possible that one motivation for Woodwards' first two books--was to gain access. We all know how guarded these thugs are.

I find it very interesting, and curious--that Woodward would release this highly damning book
so close to the election--and engage in an ambitious PR effort to drive home the notion
that BushCo lied to our entire nation. Woodward knows the ramifications of his actions. He
understands that this book and his media tour are costing the Republican votes--and helping
to catalyze a Dem majority in Congress.

I personally, don't care WHO runs these thugs out of town--or how it's done. Anything is better
than this destructive, neocon, fundie, fascist cabal. I'll take the conservative elites--over
these sadistic freaks--any day.

Go Woodward, I say.

[lyonn]

7. Yup, this is seriously possible??!!

I hate to give Woodward too much credit for anything, but, your point of this coming out right before the election is important. Factoring in the elite repubs is important - he is setting out details that the average Joe would ponder. So who profits? Hopefully the dems, at least for awhile.

Whatever it takes to control a part of Congress is OK with me! Enough time to figure the rest out later.

[liberalla]

18. That's what I was thinking...

Write two ass-kissing books to get them to relax and trust you, and they let you tape everything they say...

Now you can write the real book that spills the beans.
:evilgrin:

[Nimrod2005]

8. Wanted to go to heaven when he died...........nt

[zbdent]

9. Smells the blood in the water?

and he realizes that the "powers that be" may be shifting from the Repukes? (If the ballots really reflect reality ...)

[4_TN_TITANS]

15. Agree......

At least we hated * before hating * was cool. All I see is an opportunistic SOB trying to cash in and steal some of the thunder that wlll become a hurricane if the Dem win in Nov.

[KharmaTrain]

10. A New Term Is Emerging "Boooosh Repugnicans'

I heard several people use that term this morning on C-SPAN and it wasn't said in very kind tones. Yep, this is the "establishment" finally having had enough of the Texas cabal rummaging through the country...and most importantly, the economy.

The loved asshat when he cut taxes, and the first days of Iraq were "neato" cause they still wanted revenge for 9/11, but then the bills started coming due. Defecits soared, the markets went flat, interest rates began to rise...and these are core "establishment" values that supercede all else. Boooosh had crossed the line several years ago, but they still gave him slack and little messages. Lou Doobie's Immigrant bullshit is a sample...Wrapped in his xenophobia, Doobies also rails against outsouring and the defecits and plays "hero of the middle class" when in turn he's a spokesman for "the street" and the big money "establishment"

The break with booosh started to get rolling with Terry Schaivo. The pandering to the far right and then Katrina and the Plame scandal started giving some muted critics the cover to see if they could take some shots at boooosh/Rove/Cheney, Inc. Now with all the shit coming down on this regime, the "establishment" looks like its chiming in with its favorite scribe...Bobby Woodward.

The economy is a disaster and "the establishment" blames the Iraq war for causing a lot of problem...from higher oil prices to loss of international prestige to seeing the dollar sink on the money markets to the Euro and other currencies. There's no compassion here, just a chance here to put the brakes on the boooosh regime by helping the Democrats take control of at least the House if not the Senate as well (notice how Doobies promotes Byron Dorgan's book).

Lastly, don't count out the CIA who has been the booosh cabal's butt boys since Day One. A lot of the material in there sure makes the DOD look bad and out of control (which it is). Also, the revelation of the Tenet/Black meeting that wasn't disclosed to the 9/11 commission. Who else other than those inside the White House would have known such a meeting took place...and you know Condaliar's people wouldn't leak first.

This is gonna be an interesting week as the wingnuts have their work cut out for them. So many fires in so many places...which distraction will stick? What slime can they roll out to "control the message".

[tblue]

14. Yeah, you gotta expect that some number of greedy, overfed corporate

bigwigs are not at all happy with the devaluation of the dollar and the deficits and the price of fuel. They're not all bind to the fact that they did far better under Clinton. They want out as much as we do. Not for the same reasons, but I'll take it.

[patrice]

11. Yep!

I'm going to buy/read his book anyway!

[Virginia Dare]

12. There has been speculation for sometime...

as to Woodward's CIA connections, this could also be part of the ongoing battle between the Agency and the Bush Admin.

[Canuckistanian]

13. Wasn't he in Naval Intelligence?

I wonder if he kept those contacts.

[NewJeffCT]

16. yes, he was naval intelligence

and, if anybody calls Woodward part of the "liberal" media - ask them why has Woodward been so good at getting inside information on secretive, media-bashing Republican Administrations? First Nixon, and now Bush 2... it's certainly not because he's a radical commie leftist pinko hippy tree hugger.

[Disturbed]

17. Paleo Conservatives and Libertarians are anti-Busholini

The RW Fundies and Neocons hijacked the Rethug party. Conservatives are fighting back.The only way the Busholini Regime can be tamped down now is to have a Dem majority in the House &/or Senate. It is not about getting rid of the Busholini Regime rather to neuter their policies to some degree so that America does not become an outright Fascist Police State.

[Laurab]

32. After thinking about it a bit, that's my guess

it is one of the few things that make sense. I don't think Woodward needs the money, nor do I think he cares about the country all that much, since he himself has been part of so much spin. I also wonder if he would have the courage to go out on a limb like this without some powerful friends.

I think it's far more likely he has CIA connections, than that he's developed a conscience. The administration should have known better than to mess with the CIA.

Anyway, that's my guess. Whether we'll ever know is another story.

[Spazito]

19. This is certainly my take on Woodward as well....

The neocons have not been able to accomplish what the "powers that be" installed them to do and, further to that, may well lose Congress in the upcoming election due to their "inefficiencies" which will make the agenda of the "powers that be" more difficult to push ergo the reason for cutting the bush cabal loose via Woodward.

[KittyWampus]

21. I think they resent the Texas WASP Mafia, myself. The "Elite" isn't as

monolithic as many assume. Nor are all those who occupy the richest 1% Republicans, NeoCons or totally in favor of unregulated corporations.

CEO's have complained about the GOP shakedowns.

They do not ALL support the agenda.

[Spazito]

24. The "powers that be" are not limited nor exclusive to corporations

or the 1%, to me, they include but are not limited to people like bush 41, James Baker III, Norquist, Kissinger, etc. There are both global corporatists and ideologues who are unhappy with this administration and their political stripe is secondary to the goals, imo.

[WinkyDink]

20. Preparing for his next "insider" book, about Dems?

Betting on the future.

[Cleita]

22. I always thought they would be brought down by one of their own, just

like Nixon was and Woodward was part of that too. I guess he knows how to do it. I for one hope that our Dems know a golden opportunity to strike at the GOP while they are taking sides in what promises to be an infight amongst them.

[Annces]

23. good article

Woodward is turning on them, because they are not serving the elite interests well enough. Time to bring in a different pack of corrupt individuals.

[leftchick]

25. thanks for this

it sure clears that up.

[leftchick]

26. kick

.

[scarletwoman]

27. My own theory is that this has to do with Iran.

We've all been watching the propaganda buildup for months. The neocon faction of the bush* cabal is just itching to drop bombs on Iran.

I think what we're seeing here is that particular factions within the Ruling Class are balking at the idea of attacking Iran. Surely the Saudis (and the Carlysle {sp?} Group), and Big Oil are less than enthusiastic about fomenting even MORE instability in the Middle East via military action against yet another oil-producing nation. Wall Street and international banking interests may also be taking stock and seeing less than positive results from another war.

And one should always bear in the mind the possible connections between Woodward and Military Intelligence -- given his early career in Naval Intelligence. There have been many small leaks recently that indicate a serious reluctance on the part of elements of the U.S. military to be roped into yet another conflict.

Woodward is a creature wholly owned and operated by DC insiders. The fact that he has come out with a book that is less than flattering to the Chimperor almost certainly means that at least some elements of the power elite who work in the shadows have decided to put the brakes on the boy-king's delusions.

sw

[scarletwoman]

28. kicking this up... (nt)

[scarletwoman]

29. I wish this were getting more attention -- I know the Foley thing is big,

but so is Woodward's book. Things are stirring on MORE than one front, imho...

sw

[wrate]

30. Agreed, * and his cabal are now perceived as loose canons by the power

elite. Woodward is their hitman.....again (Nixon).

[scarletwoman]

31. I REALLY hope this is the case. At the very least, it will be interesting

and instructive to watch how this particular drama unfolds. What will be most telling is whether this snowballs into something larger, or if it dies away. This will give us a picture of which faction of the Ruling Class has the most power.

sw

[CornField]

33. Could be Woodward is just trying to get the most bang for his buck

After all, what would be a better time to release such a book? The public interest is up because of the November elections... because of the other scandals... because of the more and more extreme action coming from the GOP-controlled Congress...

For him (and the publisher which usually dictates release dates) to hold this book until after the elections just doesn't make fiscal sense.

[cassiepriam]

34. I think he is only CYA, only worried about himself.

Realizes he tarnished his image badly and wants to
spiff it up a bit.

[GeorgeGist]

36. Pssst...

Woodward is a double blind secret agent; even he doesn't know who he's working for.