Ex-Defense Official (Feith) Assails Colleagues Over Run-Up to War

[sabra]

Source: WP

In the first insider account of Pentagon decision-making on Iraq, one of the key architects of the war blasts former secretary of state Colin Powell, the CIA, retired Gen. Tommy R. Franks and former Iraq occupation chief L. Paul Bremer for mishandling the run-up to the invasion and the subsequent occupation of the country.

Douglas J. Feith, in a massive score-settling work, portrays an intelligence community and a State Department that repeatedly undermined plans he developed as undersecretary of defense for policy and conspired to undercut President Bush's policies.

Among the disclosures made by Feith in "War and Decision," scheduled for release next month by HarperCollins, is Bush's declaration, at a Dec. 18, 2002, National Security Council meeting, that "war is inevitable." The statement came weeks before U.N. weapons inspectors reported their initial findings on Iraq and months before Bush delivered an ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Feith, who says he took notes at the meeting, registered it as a "momentous comment."

Although he acknowledges "serious errors" in intelligence, policy and operational plans surrounding the invasion, Feith blames them on others outside the Pentagon and notes that "even the best planning" cannot avoid all problems in wartime. While he says the decision to invade was correct, he judges that the task of creating a viable and stable Iraqi government was poorly executed and remains "grimly incomplete."

Powell, Feith argues, allowed himself to be publicly portrayed as a dove, but while Powell "downplayed" the degree and urgency of Iraq's threat, he never expressed opposition to the invasion. Bremer, meanwhile, is said to have done more harm than good in Iraq. Feith also accuses Franks of being uninterested in postwar planning, and writes that Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser during most of Feith's time in office, failed in her primary task of coordinating policy on the war.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030802724.html?hpid=topnews<br><br>

[barbtries]

1. this is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2978206&mesg_id=2978206

[salin]

2. So says Mr Stovepiping and Cherrypicking of intelligence to sell

the war, and Mr set up an office of propoganda in the Pentagon to sell the war to the public (what was it called... Office of Special Projects?)

Feith has as much credibility as Pinnochio.

[Deny and Shred]

19. It was the Office of Special Plans. Cheney created it to sell the war

The other intelligence agencies were skeptical of his 'reasons' to have to attack Iraq. They wouldn't certify the info provided by 'Curveball' among other things. Cheney had his conclusions, and needed intel approval to sell it.
So, Cheney created OSP as a parallel intel agency, provided them classified raw data (illegally) , and they pushed it hard. Eventually, teh CIA adopted parts of it, and legitimized OSP's pre-determined conclusions.
Feith ran OSP. I don't think BushCo has a more robotic lackey.

The book Bush League Diplomacy explains OSP pretty well.

[salin]

22. Thanks for the recap

so many additional outrages have come and gone since the knowledge of the OSP, the details around the OSP were starting to get fuzzy.

Sy Hirsch wrote a great piece in the New Yorker about the stovepiping of intel at that time. If I recall correctly it was one of the first clear media pieces on the role of the OSP and the function (or should I say dysfunction) of intelligence to sell the war rather than to develop sound policy.

[leveymg]

31. Cherries picked also led from CIA/WINPAC into the 2002 Iraq NIE

despite the objections raised by CIA Counter-Proliferation Division (CIA/CPD), As the Libby trial, Joe Wilson's book, and Valerie Plame's autobiography made clear. OSP was a parallel pipeline for phony intel that was being fed from Curveball and other Saudi and Israeli-backed Chalabi INA fabricators to Feith's OSP fake intel shop directly into Cheney's OVP. The two converging streams of fraudulent intel were then fed through Tenet and Condi who spoon-fed them to the Idiot-in-Chief. Track Two of this same disinfo operation was a pipeline from the Mossad Chief of Station at the Israeli Embassy in DC through Larry Franklin at OSP, as we learned in the OSP-AIPAC trial.

This was treason and murder that led to the needless deaths of 4000 US service personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed. It was an espionage conspiracy that almost resulted in a mega casualty war with Iran, had the Joint Chiefs and IC mandarins not shut down this most massive and damaging foreign deception campaign.

Treason, Mass Murder and Crimes against Humanity. These are the crimes for which Feith and the others should be put on trial, convicted, and executed.

[Canuckistanian]

53. That's right, Feith RAN the OSP

The same OSP that had but one mission - to bypass the normal vetting procedure for raw Iraqi intelligence data.

Feith can probably take credit for MOST of the Colin Powell dog n'pony show in front of the UN.

[MaineDem]

3. Blame the other guy?

I can't stand Feith!

[Maccagirl]

5. If I had as much innocent blood on my hands

I'd be blaming others as well. Sell it to the Rotery Club, Mr. Feith.

[mac2]

6. He like the other Bush liars act like they did a good

job but "others outside the department" (like Bush) pushed bad policy? Israel and British Blair lies about WMD?

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_582.shtml Apparently someone higher than Bush told them to go to war...God. Now that is very high in command indeed!!

It was planned back in his father's war to get the oil and take over the whole area for their union and power(PNAC).

They are all war criminals (and traitors). The people in the streets around the world knew this was aggression not saving anyone. Why didn't he Feith?

[Supersedeas]

58. Accountability is so quaint

[Roland99]

4. what. the. F***?!?!

Can imagine how much worse it would have been *if* Feithole's advice had been followed???

[marmar]

7. It's like a dogfight....The pit bulls are attacking each other.

Contrition is easy after-the-fact, Mr. Feith. :nopity:

[mac2]

9. Not exactly.

They blame each other but none will be punished by "this Congress". "This Congress" will hold hearsings but no one is held accountable or goes to jail. An election is on the way!!

[H8fascistcons]

25. Mac2

We can never, never forget the criminal Fascist enablers that allow the Bush crime family to continue to commit crimes and destroy the constitution. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reed, Steny Hoyer, Jay rockefeller, Rahm Emanuel. Never forget these Democratic enablers that turn a blind eye to the destruction of our constitution, they are just as guilty as Bush!!!!!

[Richardo]

27. Ah shaddup.

Jesus.

[ldf]

41. what's wrong?

are you uncomfortable with the truth?

those listed, if they have their way, will NEVER allow these issues to be addressed.

[Richardo]

49. 'criminal fascist enablers'

This person has no idea what he/she is talking about, but exhibits am astonishing talent for stringing together unrelated perjoratives. Kudos for that, I guess.

[Zhade]

59. That poster has long hated the truth.

NT!

[shraby]

38. Why do you think the campaigning for this

election started over a year ago?

[mac2]

43. Since they didn't stop it...yes.

[Richardo]

52. ..

Whatever.

[splat]

8. There goes Powell's VP slot

[mac2]

11. Like when they appointed Hastert to be House leader?

It's hard to find a Republican who is clean. He left in scandal when the kitchen got too hot like Lott and Gingrich. The Contract ON America completed. Did ya get your money?

[Baby Snooks]

30. Hastert's "replacement" may be a portent...

A Democrat was elected to replace him. And that may happen all around the country in November. Even if McCain wins the White House, the Democrats may have the 2/3 majority needed to override vetoes.

Of course if Nancy Pelosi remains Speaker of the House, nothing will change. She will just override the 2/3 majority in the House by refusing to allow legislation to hit the floor if it doesn't please the new Emperor.

[mac2]

45. Then we have to pressure them to replace her like we did

Gingrich. She lacks leadership and has ignored the Constituton. Her oath of office. Without leadership in the government the people won't support it.

[tanyev]

10. The dumbest fucking guy on the planet.

Described by General Tommy Franks as either "the dumbest fucking guy on the planet" (according to Franks' autobiography) or "the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the Earth" (according to Bob Woodward's book Plan of Attack), Douglas Feith began his long Washington career as a Middle East specialist under Richard V. Allen at the National Security Council (1981-82), then he spent two years at the Pentagon as the staff lawyer for Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Perle. Then in 1984 Feith was promoted to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Negotiations Policy, where he stayed for another two-and-a-half years before leaving for the private sector.

Feith cofounded a Washington law firm where he spent the next 15 years, along with a little lobbying for Turkey on the side via Feith's corporation International Advisers, Inc. Then President George W. Bush tapped him for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Feith's primary responsibility is to formulate Pentagon policy and assist in its relations with other federal agencies and foreign nations. Also, Feith is responsible for overseeing the work of the Office of Special Plans, the group set up by Donald Rumsfeld to accumulate interesting intelligence data and send them straight to Vice President Dick Cheney without wasting effort on time-consuming CIA analysis.

Feith's office is also responsible for the oversight of military prisons, including Abu Ghraib. And it turns out that Feith himself masterminded the policy of ignoring the Geneva Conventions against torture. Nevertheless, Secretary Rumsfeld defended his deputy in August 2004 when he told the press that Feith is "just a rare talent. He is one of the intellectual leaders in the administration" and "without question one of the most brilliant individuals in government."

http://www.nndb.com/people/100/000047956/

[mac2]

14. Surely Orwellian when speaking of Feith's intelligence or

morals. He violated his oath of office.

That's another traitor and liar...Pearl. He and Feith were the Israeli spies in the Defense Department. Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Bush liars and co-conspirators to taking us to an illegal war (for both Israel and British agenda) for profit and power.

The new lie is to build bases in Israel and Iraq (close down ours) for their conquest of the area. With our military and money. We (Congress said no) didn't want that but they do it anyway.

It's plain they did treason and robbery yet Congress won't hold them accountable. Hearings aren't enough. They will be back in power just like corrupt Reagan.

[AlertLurker]

32. Don't forget Wurmser and Ledeen.

The whole lot of them should be lined up against a wall and shot for treason and crimes against humanity...

[mac2]

42. The wall at the Hague?

[Ian David]

12. Feith is so full of shit that if you gave him an enema you could keep him in your pocket. n/t

[ladywnch]

33. that is a GREAT line......can I borrow it?!!!

[Ian David]

54. Sure! n/t

[calimary]

50. DUzy! I'm telling!!!

Hilarious!!!

Can I quote you?

[bemildred]

13. Oooooh, a conspiracy theory. nt

[mac2]

15. And worse than we could ever imagine.

[xchrom]

16. all those innocent dead people, NO weapons of mass destruction, trillions of dollars wasted --

and he will go to his grave claiming the war was a good idea.

[countmyvote4real]

17. Methinks he doth protest too much. n/t

[calimary]

51. No kidding! I knew this would happen. And there'll be more. MANY more.

I tell ya, and not to flatter myself really, but I predicted, here, months ago, that we'd all start seeing these books - "I didn't do it" books, "Mea culpa" books, "I wuz framed" books, "It wasn't me" books, "I had nothing to do with it" books, "I was used" books, "I couldn't help it, they bullied me" books, "I was just following orders" books, and more - from the media, from not-so-innocent bystanders, and ESPECIALLY from weasels like this guy. They're all pathetically gonna plead poverty, ignorance, or good intentions while desperately trying to distance themselves from the shit THEY shat out of their own back-ends. Especially this feith schmuck. I'm not a bit surprised, except I figured the likes of him would wait til after bush is out of office and no longer in any position of power and authority to hurt him. He's only interested in trying to sell America on the idea that he's a complete innocent in all this. I hope everyone else regards him with as much credibility as WE do here in DU.

Hopefully he can tell all his cutesy little sob stories to the nice understanding folks at The Hague.

[countmyvote4real]

57. I love it. I love your rants.

It was not as much as rant as the truth.

Who can argue with that?

[BobRossi]

18. Fuck him.

Just another way for him to profit from the blood of the dead. A true cock-sucker.

[belpejic]

20. Total idiot

Feith is one of the dumbest people to ever hold such fancy degrees and appointments. I wouldn't trust him to look after my pet rock.

[jwirr]

21. Oh, goody. A book for *ss's library.

:sarcasm:

[ingac70]

23. This bullshit was his idea (PNAC guy)...

and he has the nerve to point fingers? Some of that Republican "personal responsibility" .

[annabanana]

34. It IS jaw-dropping in it's hubris, isn't it.....

It is harder to imagine a more blatant example.

[lumpy]

24. They are all a bunch of traiters, the whole damned administration

and their backers.

[mac2]

47. Now we Americans know how the Fascists (corporate run) took over Germany.

History repeating itself. Those who don't learn from history...applies here don't you think "lumpy"?

[bluerum]

26. "A massive score settling work" - That is after all, what this whole administration

has been about hasn't it?

Cheney - for watergate snd Iran contra
Powell - for not getting to run Iraq I
Junior - to one-up daddy and lynch Saddam
The PNACers - for the Clintons and anyone who has an opinion than the PNACers themselves
All the incompetents and political hacks appointed by junior - because they could not make it on their own merits

I hope and pray that no one that had a hand in this administration ever makes it back into politics in any responsible capacity. Those who are suggesting Powell hook up with Obama as VP are insane. Yes - I said insane.

[Old and In the Way]

28. Save it for the War Crmes Tribunal, Doug.

As the disaster gets more and exposed, the collective is breaking up....Doug seems to be attempting to disavow his role in this criminal enterprise.

[salin]

29. "I was just following orders"....

he isn't there yet - but its only a matter of time.

[Joanne98]

35. He's a liar. The chaos was part of the plan. Read The Shock Doctrine!

[NeoConsSuck]

36. Another war criminal writing a book

Just die, you effing prick.

[mac2]

48. Book publishing by politicans today is just money laundering

for supporting the liar agenda.

[FourScore]

37. He should have written it from a jail cell. n/t

[GETPLANING]

39. F*** that Israeli spy

Why is he still in the United States?

[mac2]

55. I agree.

He was American born and yet he looks out for those "conspiracy" elite like organizations who want to rule the world (PNAC, Bilderberg Group, etc.). Our generation Stalin, Napoleon, and Stalin like dictators.

They are not helping the citizens of Israel that is for sure. No one benefits in the end. It's just a lot of lying, destruction, genocide, environmental damage, and suffering for profit and power. The blood can never be washed from their hands.

They who deceive themselves as having any religious or patriotic agenda while stealing, lying, and killing are just plain "Cons". I also call them "globalists" since their aim is for world rule for their own self interest. They are pretty pathetic losers. That's all they have to offer the world after they were given a job in their government and society?

As Lincoln stated, you can judge a man's character after you see how he handles power. I'd say, regarding Feith...not too well.

Congress shame on you for not punishing this liar and traitor..."Con".

[formercia]

40. Trireme Partners

an investment vehicle to buy into companies projected to do well as a result of the upcoming war. Feith and Pearle were the two leading principals.

Feith is a Traitor bar none.

[mac2]

46. He also belongs at the Hague.

He betrayed the Israeli, Iraq, Afghani, and American people. The British and Canadian military serving in the illegal wars. There were French, Polish, etc. troops too.

How much suffering and death from their lies by our President, VP, and his administration "Con" appointees? The Somali, Haiti, Lebanon, etc. people also.

[pattmarty]

44. Come on, this guy is a super prime douchebag................

.......... why believe ANYTHING this asshole says?????

[tex-wyo-dem]

56. Un-fricking- believable!

This little fascist punk war criminal is actually playing the finger-pointing game? Save it for the nice judges at The Hague, Dougie-boy.