CIA Forged Iraq Intelligence, New Book Says

Ron Suskind, author of "The Price of Loyalty" and "The One Percent Doctrine," is out with a new book that includes CIA forgery of pre-war intelligence, the Politico reports:

A new book by the author Ron Suskind claims that the White House ordered the CIA to forge a back-dated, handwritten letter from the head of Iraqi intelligence to Saddam Hussein.

Suskind writes in "The Way of the World," to be published Tuesday, that the alleged forgery - adamantly denied by the White House - was designed to portray a false link between Hussein's regime and al Qaeda as a justification for the Iraq war.

The author also claims that the Bush administration had information from a top Iraqi intelligence official "that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - intelligence they received in plenty of time to stop an invasion."

George Tenet, director of the CIA at the time, responds:

There was no such order from the White House to me nor, to the best of my knowledge, was anyone from CIA ever involved in any such effort.

It is well established that, at my direction, CIA resisted efforts on the part of some in the Administration to paint a picture of Iraqi-Al Qa'ida connections that went beyond the evidence. The notion that I would suddenly reverse our stance and have created and planted false evidence that was contrary to our own beliefs is ridiculous.

There are undoubtedly many other errors in the book - but these are the first ones of which I've been made aware. One would think a serious journalist would have, at a minimum, asked the supposed participants if what he was prepared to write was consistent with the facts. Mr. Suskind never contacted me on anything regarding this book. I suppose he had a story that fell into the category of: "too good to check."

Asked about Tenet's reaction on NBC's "Today," Suskind said it's "part of George's memory issue." Watch:

The White House issued its own denial: deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said, "The notion that the White House directed anyone to forge a letter from Habbush to Saddam Hussein is absurd."

Suskind responded that the White House "is all but obligated to deny this."

"If they go in the other direction, I think they're probably going to have to start firing people," he told the AP.

Comments

[TXfemmom]

Cheney's hot little paw prints all over it.

[JiminNC]

And ... followup???

[barackobama4prez]

Uh, so is anyone going to do anything about it?????

[philinburb]

We're waiting ....

[levibatgirl]

Using departments of the US Govt to commit fraud.

The GOP was against it, (back in Nixon's day) before they were for it.

[soundfury]

Where are the WMD's?

Beachrunner: Syria

Actually they're all in your mind and GW put them there. Maybe we should go there and eliminate them once and for all. Whatcha think? Oh ya, thinking is where it starts. Remember that? Instead of swallowing the drivel you're fed --- think.

ha ha

[iseebs]

George Tenet responds:
"CIA resisted efforts on the part of some in the Administration to paint a picture of Iraqi-Al Qa'ida connections that went beyond the evidence"

Looks to me like a confession that the White House pursued to manipulate history.

[oxygen]

how hard did he resist and was his resistance successful?

[GeoLee]

Not hard enough and he has a Presidential Medal to prove it.

[soundfury]

Lies, lies and more lies and a big hole in America's wallet.

[soundfury]

correction: yellow cake not yellow powder

If the yellow cake story was debunked and a cia agent got outed by Chen ey in retaliation, then why do some people still insist that they just couldn't have faked intelligence. The "yellow powder" story was fake? Come onnnnnnn. Smell the coffee.

[oldwiseone]

What about the forged satelite picture showing Iraqi massing on the Saudi border as reported by the St Petersburg Times?

[jamaica4obama]

It is just a matter of time before one of those inner circle neo-con burst the bubble and spill all. Some should be having a hard time sleeping at nights with all that "heavy burden" of guilt

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

NO! They'll smell the verdant flora of cash from the "muther of all book deals"; otherwise, their only guilt will be to have chosen to join an incompetent team......

[takeamericanback08]

Ain't nothing but a gangsta party for Bush and Cheney.

[leftLibertarian]

More evidence against the criminals Bush and Cheney.

But don't expect the spineless Democrats to impeach them for their many crimes.

[Beachrunner]

Right . . . and I had a date with Scarlett Jo last night.

[TN]

Your naive.

[Schaden]

Extremely.

[AmandaBC]

I believe "extremely gullible" is more appropriat­e...

[soundfury]

I am convinced they did everything to push this war and faking intelligence is the tip of the iceberg. This war is a monumental fiasco. We are drowning in debt and many Americans are "still" in denial. You being one.

[Snerdgronk]

Beach(R)unner may not have the opportunity to read your response ... He's got another date this evening.

Snerd

[democratsaint]

lets look at this logicaly. who would profit from forgaing papers that said saddam was buying nuclear material. someone supporting the invasion of iraq. since we basically went into iraq by ourselves that leaves 2 countries.­the us or israel. either would have the motive and expertise to do this. so either we got dragged into another war for israel or we did it.frankly its time we weaned israel off tax payers money they need to make peace with its neighbors. for those who say well they want israel destroyed. israel also does NOT support a 2 state solution thus wants palastine destroyed,only logically conclusion­.also israel stated it was against the treaty that created it since they could not expand.the­y can only expand by taking arab land. what a peace loving country it is.

[Snerdgronk]

Tenet: "... It is well established that, at my direction, CIA resisted efforts on the part of some in the Administration to paint a picture of Iraqi-Al Qa'ida connections that went beyond the evidence."

SG: So ... according to Tenet, he was being pressured by the White House to go beyond the evidence. Tenet's denial therefore, establishes Motive, Intent, and Attempt, to falsify intel, by the White House.

Snerd

[JRandomPoster]

Spot on.

[TN]

We all knew this when bushie gave him that presidental award, along with the guy that helped bush and cheney steal that 9 billion in tax $ from the american people, bremmer or something was his name.