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

[LarsGruber]

Denying the report, White House 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."

Yes, folks, it is absurd. He doesn't deny it thought.

Perhaps Habbush was trying to get yellow cake uranium out of Nigeria also? LOL!

[SkelDaddy]

I've lost track of how many times I have thought 'Good, now we can finally impeach the b@stards'

[syllepsis]

For their own credibility, at this point, the Dems must impeach Bush.

And the Republicans KNOW the Dems won't do it.


Interesting situation here.

[paixa3]

There is no surprise here. Remember the photo of the Iraqi troops on the Saudi border for Gulf War I,? This was another fictional imagination of the NSA/CIA.

Read the Gold of Exodus, a book that was vetted by the CIA, it clearly states that in the book.

[MajorKong]

Just like the "Iraqi troops throwing Kuwaiti babies out of incubators" story was completely fabricated.

[Destin]

Ummmm, we've only known about this for the last 5+ years now. The only thing we don't know, is when these criminals will finally be held accountable.

[truthynesslover]

How many votes do you need for impeachment?We dont have it so it wont happen.At least during nixon the republicans had the integrity to stand up for the constituti­on.This bunch of sickofants only care about winning,country be dam#ed!

[syllepsis]

You need a simple majority in the House to impeach.
That is all.
These charges, if true, constitute treason.
If true, impeachment must be brought. If the Republicans circle around their president, THEY WILL BE KNOWN TRAITORS.
Do you see where this is going?

[Destin]

You only need a simple majority to get it going, and 2/3rds to convict. I'm sure when they get it going and everything is revealed, they'll get their 100 votes a short time later, making it unanimous.

[Dingoangst]

Somebody tell Suskind that when he refers to George Tenet either say that, or Tenet, Mr. Tenet. Not just George. There's another George in the story and simply referring to George confuses the issue as to whom he is speaking of.

[gladys46]

Did Suskind say "one of the great lies" ... I rather it be written in history as "one of the greatest GWBu$H, Inc., American lies" !!! Surely, GW did this unspeakeable, aggressive attack of a soverign nation with what "he knew" was questionable evidence of WMDs ... that's the horror! And he did it in our names ... innocent Americans!! Suskind supports his book with "on the record" statements from people who surrounded Tenet at the time.

Impeachment was our only hope of clearing OUR names in the face of the world!

[syllepsis]

An investigation must be done NOW to determine the credibility of the these charges, with full subpoena power overriding Executive priviledge, as these charges constitute grave offenses.
If the investigation finds the charges are credible, the impeachment of G.W. Bush must begin.
If the Dems do not do this, they themselves are guilty of dereliction of duty and must be themselves investigated.
Oh wait, there's an infinite regress coming up....

Never mind, move along. Believe nothing.

[MajorKong]

I can say for sure if this is true but it does fit. Remember that these same people wanted to paint a U-2 spy plane in UN markings and use that as an excuse for war if the Iraqis shot it down.

[mimsnpips]

I even heard the msm say it was an impeachable offense. But..impea­chment is off the table right? This administration is a bunch of filthy liars, we all know it even the trolls.

[Twentylaws]

Bush/Cheney are the MILOSEVIC of this era! Will the International community bring these men to the International courts like they did with Milosevic in the Hague? Gee, one would wonder?

[MagisterLudi]

CIA forgery of pre-war intelligence: very likely it did happen. This kind of stuff goes in every government where political loyalty trumps loyalty to country. Intelligence services forge stuff all the time. Thats why civilians are placed above the military. Another reason to despise President Cheney's government along with his sock puppet W.

[magen]

The Bush Administration lied us into war.

Everybody knows that already and if you don't you've had your head buried in the sand.

It'll be news when Congress or the Justice Department DO SOMETHING to hold people responsible for this accountable.

[DrDave]

I suppose the words "absurd" and "ridiculous" are not really the same as saying that it is absolutely not true. As to fact checking, give me a break--who really needs to be doing more fact checking, the journalists or the government?

[hip dibler]

A Nation that is governed by the rule of law and not men would take a dim view of this.

[AnnieinOR]

I'm telling you "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing" - E burke....

[Amennyc]

We know, we know. We all knew. All of it was LIES. But why doesn't the corporate media put this on the front page "Bush Lied About Iraq". We all know it, they know, the world knows it.... oh, sorry forgot.... hey what are the gossip girls wearing this season.... now thats much more important. Thanks NY Times.