What to Make of Scott McClellan's Revelation

Former White House press secretary, Scott McClellan became the dominant subject in this week's conversation with his tell all memoir, What Happened. McClellan alleges the Iraq War was sold to the American people based on a sophisticated "political propaganda campaign" led by the president that manipulated public opinion and downplayed the major reason for going to war.

McClellan's account is a damning analysis of the Bush White House that used deception as a political strategy, suggesting the White House operated in "permanent campaign" mode. He also admits to having been deceived by members of the president's inner circle about the CIA leak case.

Moreover, he describes the president as lacking the self-reflective impulses necessary for leadership.

In the chapter titled "Selling the War," McClellan alleges that the administration repeatedly shaded the truth and that the president "managed the crisis in a way that almost guaranteed that the use of force would become the only feasible option."

"Over that summer of 2002," he writes, "top Bush aides had outlined a strategy for carefully orchestrating the coming campaign to aggressively sell the war."

Supporters of the administration hit the news shows to offer their well-rehearsed talking points in an attempt blunt any damage done by McClellan's revelations. The monotone variations of "This is not the Scott McClellan that I knew in the White House" were as predictable as they were useful only to those offering them to the public.

Of course it's not the Scott you know; that one was lied to and kept silent. This Scott has a story to tell.

There is something, however, to the White House's contrarian observation. Would this book have been written if McClellan did not feel like the scorned lover? History is ripe with administration officials resigning in protest because of policies they could not support -- a path McClellan obviously opted not to take.

This is newsworthy because it is the highest member within the Bush team, long known for emphasizing loyalty, to break rank. But I can't help feeling like Captain Renault in Casablanca, who said, "I'm shocked, shocked to know the gambling is going on in here" as he accepts his winnings.

But what does McClellan offer that's new?

The real question yet to be answered: What is the benefit of McClellan's revelations? He does stand to receive a financial windfall -- his book is already number one on Amazon's bestseller list. There is already talk of a movie in the works.

It will certainly keep Iraq in the news. McClellan's assertions are certainly not good news for John McCain's campaign, which would prefer to engage in a linear conversation about Iraq going forward than to get bogged down in its inception.

But Iraq is unique in that its inception and ultimate conclusion are inextricably linked. If McClellan's perspective is the end point, then the hoopla surrounding his book and what it reveals is at best much ado about nothing.

The potential benefit of McClellan's book is it raises more questions than it answers. Who else within the administration felt the way he felt? Was he the only one who was misled?

If McClellan felt he was duped, how do the career employees at the State Department, CIA, FBI and the Pentagon feel? Do they have a story to tell?

This is what Congress must find out. It is also why I wrote in my book, "Strip Mall Patriotism" that the next president must conduct a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission."

Without a public truth that grants immunity to those who testify, free from any reprisals, the Iraq policy will continue to fueled in part by conjecture and emotion, suffocating under the weight of American arrogance and insularity.

McClellan has opened the door to review the run up to the war for the purposes of making the difficult decisions going forward. The current political climate will not allow the next president, regardless of party, to put forth anything other than some variation of stay-the-course -- unless the next president does not harbor any visions of a second term.

Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist. He is the author of "Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections of the Iraq War". E-mail him at [e-mail] or go to his website, byronspeaks.com

Follow Byron Williams on Twitter: www.twitter.com/byronspeaks

Comments

[outnow]

We all knew that Saddam Hussein did not have significant WMD nor the missiles to land blows to the continental United States. After all, Clinton had bombed Iraq and Bush 41 invaded Iraq in 1991. So what's up with the "our president lied to us?" Nixon lied, LBJ lied, according to the Pentagon Papers. JFK invaded South Vietnam. Truman invaded Korea. None of these countries threatened the United States as far as I can determine after many years of research. Even WW I was questionable. Did Wilson have to send our boys over there? Now WW II is being seen as having been provoked by US embargoes on Japan's oil and iron ore prior to WW II. Was Pearl Harbor a "catalyzing event?" What about 9-11? Was that a catalyzing event also? I have also written papers about WW II. Who funded Hitler? He was our buffer against communism for a while.

War is good business. Since WW II, the splitting of the atom has made World Wars obsolete but flare ups can still be good business. Shutting down oil production in Iraq, Iran and around the Caspian Sea has benefited someone. That's the real issue.

[JJaye]

I find the story kinda boring. It's not telling Democrats anything we didn't already know. Now it's too late to impeach Bush. I really don't think it even hurts McCain. He's already hurt and his arguments are weak. Like McCain wants to "school" Obama on the Iraq situation, when the likes of Lieberman has to "school" him on the difference between the Sunnis and the Shites. Obama can get the correct information from people who still have their bearings.

[coollbreezz]

McClellan book is a gift for Obama.. but Bush is only a part of the great conspiracy. MSM and main stream religion also played a major roll in the propaganda campaign leading up to the Iraq war.. But the Iraq war wasn't about WMDs, or advancing democracy not even about oil.. According to Bush adviser and member of the 9/11 commission Phillip Zelikow , he said the "Iraq war was launched to protect Israel." Its all about Israel and the NWO agenda. The White House and the MSM has covered-up this truth.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0329-11.htm
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/the-new-world-order-religious-and-political-conspiracy/

[rinpochet]

The biggest loser of the publishing of this book is this administration's subtle threats of war with Iran. It will be hard to push in the final months of this administration while the McClellan book is the talking point. The media will be hesitant this time to jump on the bandwagon. But of course I could be wrong!

[Susan60]

You have a point rinpochet. Maybe the reason Scott chose to come out with this now is to silence the drumbeat of war with Iran. Maybe he felt he could not stand by why this administration built a false case for war with Iran like they did in Iraq. These revelations will now make it not only very hard for the administration to make the case (assuming they intend to make a case at all and not just start bombing without congressional approval, an impeachable offense) and it also makes it hard for the media to cheerlead a war with Iran like they did with Iraq. For all the harsh criticism of Scott on the left, and there has been much, maybe Scott did this country a favor. If the Bushies are planning a bombing of Iran, like two international newspapers have reported, the media will be forced to ask the tough questions or run the risk of repeating the same mistakes they made in the run up to the war with Iraq.

[Thermodynamics]

Maybe Scott M. was wise to wait. Speaking up against the Bush administration during the run-up to war was dangerous. Here are a few examples:

Joe Wilson - Valerie Plame's husband
Scott Ritter - weapons inspector discredited via a false child-molestation charge
David Kelly - bio weapons expert, victim of mysterious suicide
Sibel Edmonds - patriotic FBI whistleblower who was gagged legally

[luziannagirl]

Don't forget

Bunnatine Hayes Greenhouse.

The so-dubbed "Pentagon Whistleblower" was once the very distinguished top-ranked civilian Pentagon employee. Chief auditor of Army Corps of Engineers, Ms.Greenhouse was drummed out of her job for simply doing her job.

The final straw came when In frustration, after being personally insulted, thwarted, obfuscated, and hounded by Bush appointees and minions, she finally wrote her serious objections to an unprecedented massive 5-yr "emergency " no bid Iraq exclusive contract for Halliburton ACROSS THE FACE OF THE FINAL DRAFT! For that, she was punished, demoted, persecuted, and finally chose to retire.

Her legal bills are astronomical, but Ms.Greenhouse remains a steadfast true American patriot and faithful civil servant we can all be extremely proud of. For the latest, google her name: Bunnatine Hayes Greenhouse.

[Mogamboguru]

I am really not about to boost Scott McClellan's reputation. But let's be fair. He is the very first member of the Bush-administration with in-depth, first-hand­-knowledge of what was going on during the run-up to the Iraq-war, who is prepared to talk about it, like he was prepared to write about it.

This alone gives us an enormous boost of evidence, to tell the war which John McCain is desperately tying the success of his presidential bid to, what it really is: An injust, aggressive war without a cause, a crime against humanity - "the ultimate crime", as the american prosecutor during the 1946 Nuremberg-trials against german NAZIS put it.

From now on, wherever he walks and talks, John McCain can be confronted with his supporting an illegal war simply by holding up an example of Scott McClellan's book.

And for Scott McClellan - read Matthew 18, 12 - 14: "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."

McClellan may have been a black sheep - but from now on, he is OUR black sheep.

[alkamm]

According to the documentary "Bush's War," Condi Rice and her National Security Council were also kept out of the loop on planning for the war. Security Council members were forced to put on their military uniforms and visit the Pentagon to ask what planning was going on, what they were planning for.

Rumsfeld and Cheney are painted as the architects, and many senior level military and intelligence officers went on screen to describe the push for intelligence to support forgone conclusions on Iraq.

Like those who fall in love, the political operatives within the Republican party fall slowly out of love and understandably keep quiet about their disenchantment for variously discrete intervals.

[Rumba]

I think the main thing McLellan offered was the truth. We can all argue about timing etc but he told the truth which has been practically non existent from the Bush administration for over 7 years. This is very obvious when you look at the startled look of the Republican attack dogs as they mouth the same party lines over and over in the media, they are so used to spinning deceit they are clueless on how to handle the truth....truth is such a novelty for them.
It is pathetic when they talk about "loyalty" , "professionalism", and "betrayal of trust"....they fail to see that these words do not apply to protecting someone who lies to start a preemptive war that resulted in thousands of deaths and many more maimed and injured.

[EngineerBill]

I like the "truth and reconciliation commission". I disagree about the "stay the course" part though. I think Obama will get us out of Iraq and not stay there.

[Fairfloss]

History written in the moment and for profit are never accurate or of any consequence. Especially when the writer was part of the event. Pretty hard to have an unbiased perspective.

[MyGuyO]

Thanks to McClellan for coming forth and letting the world know and to cement the truth about this lying Washington bunch.

[HollywoodCA]

Scott McClellan's book gives more weight to the sad fact that

Bush Lied - Thousands Died.

And now Fox "News" propaganda is still beating Bush's war drums by lying about the truth of Bush's lies:

"On May 28, 2008 Bill O'Reilly on Fox New's "O'Reilly Factor" stated that Scott McClellan's book was heavily edited by the publisher's editor, although O'Reilly had also admitted he had not yet read the book. Brian Kilmeade on "Fox and Friends" echoed O'Reilly's assertion, although he admitted that he had not yet the book either. On May 29, 2008, as a guest on MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann", McClellan stated that 'Everything in the book is a clear reflection of my views and everything in the book is mine'. Fox so-called "news" continues to be unfair imbalanced and unashamed. Brit Hume, Steve Doocey, Sean Hannity (all at Fox, of course) are all implying McClellan 'did it for money'. If that were the case, he would have McClellan would have done much better with a pro-Bush book. After all , he would have Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and thousands of hours of right-wing talk radio to sell the book for him had it been pro-Bush." - Chris Aable

Bush Lied - Thousands Died.
Fox Lies that Bush didn't Lie
And thousands continue to die.

[burnt]

Thank you Byron. Good post.

[tompoe]

Byron, there was no revelation. War crimes were committed. Those who participated will be held accountable in a court of law. Why are you trying to legitimize and obscure this war criminal's conduct in executing the war crimes of the administration?

[SiberianRat]

Scott bears much responsibility for what happened and although I haven't read the book, it seems he sees his role as "misguided" rather than criminal and wrong. It also seems he's simply confirmed what many have suspected the whole time (i.e., why has it taken this book to get this discussion going as fervently as it is now?). Nonetheless, I'm glad he's put it out there and I'm glad that we may finally have the national dialog that should have taken place long ago.

Oh, I hate to say it, but I agree that probably immunity is necessary for more truth to come out. We need to have this aired as openly as possible, and the world needs to see that we can take responsibility for the misdeeds we've thrust upon the whole region. However, these cold-blooded "architects" of the disaster won't tell a shred of truth without a guarantee that they won't have to answer for their crimes.

[cylindar]

McClellan's revelations will be extremely damaging to the McCain campaign as others will also step forward and it will snowball like crazy. Most people already understand that McCain will lose the presidential race. The real problem will be getting out of Iraq. A variation of stay the course as you suggest is not in the offing. What is in the offing is get on home as fast as you can so we can save our precious lives and money. Nobody here in the states really gives a good God D@#n what happens to those crazy people who want to do nothing but blow each other up. I think you will find this attitude more prevalent as the campaign moves on. Generally speaking nobody in the US is willing to take the hit for a governmnent that does not have the guts to stand up on its own two feetl They can't even leave the Green zone for christ's sake. What makes anyone think there is a government there?