Letters to the Editor

• Is Congress funding secretly-promulgated American policy in Iraq?

  [Read the article: Larry Di Rita's responses to questions about the "military analyst" program]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  It should also be noted that this military analyst program is but one small sliver of the Pentagon's overall media management effort, which, in turn, is but one small sliver of the administration's general efforts to manipulate public opinion. ..snip.. Most of what this government has done -- including, certainly, its most incriminating behavior -- remains concealed by the unprecedented wall of secrecy behind which this administration operates. - Glenn in Post Update II

  Brazen and unconscionable efforts at manipulating public opinion about Iraq which we were allowed an uncensored glimpse of today, despite the longstanding wall of Congressional and media silence about our true motives in Iraq, thanks to damning testimony to the Byron Dorgan-led Democratic Policy Committee from two former State Department officials (assigned to a purported anti-corruption effort) and a retired Army Major General:

  This is because the actual policies and performance of the State Department in Iraq were not what they are represented to be. The Department of State has negligently, recklessly and sometimes intentionally misled the U.S. Congress, the American people, and the people of Iraq.

  [snip]

  Despite orders from the Iraqi Prime Minister's office to remove Sunnis from CPI employment; to fire his Chief Investigator, known as the "Elliott Ness of Iraq;" and not to investigate high ranking Iraqi officials without permission from the Prime Minister; Judge Radhi courageously stuck to his principles and refused to carry out those illegal orders. Judge Radhi and his best officers from CPI, and their families, have paid a heavy price for their steadfast loyalty to the rule of law and the Iraqi people. 31 CPI employees have been murdered along with 12 of their family members. Now, Judge Radhi and his best lieutenants are men without a country.

  In September of 2007, Judge Radhi was forced to seek asylum in the United States.

  [snip]

  In the end, the State Department abandoned and betrayed Judge Radhi. The State Department's response to this tragedy is telling--the American law enforcement officers of ICITAP and the senior advisors at OAT who worked so closely with CPI and sought protection for Judge Radhi and his investigators were ordered not to provide letters or affidavits in support of Judge Radhi's applications for asylum.

  [snip]

  Shortly after I arrived in Iraq [in 2007], a senior U.S. Army JAG officer stopped me after a meeting. He told me "Judge, be careful. Your job is dangerous and not only from the Iraqis. There are people here who would be happy to see this thing last forever." At the time, I thought it was a strange thing to say. Now, I find it reasonable and understandable.

  - Judge Arthur Brennan, 5/12/08

  http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing43/brennan.pdf

  Hence, it's only reasonable to ask why fighting corruption is not a higher priority in Iraq and why the United States government has not provided more resources and political support.

  .

  In retrospect, it seems reasonable to conclude that the reasons are either: gross incompetence, willful negligence or political intent on the part of the Bush administration and more specifically the Department of State.

  Since we have done so little, it's easy to see why the government of Iraq has not done more; we have demanded no better.

  Without a vision and sincere commitment to building a new Iraq, and without hope and dedication, the alternative is for Iraqi leaders to plunder Iraq for short-term financial gain. That's what's happening. That's also what Iraqi citizens see to be happening. That's why so few Iraqis support the US mission. And that's why so many Iraqis are willing to fight America.

  Equally disturbing is that in the hands of criminals CPI can be a vicious tool to persecute political enemies and protect political cronies. And this is why the Prime Minister's office waged an unrelenting 10-month campaign against Judge Radhi – to gain control of CPI. But why has the US allowed this to happen and have we been complicit?

  [snip]

  Our job was to implement U.S. policy; however there appeared to be two policies – Plan A (written) and Plan B (unwritten). In retrospect, it seems that policy was often overruled or guided by an invisible voice somewhere up the chain of command – a voice without a conscience.

  - James Mattil, 5/12/08

  http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing43/mattil.pdf

  http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-hearing.cfm?A=43

  **************

  Another forum deserving of public attention, though unlikely to be covered by C-SPAN (and doubtless out of their geographical orbit), will be taking place this week while we wait, apparently in vain, for our Members of Congress to honor their binding oaths of office by re-asserting the power they hold on our behalf:

  A panel discussion at the Harvard Law School to examine how to restore America after the Bush presidency will be held this Friday, May 16, 2008, from 1-5 PM in the Ames Courtroom at Austin Hall, Harvard Law School, 1563 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138.

  .

  Andy Bacevich, Professor of History and International Relations, Boston University

  Louis Fisher, Specialist in constitutional law at the Law Library of the Library of Congress

  Charles Fried, Beneficial Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

  Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute

  Fritz A. O. Schwarz, Jr., Senior Counsel,Brennan Center for Justice, New York University Law School

  Detlev F. Vagts, Bemis Professor of International Law, Emeritus, Harvard Law School

  Sheldon Whitehouse, US Senate, D-RI, Select Committee on Intelligence and Judiciary Committee

  http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33373

  Permalink Monday, May 12, 2008 04:00 PM