Leak Inquiry Includes Iran Experts in Administration (WaPo)

[enough]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60497-2004Sep3.html

Leak Inquiry Includes Iran Experts in Administration

By Robin Wright and Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, September 4, 2004; Page A04


FBI counterintelligence investigators have in recent weeks questioned current and former U.S. officials about whether a small group of Iran specialists at the Pentagon and in Vice President Cheney's office may have been involved in passing classified information to an Iraqi politician or a U.S. lobbying group allied with Israel, according to sources familiar with or involved in the case.

In their interviews, the FBI agents have also named two Israeli diplomats stationed in Washington and asked whether they would be willing recipients of sensitive intelligence, the sources added.

The investigators have asked questions about personnel in the office of Pentagon Undersecretary for Policy Douglas J. Feith as well as members of the influential Defense Policy Board, an advisory panel for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, according to former U.S. officials who have been questioned and others familiar with the case.

Investigators have specifically asked about a group of neoconservatives involved in defense issues, including Feith, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, Iraq and Iran specialist Harold Rhode and others at the Pentagon. FBI agents also have asked current and former officials about Richard Perle of the defense board and David Wurmser, an Iran specialist and principal deputy assistant for national security affairs in Cheney's office, according to sources familiar with or involved in the case.

much more>

[annabanana]

1. and awaaaay we go! n/t

[acmavm]

2. I just amazes me that a guy who's administration is constantly under

investigation for something or another, all of the bordering on and sometimes even constituting the betrayal of this country, can be so popular with a big segment of this country. What in the hell is wrong with people? Apparently they either don't know, or don't think about the fact that these guys are not operating in ways that are beneficial to this country and the majority of the people living here. Their policies are skewed to the rich, the powerful, certain foreign governments, and corporate America. Those that don't fit into one of those categories can just go pound sand and offer up their kids to fight and die for the benefit of the aforementioned groups. Oh, and by the way, we can pay for it too.

[snippy]

3. Part of the problem is the lack of Congressional investigations.

Congressional committee hearings investigating criminal activity in the government generate a lot more media coverage since more information is made available to the public and since every member of the committee wants publicity.

[dqueue]

4. It's just a shame...

That bushco don't like oral sex... then we'd have slamdunk necessity for Congressional hearings.

The sum total of the situation can become a bit depressing.

[Joylaughter]

5. If the Media were really honest

The Spy story would be front and center all the time. The Plame story would be front and center all the time, The Bush flip flops would be front and center. The 911 LIHOP story would be front and center. Instead we get Peterson, Kobe, Jackson, and Bashing Kerry. I wonder has it always been this way? We are all under attack all the time by a bombardment of media mind control. My fear though is that people get wise every now and then to what is really happening and that is when catastrophic events occur to stifle truth. Fear kept me quiet after the stolen election of 2000. So as soon as the truth bubbles up to the surface (soon) we can expect teeroooor to strike. I will cast my vote for J Kerry no matter what. If I can get to the polls I will cast my vote. After we change presidents we need a media revolution in this country.

[Trajan]

6. Wow ..... a NEXUS is developing here ....

The Chalabi incident(s) AND the AIPAC incident(s) are now interwoven: The same people involved in similar security indiscretions ...

Wolfie is named: the VP's office is named: Wurmser is named ....

Hot damn: this IS getting good ...

How long will it take to couple the Plame subjects to this nexus ?

[snippy]

7. I believe Plame was connected in an article posted earlier this week.

It quoted an unnamed administration official as saying that Chalabi, Iran, the Niger uranium forgeries, and Plame apparently were all a part of a larger investigation being conducted by the FBI.

[mom cat]

10. I was wondering if Sibel Edmonds was on to this. Any guesses?

[Rose Siding]

13. In this article, Conyers suggests connecting the two investigations

I trust he has a grasp of the details?

page 2 snip>
Conyers suggested that either a special counsel or U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of Chicago, who is overseeing a separate probe into the disclosure of CIA operative Valerie Plame, should take over the Pentagon probe.

[Me.]

18. Over At "Come Together" (Plame)

There are articles which say that it was Israeli agents (from the right wing Likud side) that forged the Niger documents.

[snippy]

15. Here is an article which mentiions the "whole ball of wax."

Alleged Pentagon leaks may be connected to Iran policy

By WARREN P. STROBEL
Knight Ridder Newspapers

. . .

Several U.S. officials and law enforcement sources said Thursday that the scope of the FBI probe of Pentagon intelligence activities appeared to go well beyond the Franklin matter.

FBI agents have briefed top White House, Pentagon and State Department officials on the probe in recent days. Based on those briefings, officials said, the bureau appears to be looking into other controversies that have roiled the Bush administration, some of which also touch Feith's office.

They include how the Iraqi National Congress, a former exile group backed by the Pentagon, allegedly received highly classified U.S. intelligence on Iran; the leaking of the name of CIA officer Valerie Plame to reporters; and the production of bogus documents suggesting that Iraq tried to buy uranium for nuclear weapons from the African country of Niger. Bush repeated the Niger claim in making the case for war against Iraq.

"The whole ball of wax" was how one U.S. official privy to the briefings described the inquiry.

. . .

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/politics/9566768.htm?1c

This article was posted here, but received little discussion. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=797846

[kohodog]

17. The Plame threads were leading to this,

but without the Israeli connections. No wonder they outed her. The yellowcake and Joe Wilson may have been a smokescreen to get to Plame. According to Time she was involved in a sting operation that had to be taken down.

Wow, She may have been outed in order to stop the investigation thaty was getting too close to home. Where does Cheney fit in?

[Warpy]

8. Asscrock is trying to get this all buried

which is why the FBI leaked it. This is nothing less than having our defense department taken over by a foreign power, and it will continue if Chimp gets back in!

THIS is the big one, folks, the story that really needs to get out. So far the whore press is marching to Bush's tune.

[grasswire]

9. the prosecutor is a Bush FIXER!!!!!!!!!!!

"Also yesterday, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee demanded that a new prosecutor be assigned to investigate the alleged leaks, questioning the "political leanings" of the U.S. attorney in Alexandria who is handling the criminal portion of the case.

In a letter to Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) said the role of U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty in the case has "obvious political implications" in an election year, and Conyers cited anonymous allegations in a news report that McNulty had "put the brakes on" the probe.

"While I have no reason to question Mr. McNulty's integrity, he is not a career prosecutor, but instead is a political appointee whose previous employment was principally with Republican politicians," Conyers wrote.

Conyers suggested that either a special counsel or U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of Chicago, who is overseeing a separate probe into the disclosure of CIA operative Valerie Plame, should take over the Pentagon probe.

Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo declined to comment on the specifics of Conyers's allegations. "We will review the congressman's letter and give it the attention it is due," Corallo said. A spokesman for McNulty also declined comment, referring a reporter to Corallo's statement."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60497-20...


Do you know who Paul J. McNulty is?

He's a fixer. A FIXER.


Clinton impeachment. FIXER

Florida recount. FIXER.

Ashcroft's nomination. FIXER

"McNulty is accustomed to high-profile, high-pressure situations. He was chief counsel to the House subcommittee on crime during hearings into the disastrous 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound outside Waco, Texas.And he served as chief counsel and spokesman for House Judiciary Committee Republicans during impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton.During a nighttime jog on Washington's National Mall, McNulty conceived then-House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde's opening statement for the Senate trial. McNulty contemplated the oath that the 100 senators would take at the trial's outset, the oath of office that the president took to uphold the Constitution and the oath that Clinton took when he testified.McNulty realized that the concept of the oath unified his thoughts."The oath," Hyde, R-Ill., would say later on the Senate floor. "In many ways the case you will consider in the coming days is about those two words: 'I do.'"McNulty later served as chief counsel to House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas. McNulty returned to the Justice Department, where he served as chief spokesman under President George H.W. Bush. A year ago, McNulty headed the younger Bush's transition team and prepared Attorney General nominee John Ashcroft for his Senate confirmation hearings.Knowing that Ashcroft's hearings would be contentious, McNulty assembled top GOP lawyers to brainstorm questions that the former Missouri senator would face. By the time the hearing began, McNulty had prepared a weighty briefing book with appropriate answers.As Democrats grilled Ashcroft about his support for civil rights, McNulty sat just behind his elbow, straining forward as he balanced the book on his lap."

[VolcanoJen]

11. Kick

:dem:

[bobthedrummer]

12. This has to lead to Rumsfeld and Myers.

At a minimum, Rumsfeld and General Myers-the war criminals.

I support the troops-Rumsfeld doesn't care except for "force transformation"=PNAC imo, and RPMA/RMA.

:dem::kick:

[Copperred]

14. WHERE ARE THE AMERICANS!

MOVE ON SHOULD JUMP ON THIS>.....HAS ANYONE CALLED THEM...

THAT ASHCROFT IS TRYING TO BURY THIS IS SICK>>>EOS.


ANY GOVERNMENT THAT IS SPYING ON US>>>IF CAUGHT>>>SHOULD BE LOCKED UP...ISRAEL UK INDIA WHOMEVER>>>>

IF AIPAC IS IN ON IT>>THEY SHOULD BE DISBANDED AND HAVE THEIR SUPPORTERS REGROUP AND LEARN FORM THEIR PAST MISTAKES....

AMERICAN REFORM JEWS MORE THAN ANYONE SHOUlD BE LEADING THIS CHARGE....

WHY IS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION BLOCKING A HUGE SPY SCANDAL?

.....BUSH SUPPORTS THE SPIES....granted I am sure many others do too....but hes on the plate........ MOVE ON get on this......................

[savistocate]

16. Cheney Rumsfeld in Rolling Stone's

superb probing background of these long-time co-conspirators.
That they've made with the Wolfowitz gang all the decisions
schemes misadventures presented here with sharpest focus.

http://www.rollingstone.com Link is apparent....>>>>>