IMPORTANT re: the CapitolHillBlue.com story in LBN

[WilliamPitt]

This thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=599147&mesg_id=599147

...has a damning story about Bush and Plame from CapitolHillBlue.com. It's a helluva story...but I need y'all to remember this:

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=19&num=2529

Conned big time

By DOUG THOMPSON
Jul 9, 2003, 18:05

(snip)

On Tuesday, we ran a story headlined "White House admits Bush wrong about Iraqi nukes." For the first time, Wilkinson said he was willing to go on the record and told a story about being present, as a CIA contract consultant, at two briefings with Bush. He said he was retired now and was fed up and wanted to go public.

"He (Bush) said that if the current operatives working for the CIA couldn't prove the story was true, then the agency had better find some who could," Wilkinson said in our story. "He said he knew the story was true and so would the world after American troops secured the country."

After the story ran, we received a number of emails or phone calls that (1) either claimed Wilkinson was lying or (2) doubted his existence. I quickly dismissed the claims. After all, I had known this guy for 20+ years and had no doubt about his credibility. Some people wanted to talk to him, so I forwarded those requests on to him via email. He didn't answer my emails, which I found odd. I should have listened to a bell that should have been going off in my ear.

Today, a White House source I know and trust said visitor logs don't have any record of anyone named Terrance J. Wilkinson ever being present at a meeting with the President. Then a CIA source I trust said the agency had no record of a contract consultant with that name. "Nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever heard of this guy," my source said.

...more...

Caution, folks.

[laylah]

1. Thanks Will n/t

[Howardx]

2. from the ap

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-cia-leak,0,1431809.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[WilliamPitt]

3. This doesn't corroborate the Blue story

and it is interesting how that DNC quote appears in both, but the context is twisted in the Blue piece.

[Howardx]

12. the retaining a lawyer part

is what im interested in;)

[Walt Starr]

4. Follow the CYA

IF the CHB story is correct, then John Hannah or David Wurmser would be the most likely sources.

[Beetwasher]

5. The Troubling Thing About The CHB Story

is the unsubstantiated allegations of exactly what the supposed witnesses testified. They claim that the witnesses testified essentially that "Bush knew". They don't tell us how they got this information on the details of the testimony. Only in the last paragraph do they make mention of

"Sources within the investigation say evidence points to Rove approving release of the leak. They add that their investigation suggests the President knew about Rove's actions but took no action to stop release of Plame's name."

They don't however make it clear whether it was these sources that supplied the gist of the "damning testimony".

I too will take this with a grain of salt until we have corroboration regarding the content of the "damning testimony" that these much more serious allegations rest on. But for now I am happy that Bush thinks he needs an attorney!

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. I'm confused

So many stories I'm having trouble keeping them all alligned.

How exactly does this story you just posted connect with the other thread?

[WilliamPitt]

7. It's the source

They ran this story about a Bush quote last summer and sent everyone into a screaming tizzy. A few hours later it was revealed to be totally bogus. I wouldn't trust this website as a source too far.

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. ahhhhhhhhhhh

gotcha!

thanks Mr. Pitt

[Walt Starr]

10. It could still be true regardless of previous sourcing issues

I cannot think of a media agency that hasn't been taken in by a bunk source. Look at the Boston paper that ran with porn as soldiers raping Iraqi women.

Now I'm not a journalist, but if I were, I would be looking to John Hannah or David Wurmser and what they may or may not have testified to in the grand jury investigation into the Plame affair.

[VelmaD]

8. Thanks for trying...

to keep everyone level-headed about this.

We can't fall into the trap of believing a story just because it's what we want to hear (ala the junta and Chalabi).

But gawd it would be nice if this one was true. *crosses fingers and waits for corroboration*

[NashVegas]

11. Aren't Grand Juries Supposed to Be Secret?

You'd have to wonder who spread this.

[hertopos]

13. I will watch CBS evening news tonight...

since Bush's hiring/contacting a private lawyer was first reported yesterday on CBS evening news.

If this story is really true, there will be some related or similar report.

I am just hoping that at least Karl Rove part will be true!!

BTW, lately CBS evening news is just awesome. They are doing exclusive after another.

Hertopos