Ex-Aide: Powell Misled Americans

CBS 60 Minutes II ^ | 15 oct 03

[UncleJeff]

(CBS) The person responsible for analyzing the Iraqi weapons threat for Colin Powell says the Secretary of State misinformed Americans during his speech at the U.N. last winter.

Greg Thielmann tells Correspondent Scott Pelley that at the time of Powell’s speech, Iraq didn’t pose an imminent threat to anyone – not even its own neighbors. “…I think my conclusion [about Powell’s speech] now is that it’s probably one of the low points in his long distinguished service to the nation,” says Thielmann.

Pelley’s report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Thielmann also tells Pelley that he believes the decision to go to war was made first and then the intelligence was interpreted to fit that conclusion. “…The main problem was that the senior administration officials have what I call faith-based intelligence,” says Thielmann. “They knew what they wanted the intelligence to show. They were really blind and deaf to any kind of countervailing information the intelligence community would produce. I would assign some blame to the intelligence community and most of the blame to the senior administration officials.”

Steve Allinson and a dozen other U.N. inspectors in Iraq also watched Powell’s speech. “Various people would laugh at various times [during Powell’s speech] because the information he was presenting was just, you know, didn't mean anything -- had no meaning,” says Allinson.

Pelley asks, “When the Secretary finished the speech, you and the other inspectors turned to each other and said what?” Allinson responds, “’They have nothing.’”

Allinson gives Pelley several examples of why he believes Iraq didn’t have weapons of mass destruction. One time, he was sent to find decontamination vehicles that turned out to be fire trucks. Another time, a satellite spotted what they thought were trucks used for biological weapons.

“We were told we were going to the site to look for refrigerated trucks specifically linked to biological agents,” Allinson tells Pelley. “…We found seven or eight [trucks], I think, in total, and they had cobwebs in them. Some samples were taken and nothing was found.”

[UncleJeff]

This don't look good.

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[Diogenesis]

Actually, "imminent threat" was not used.

So this is more Fudge Factory/DNC propaganda against Pres. Bush. and the USA.

[UncleJeff]

This guy was Powell's Chief of Intelligence.

[Diogenesis]

Who pays him now? Saud? DNC? Saddam? All the above?

[tbpiper]

They forgot to include:

Greg Thielmann (D) Foggy Bottom

[UncleJeff]

That I do not know. He apparently directed the office of Strategic, Proliferation, and Military Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research until September 2002, when he resigned.

[windchime]

IIRC, Greg Thielmann was one of the names that surfaced in one of the EARLY (July) WMD lie reports. I'll try to find it.

Guess President Bush wasn't sufficiently injured by the trash talk, so they've gone after Powell.

[UncleJeff]

Yep, that's him.

[gaspar]

Thielmann has already given various interviews including a June 13, 2003 interview with Bill Moyers. It seems that CBS is trying for overkill.

Unfortunately for Thielmann, the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Researh is just part of a vetting process. Prior to the preparation of a speech by the Secretary of State the intelligence component has been subject to an inter-agency review.

Obviously, DIA, CIA and NSA did not agree with Thielmann's own evaluation (and in general State's evaluation in this circumstance is in large part based on the material collected by the intelligence agencies). He resigned, as he should have. However, like former Ambassador Wilson he seems determined to play the political game for obvious political reasons.

[gaspar]

For Frank Gaffney's take on Thielmann and his deputy see:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/frankgaffneyjr/fg20030812.shtml

[Dog]

Our buddy Greg Theilemann again...

[Just mythoughts]

So what happened to that anthrax that bill cohen the former defense guy claimed? He carried a 5 lb. sack of sugar comparing it to the amount of anthrax in Iraq.

Bill Cohen and maddie albright had a townhall meeting, cause old bjclinton could not be seen in public and they were selling a WAR!

[Dog]

Theilemann is connected to Ann Pincus who is married to Walter Pincus. Remember Ann Pincus served in the same office as Theilemann.

Someone has decided the smear on Bush isn't working so now they have moved on to Powell..

[Just mythoughts]

Maybe this is one of the guys that sent Mr. Wilson to Africa on his "sweet tea" sipping tour.

I notice no questions were ask about that little intel seeking adventure.

[windchime]

Could he be the source for Robert Novak's original story? I can't remember if that possibility has been explored.

[Mo1]

Pelley asks, “When the Secretary finished the speech, you and the other inspectors turned to each other and said what?” Allinson responds, “’They have nothing.’”

Gee .. the funning this is .. David Kay's report says there is something there

And it only took Kay's team .. what 2 months to find it compared to ... how long was Alinson and others there looking???

[gaspar]

I would think not. Thielmann resigned long before Novak wrote his story, and Novak claimed he had information from someone in the administration.

[windchime]

Thanks! I wasn't sure about the time frame of his resignation.

[Wolfstar]

Someone has decided the smear on Bush isn't working so now they have moved on to Powell.

One reason the smear isn't working is the fact that we in the general public can now use the Internet to figure out at least a part of the truth for ourselves.