Mylroie: Big Error by O'Neill Author on 60 Minutes

Iraq News News Letter - sam11@erols.com | 1-11-04 | Laurie Mylroie

[Matchett-PI]

In his appearance this evening on "60 Minutes," Ron Suskind, author of The Price of Loyalty, based to a large extent on information from former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, made an astonishing, very serious misstatement.

Suskind claimed he has documents showing that preparations for the Iraq war were well underway before 9-11. He cited--and even showed--what he said was a Pentagon document, entitled, "Foreign Suitors for Iraq Oilfield contracts." He claimed the document was about planning for post-war Iraqi oil (CBS's promotional story also contains that claim): http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/printable592330.shtml

But that is not a Pentagon document. It's from the Vice-President's Office. It was part of the Energy Project that was the focus of Dick Cheney's attention before the 9/11 strikes.

And the document has nothing to do with post-war Iraq. It was part of a study of global oil supplies. Judicial Watch obtained it in a law suit and posted it, along with related documents, on its website at: http://www.judicialwatch.org/071703.c_.shtml

Indeed, when this story first broke yesterday, the Drudge Report had the Judicial Watch document linked (no one at CBS News saw that, so they could correct the error, when the show aired?)

And what are we to make of O'Neill's bigger claims, including that the Iraq war was planned from the first days of the Bush administration (cited by Wesley Clark today to buttress his assertion that there was no need for the war, it was all political)?

In late 2000 and early 2001, the Iraqi regime was trying increasingly hard to shoot down US planes enforcing the no-fly zones. That may well have opened up discussion about overthrowing Saddam in January and February 2001, as Suskind claims, but "Iraq News," which followed the issue very closely at the time, doubts very much that any decision was made to do so then. Perhaps tellingly, Suskind doesn't claim that those discussions continued beyond February.

Finally, O'Neill's statement to Time magazine, "I never saw anything that I would characterize as evidence of weapons of mass destruction," is bizarre. From 1995 on, UNSCOM reported that Iraq retained major elements of its proscribed weapons programs. That was the consensual view within the US intelligence community on the eve of the war, as well as every other country engaged in the issue.

[Prince Charles]

Bttt.

[Maigrey]

Blah! They won't have to grovel over it, which is really sad when you consider how sewer-(poop) low the ethics of the show have dropped.

I won't watch the raving marxists.

[Mo1]

Yes, I remember that

[ladyinred]

I agree with you. I do think the plans to attack Iraq were most likely already underway, and why not? He had ignored all of the terms of the ceasefire for many years and was flaunting it in our faces. Clinton let him get away with it, of course. George Bush wouldn't. BFD!

[Matchett-PI]

I didn't watch it either. Haven't watched 60 minutes, NightLine, or any of those other DemocRAT water-carrying programs for YEARS.

[hobson]

I never liked the man but I never new exactly why. He always came across as a meely-mouthed and wimpy.

[CyberAnt]

You are exactly correct .. and I have read that the guy from the Weekly Standard has said that the war plans for Iraq were drawn up during the Clinton admin .. and were included with the info given to Bush when he took office.

[prairiebreeze]

Perhaps tellingly, Suskind doesn't claim that those discussions continued beyond February.

OK. I've read this three times and can't figure out the significance that Mylorie seems to be referring to. Anybody have any ideas?

Prairie

[freekitty]

It sounds like O'Neil thinks he should be President.

[PhilDragoo]

Not only was Bush planning the Iraq War before 9/11,
his tax cuts haven't done a thing to improve the economy.

[go star go]

the washington post has a story about o'neal and the book. the really interesting part of the article is the last paragraph as follows:

The Treasury Department issued a statement saying officials there had not provided any classified documents to O'Neill. Administration officials expect to conduct investigations.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It all stems from O'Neil's firing and the sour grapes he still carries around with him. O'Neil's an old fool who was fired for incompetence, and now harbors animus for the Bush Administration. CBS decided to pick up the ball and carry it, not because there is anything newsworthy here, but because CBS hates Bush. End of story.

BINGO!

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

BTTT

[Miss Marple]

Excellent. I want to know what papers he had and how he got them.

[go star go]

that means it was a passing/investigative initiative and not an actual planning for action. if it was planning for action the new administration would have taken more than two months to come up with a plan.

[Fledermaus]

Suskind claimed he has documents showing that preparations for the Iraq war were well underway before 9-11.

That is actually true. And those preparations were made by the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION who made regime change in Iraq U.S. policy in 1998!

Suskind is a moron.

[prairiebreeze]

Administration officials expect to conduct investigations.

Maybe that'll shut up O'Neill in a big hurry.

Prairie

[go star go]

i never like o'neal. i knew he was a punk the first time i saw him. i want him in prison over these classified documents. let him be someone's prison punk.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Not only was Bush planning the Iraq War before 9/11, his tax cuts haven't done a thing to improve the economy.

Judging from the appearance of O'Neil's wrist, he seems to suffer from that affliction known as limp-wristedness, common among those whose rectal area has been penetrated numerous times by missile shaped objects.

[WOSG]

Sadly, the lies will outrace the truth because in this case the lie will hurt Bush politically.