Follow up - Tweedledum & Tweedledee

The blog entry from July of 2008, 'The Powell rehabilitation project?', discussed the subject of Colin Powell and his knowledge of "enhanced interrogation tactics' (EIT a.k.a. torture), and how his aide Colonel Larry Wilkerson gave Powell 'cover' on this issue. This even though there was plenty of evidence that Powell knew what was going on despite his lack of "sufficient memory recall" about meetings he had attended where the subject was discussed in detail.

Then in 2014 any dissembling about his knowledge should have ended when John Rizzo specifically recalled Powell's involvement, see 'Confirmed! (Powell & torture)'.  And yet, Powell appears to have escaped any opprobrium, for example see: 'Apparent success!'

Wilkerson continues his coverup, for example see this recent panegyric to him in Vice from January 2015 - 'The Bush Administration Whistleblower Who Says the US Has Not Closed the Door on Torture'. Whistleblower? Sure, if you a) ignore the contrary evidence, and, b) define 'whistleblower' as someone who kept quiet at the time and only spoke up much later (and then has been very selective in what he discloses)!

Apparent success!

 

The ACLU has posted an infographic (see below) called the 'The Torture Architects' which purports to show "... the participation of key high-level officials in the torture program based upon publicly available information..." They needed to be called out since "... those in the upper echelons of the administration who crafted, approved, and oversaw the program have escaped legal accountability..."

This 'name and shame' effort inexplicably spares the Secretary of State at the time, Colin Powell, who has been shown to have been up to his eyeballs in knowledge of and acquiescence in the use of the "enhanced interrogation tactics" (a.k.a. torture). This blog has opined on this several time before (see here and the associated links).

"The Powell Rehabilitation Project"  can chalk up a victory!

Confirmed! (Powell & torture)

Earlier blog entries (see below) had looked at Colin Powell related to the "Iraqi WMD" imbroglio and his knowledge re the use of 'enhanced interrogation tactics" (EITs, more commonly known as torture).

In the case of the first he acknowledge mistakes being made, but worked diligently over the years to transition from his initial 'I verified all the allegations myself' version to the current 'we need to ask the CIA and DIA why the source's unreliability wasn't identified before false information was put into my presentation to the UN'  Note especially the artful, and 3rd person, "put into."

On the torture issue Powell kept quiet while his aide Colonel Wilkerson stated multiple times that he had not been in the loop on EIT...This was first shown to be false by a Senate committee report. When asked re this Colin Powell had to resort to torturing the English language - stating that he didn't have "sufficient memory recall" about the meetings referenced; that he had participated in "… many meetings on how to deal with detainees…”; and that he was not "aware of anything that we discussed in any of those meetings that was not considered legal…”

Now with the CIA's former top lawyer John Rizzo speaking publicly about EIT we have further proof, were it really necessary, that Colin Powell was fully in the know. Colin Powell and Colonel Wilkerson confirmed as bald faced liars...

Previous blog entries concerning Colin Powell:
Great quotes ... - Feb 21, 2011
Random picture - December 22nd, 2010
Powell... Tekel... - April 15th, 2009
And yet... - December 14th, 2008
As expected... - October 20th, 2008
The Powell rehabilitation project? - July 13th, 2008
Did they say that (III) - April 20th, 2008

Great quotes....

"It has been known for several years that the source called Curveball was totally unreliable. The question should be put to the CIA and the DIA as to why this wasn't known before the false information was put into the NIE sent to Congress, the president's state of the union address and my 5 February presentation to the UN."

- Colin Powell, now blaming the CIA and DIA for his presentation to the UN (which turned out to be equal parts fantasy and conjecture....). See 'Colin Powell demands answers over Curveball's WMD lies'

So now cometh Colin Powell, he of forked tongue, "demanding" that the CIA and DIA "... explain why they failed to alert him to the unreliability of a key source behind claims of Saddam Hussein's bio-weapons capability..." At the U.N. he said in 2003 "My colleagues, every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. These are not assertions. What we're giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence..."

How did we know this was the case? Because at the time Powell claimed that he and his team had spent days reviewing and vetting the information to be used in the speech; that all items that were doubtful were removed (e.g. the uranium from Niger claim, the software from Australia claim, the pictures of pictures of Iraqi ''nuclear mujahedeen,", among others); and that he only used what had been checked and verified... For example: "... Months later, news articles reported that Powell had spent several days at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., looking over the intelligence, and that he put only the strongest evidence in his briefing, tossing out many claims—for instance, the business about uranium-shopping in Niger—that he considered flimsy, if not fraudulent..." And another example: "Mr Powell said he had all but "moved in" with US intelligence to prepare his briefings for the UN security council, according to the transcripts..."

Yet now he has the unmitigated gall to "demand" explanations of the CIA and DIA... Equally duplicitous, his aide at the time, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, has pronounced himself "extremely angry" (see here) that he and Powell were victims of "serious manipulation" and "outright lying" Yes, this is the self-same Wilkerson that made the rounds in 2008 providing Powell 'cover' re the mistreatment of detainees, which subsequently turned out to be wholly false (see below).

As recounted in 'The Powell rehabilitation project?', "... following Powell’s exit from the government, his former aide Colonel Larry Wilkerson came out strongly against the poor treatment of U.S. detainees; laid full responsibility at the door of Vice President Cheney and his staff; and said that Powell had no first-hand knowledge of how abuse/torture had come about. While this occurred, Powell remained silent on the issue and made no public proclamations. Due to the close relationship between the two Wilkerson’s views were taken as reflecting the views of Powell. Wilkerson's denunciations were part of an effort to preserve Powell's legacy and indicate that he hadn't been part of the administration's efforts to institutionalize torture... and Wilkerson saved Powell's reputation in the eyes of many people… Powell got “credit” for being a “good soldier”, “team player”, etc. while Wilkerson laid down cover for him…

Recently, however, it has come out that the "enhanced interrogation techniques" were discussed in excruciating detail on multiple occasions at the Principals meeting with Colin Powell present. Powell has not really been called out on this. Once when Diane Sawyer asked re him this apparent contradiction Colin Powell said that he didn't have "sufficient memory recall" about the meetings; that he had participated in "… many meetings on how to deal with detainees…”; and, “… I'm not aware of anything that we discussed in any of those meetings that was not considered legal…” However, so far he has not had to explain why he let Wilkerson so publicly exonerate him as not being involved while he was actually very much in the loop."

Powell's doubts over CIA intelligence on Iraq prompted him to set up secret review
Powell presents US case to Security Council of Iraq's failure to disarm
Focus on Iraq: Powell's UN speech dissected
The Powell Presentation - Harry Browne
Lie After Lie: What Exactly Colin Powell Knew Five Years Ago Today, And What He Told The World
Warnings on WMD 'Fabricator' Were Ignored, Ex-CIA Aide Says
THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: INTELLIGENCE; Powell's Case, a Year Later: Gaps in Picture of Iraq Arms
The U.N. Deception: What Exactly Colin Powell Knew Five Years Ago, and What He Told the World
Colin Powell's Disgraceful Lies
Colin Powell’s Former Aide Angry Over Curveball Lies



Previous blog entries concerning Colin Powell:
Random picture - December 22nd, 2010
Powell... Tekel... - April 15th, 2009
And yet... - December 14th, 2008
As expected... - October 20th, 2008
The Powell rehabilitation project? - July 13th, 2008
Did they say that (III) - April 20th, 2008

Random picture

Remember this? Powell's perversity...

Powell... Tekel...

Picture credit: Wikipedia. 'Belshazzar's Feast' (1635), by Rembrandt

Previous blog entries have discussed Colin Powell and how he has never acknowledged any real culpability in the matter of Iraq, torture, etc. (for example see the April 20th, 2008 entry 'Did they say that?', the July 13th 2008 entry 'The Powell rehabilitation project?', and the December 14th 2008 entry 'And yet...', among others). Now, following his appearance on the Rachel Maddow show perhaps the veil has been slightly lifted...

Rachel Maddow Grills Colin Powell on Torture Authorization In Bush Admin
Slick
Profiles in Cowardice
Rachel Maddow's Colin Powell Interview (comments better than article)
Rachel Maddow Pushes Colin Powell on Torture Discussions

And yet...

As discussed and linked in previous blog entries (see below), despite Colin Powell being up to his neck in decisions re torture, etc., he has been given a 'free pass' by many... The (minimal) cost to this "good soldier" - a few denunciations of Republicans, Palin, Limbaugh, etc.

This week the Senate Armed Services committee released a report saying that waterboarding and other "harsh interrogation techniques" were discussed by top members of the National Security Council (in 2002 and 2003, when Powell was a member) and other senior administration officials. Further confirmation, were it really needed, that Powell was fully aware of and involved in decisions on this subject.

As previously noted in The Powell rehabilitation project, "... following Powell’s exit from the government, his former aide Colonel Larry Wilkerson came out strongly against the poor treatment of U.S. detainees; laid full responsibility at the door of Vice President Cheney and his staff; and said that Powell had no first-hand knowledge of how abuse/torture had come about. While this occurred, Powell remained silent on the issue and made no public proclamations. Due to the close relationship between the two Wilkerson’s views were taken as reflecting the views of Powell. Wilkerson's denunciations were part of an effort to preserve Powell's legacy and indicate that he hadn't been part of the administration's efforts to institutionalize torture... and Wilkerson saved Powell's reputation in the eyes of many people… Powell got “credit” for being a “good soldier”, “team player”, etc. while Wilkerson laid down cover for him… Recently, however, it has come out that the "enhanced interrogation techniques" were discussed in excruciating detail on multiple occasions at the Principals meeting with Colin Powell present. Powell has not really been called out on this. Once when Diane Sawyer asked re him this apparent contradiction Colin Powell said that he didn't have "sufficient memory recall" about the meetings; that he had participated in "… many meetings on how to deal with detainees…”; and, “… I'm not aware of anything that we discussed in any of those meetings that was not considered legal…” However, so far he has not had to explain why he let Wilkerson so publicly exonerate him as not being involved while he was actually very much in the loop ..."

Beyond the torture question, this week a leaked, draft report on Iraq reconstruction also came out... and Powell doesn't come out covered in glory here either e.g. he was fully aware that the officially released numbers of Iraqi security forces "standing up" were false and exaggerated; was unaware of the 'Future of Iraq Project' (the 'best' planning group extant at the time); concurred with the decision to put all post-invasion Iraq activities under the responsibility of the Department of Defense; limited his objections to a "war of memos." etc.

Despite all this, Powell gets a free pass, and it is even bruited about that he will be used in an Obama administration e.g. as a special envoy...

As expected - October 20th
The Powell rehabilitation project? - July 13th

The Powell rehabilitation project?

Recently Colin Powell dropped hints that he might endorse Senator Obama for the presidency, something that generated a lot of press attention. Colin Powell has always enjoyed a stellar reputation, even if he accumulated a few blots during his service as Secretary of State under President Bush (2001 to 2005). One was related to his presentation at the United Nations where he laid out the case against Iraq and Saddam Hussein, with a performance that, arguably, single-handedly provided “cover” for those intent on invading Iraq and deposing Saddam Hussein. The second was his possible role related to discussions/decisions re torture within the administration.

Powell has worked diligently to recover from these missteps. Initially, the story was that he was not comfortable making the U.N. speech until after he had spent four days personally double-checking all of the allegations, and speaking to those in the know. Subsequently when it turned out to be almost 100% inaccurate he sorrowfully allowed that he was wrong, while simultaneously shifting responsibility to undefined others. Classic!

Then, following Powell’s exit from the government, his former aide Colonel Larry Wilkerson came out strongly against the poor treatment of U.S. detainees; laid full responsibility at the door of Vice President Cheney and his staff; and said that Powell had no first-hand knowledge of how abuse/torture had come about. While this occurred, Powell remained silent on the issue and made no public proclamations. Due to the close relationship between the two Wilkerson’s views were taken as reflecting the views of Powell. Wilkerson's denunciations were part of an effort to preserve Powell's legacy and indicate that he hadn't been part of the administration's efforts to institutionalize torture... and Wilkerson saved Powell's reputation in the eyes of many people… Powell got “credit” for being a “good soldier”, “team player”, etc. while Wilkerson laid down cover for him…

Recently, however, it has come out that the "enhanced interrogation techniques" were discussed in excruciating detail on multiple occasions at the Principals meeting with Colin Powell present. Powell has not really been called out on this. Once when Diane Sawyer asked re him this apparent contradiction Colin Powell said that he didn't have "sufficient memory recall" about the meetings; that he had participated in "… many meetings on how to deal with detainees…”; and, “… I'm not aware of anything that we discussed in any of those meetings that was not considered legal…” However, so far he has not had to explain why he let Wilkerson so publicly exonerate him as not being involved while he was actually very much in the loop.

Now, if he were to endorse Obama that would be very newsworthy and would wipe away the remaining doubts. Those opposed to the administration on the issues of Iraq and torture will not be in a position to insist on answers to tough questions, lest they diminish the value of the endorsement or even vitiate it entirely. Hmm, the Powell reputation reclamation project may get new life!

Colin Powell - Wikipedia
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Addresses the U.N. Security Council
Powell calls pre-Iraq U.N. speech a 'blot' on his record
The U.N. Deception: What Exactly Colin Powell Knew Five Years Ago
The Man Who Knew
The Tragedy of Colin Powell
Wilkerson: Torture in U.S. Facilities Probably Still Going On; Cheney Laid Groundwork
Powell aide: Torture 'guidance' from VP
No Torture, No Exceptions
Colonel of truth
Powell Breaks With Bush on Torture Issues
Bush Aware of Advisers' Interrogation Talks
Charles Kaiser on torture fatigue
Colin Powell, Keep Out
Sources: Top Bush Advisors Approved 'Enhanced Interrogation'