Deciding to showcase the allegations in Ron Suskind's new book which “says President Bush committed an impeachable offense” by ordering “the CIA to forge a letter to bolster his case for the war in Iraq,” CNN's Jack Cafferty posed as one of his “Cafferty File” questions on Tuesday: “What does it mean, do you suppose, if the White House did, in fact, order the CIA to forge a letter in order to bolster its case for the war in Iraq?” (Anchor Wolf Blitzer marveled: “We're just hearing now, Jack, that there may be an effort in the Congress to now go ahead and have some hearings on this explosive, explosive charge.”)
All the responses Cafferty highlighted later in the hour presumed the accuracy of Suskind's claims and condemned President Bush, including “Kirk,” who asserted:
If true, then Bush, Cheney, et cetera deserved to be clapped in irons, held for trial and executed for treason.
Cafferty also read aloud the complaint from Tom in Boston that “it means we should be ashamed as Americans. Bill Clinton was impeached for not being honest about his sexual indiscretion,” but Bush gets away “scot-free.” Joanne in Maine declared: “George Bush is not only the worst President in the history of this country he's also the biggest criminal.” A Canadien, “Ron from Winnipeg,” lectured those in the lower 48:
To put it simply, the Bush administration made you all out for fools then proved themselves right. How you ever reelected this bum, is beyond me. Good luck.
My earlier NB posting, “Nets Lend Credibility to 'Bombshell' Iraq Deception Allegations,” noted how Wolf Blitzer opened the first (4 PM EDT) hour of Tuesday's The Situation Room just an hour before the “Cafferty File” on the same topic:
Shocking allegations about the President's determination to invade Iraq. A brand new book claims the White House forged a key piece of evidence and turned a blind eye to another. This hour, the book's bombshells and the administration's adamant denials.
The Tuesday, August 5 “Cafferty File” segment during the 5 PM EDT hour of CNN's The Situation Room:
JACK CAFFERTY: A new book says President Bush committed an impeachable offense. He ordered the CIA to forge a letter to bolster his case for the war in Iraq. These explosive charges are contained in a new book, "The Way of the World," by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind. He says he spoke on the record with U.S. intelligence officials who said that President Bush was informed in January of 2003 that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction. The President's response to this information was reportedly, quote: "F-it. We're going in," unquote.Three months later, the U.S. invaded Iraq using a forged document as its rationale, says Suskind. He writes: "The White House called on the CIA to concoct this forged letter from the head of the Iraqi intelligence agency to Saddam Hussein. It was backdated" -- the letter -- "to before 9/11 and indicated one of the main hijackers, Mohammed Atta, trained for his deadly mission in Iraq." The phony letter was designed to prove a nonexistent link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the head of Iraqi intelligence, who told British intelligence sources that Iraq had no WMD, he was resettled in Jordan with the help of the CIA and paid $5 million in hush money.
Suskind called Mr. Bush's actions "one of the greatest lies in modern American political history" and suggests they constitute a crime far worse than Watergate.The White House pushing back hard. They call Suskind's claims "absurd." They describe his work as "gutter journalism" -- he did win the Pulitzer Prize -- including what the White House calls "wild allegations that no one can verify."
Former CIA Director George Tenet ridicules the credibility of Suskind's sources, as well. He calls the White House directive to forge a letter quote "a complete fabrication," unquote
So here's the question: What does it mean, do you suppose, if the White House did, in fact, order the CIA to forge a letter in order to bolster its case for the war in Iraq?
Go to CNN.com/caffertyfile. You can post a comment on my blog -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We're just hearing now, Jack, that there may be an effort in the Congress to now go ahead and have some hearings on this explosive, explosive charge. What do you think?
CAFFERTY: I think I'll hold my breath. Impeachment's off the table, remember?
BLITZER: Yes, at least -- all right. You're right.
The replies Cafferty chose to highlight later in the hour:
The question this hour is what does it mean if the White House ordered the CIA to forge a letter in order to bolster its case for the war in Iraq? That's the charge that's made in the new book called "The Way of the World" by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Ron Suskind. Here is some of what you've written. Got a lot of mail on this.Tom in Boston: "It means we should be ashamed as Americans. Bill Clinton was impeached for not being honest about his sexual indiscretion. George W. Bush misled the Congress and the public about Iraq, condoned the torture of prisoners, authorized illegal electronic surveillance and refused to comply with subpoenas just to name a few and yet he'll walk away scot-free. Times like these make me want to move to New Zealand."
John writes: "Call a special session of Congress to investigate these charges now. To hell with the Olympics. This is the drama America really wants to see. If these charges prove to be true, we show the world that we're willing to impeach a sitting lame duck President and correct our mistakes in public."
Ron from Winnipeg writes: "To put it simply, the Bush administration made you all out for fools then proved themselves right. How you ever reelected this bum, is beyond me. Good luck."
Kirk writes: "If true, then Bush, Cheney, et cetera deserved to be clapped in irons, held for trial and executed for treason."
Joanne in Blaine, Maine writes: "So why am I not surprised? George Bush is not only the worst President in the history of this country he's also the biggest criminal. And he got away with it all. What's wrong with this Congress? He should have been impeached and criminally charged years ago."
Susan writes: "Ah, to be the torch bearer in this crusade. It's time to investigate every minute indiscretion of the Bush administration. Suskind is a well-respected journalist who finally reveals what could be the truth about our invasion of Iraq. If Bush is innocent of forgery, there ought to be no problem with a thorough investigation. Let the games begin."
And Tom in Denver says: "Suskind, Woodward and Clarke and McClellan? How many more books does the American public need before it realizes that this administration has done something terribly wrong?"
If you didn't see your e-mail here, you can go to my blog at CNN.com/CaffertyFile. Look for yours there among hundreds of others.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Well
August 6, 2008 - 01:18 ET by well99So if I wrote a book and said Jack had sex with bulls on viagra that would make it true?Also a note to Tom from Boston from Tom from Boston.Clinton was being impeached for P-e-r-j-u-r-y.One more time PERJURY.Some folks need to hit the library.
John writes: "Call a
August 6, 2008 - 01:18 ET by bigtimerJohn writes: "Call a special session of Congress to investigate these charges now. To hell with the Olympics. This is the drama America really wants to see. If these charges prove to be true, we show the world that we're willing to impeach a sitting lame duck President and correct our mistakes in public."
Yeah, that's it, call for a special session in on the word of a lying liar, with the msm like CNN leading the way, msnbc not far behind...all because they have an agenda-driven hatred for President Bush and any repub in power...
...don't call for a special Session in on drilling for oil and lifting the moratorium.
Gawd I just love the leftists.
...amazing critters aren't they?
...and they all live off of us one way or the other.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
BT
August 6, 2008 - 01:31 ET by MrShyMuch like Olberboy who came from ESPN, of all places, this jack-cafferty-*ss came out of no where and launched his own grotesque nationally-televised, nightly offensive against Bush.
He started out just being this mild-mannered (yeah, he was) local NBC news guy (Channel 4 here in NYC) and I actually liked him growing up. I had no idea he was this over-the-top, ideologically insane liberal nutjob until CNN scooped him up to play their bad cop to thier good cop-bad cop Bush/GOP Smear Machine Network.
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
MrShy
August 6, 2008 - 05:49 ET by HeavyChevyI believe you can go further then that. If I remember correctly Cafferty used to be on Channel ll (which I think is the crappy CW now) back in NY in the late 80's as a local broadcaster he was pretty good back then but now with all the liberal "pixie dust" he's been snorting I think he lost his mind.
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
You know...
August 6, 2008 - 08:55 ET by unkeeafBased on the hatred the left possess for the traditional values of this country, you can actually see the fabric of this nation being torn apart. I can actually see a day where we may take up arms against one another. These people seem to be willing to do anything to tear us down so they can rebuild us in a socialist/communist image.
How long can we really sit back and watch this happen?
unkeeaf, Nothing lasts
August 6, 2008 - 10:16 ET by Karmaunkeeaf,
Nothing lasts forever. For quite some time now, I have been pondering when our next civil war may occur. The lefts' assault on the Second Amendment to disarm their opposition is obvious in my view.
Drastically reducing the Federal Government would be a big step in reducing the tension. Giving more power to the States, even those who elect the likes of Pelosi, Reid and Kennedy is fine as long as they are powerless to export their unwanted communism on States who reject it. Fifty separate laboratories have a better chance at finding the most beneficial social formula than one massive labyrinth of arrogance.
Sit back and cling to whatever the left wants to take from you. While the probability may be high, I don't relish the thought of armed conflict and will enjoy everyday without it.
Good points...
August 6, 2008 - 14:28 ET by unkeeafClearly, we would greatly accelerate toward that outcome with an Obama presidency and a large Democrat majority in the Congress. All that and a full-time PR firm in the MSM. Once they silence the opposition with a new virulent form of the Fairness Doctrine, we'll really be screwed.
That's why . . .
August 7, 2008 - 14:46 ET by DoktorFranken. . . . There's a Second Amendment. If someone tries to take away the First Amendment, the 2nd shall come in useful.
Vigilance
August 7, 2008 - 07:50 ET by rogue9772It's something we've lacked for a while and let both radical Leftists take over the Democratic party, and country club Republicans to take over the GOP.
What we need to do (you, me, everyone on this board, and so on) is to get into your local/state parties and raise holy hell until they start putting candidates on the slate who will actually fight for what we need - less government intrusion into our lives, more liberty and independence and the ability to take control of our own destinies.
After a lot of thought I decided it was best to go back into the hell that is the NJ GOP and fight like hell to take it back.
Cafferty Olbermann--Pravda like Tactics
August 6, 2008 - 02:31 ET by Redrowan2000These 2 are only the scum on the top of a deep pond of executives that let this slander and unsubstantiated rant to air. They not only report these stories but hope to God that they are true , because deep down they hate this country and are the same ones that would jump up and down at a major setback or numerous deaths of military personnel to justify their point of view. The left is the new Big Brother fascists . They really don't see what they are like . The National Enquirer now has more credibility than these 2 "Journalists" along with a few others. History will put them in perspective as the Media Lynchers of the 21st century. That is of course unless they are writing it themselves.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Red
THE ANGRY LEFT...
August 6, 2008 - 07:04 ET by danybhoyA few thoughts...Cafferty is has a history that includes being an unhappy drunk, & he said in his book that his relationship with his father was strained because he was also a drunk. The fact is Jack is an angry man who seems to be waiting for Andy Rooney to tip so he can score that gig. 60Minutes already has CNN's Anderson Cooper, so he could put in a good word for Jack.
As for your reference to Pravda, what BathTubBoy does on Meltdown is actually similar to news broadcasts I would hear when I would listen to Radio Havana Cuba on the shortwave. They would report on a few items, & then you would hear the RHC version of "Special Comments", only they were not as critical as Olbermann's tirades. Amazing when I think back.
I actually see these 2 guys to be very sad people. It must be a bitch to wake up every morning so pissed off at everything you see/hear/listen to must be a pathetic existance. Even with the money they make, it can't be worth it.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
I thought the news was..............
August 6, 2008 - 04:09 ET by BadassBuckeyewell supposed to report the news. Not put some conspiracy theorist on and run with it as it is the gospel.
"Keep your eyes on the watch.....back and forth back and forth....you are getting sleepy, very sleepy....when you awake you will believe everything we tell you!!!!"
Funny what a difference a
August 6, 2008 - 05:46 ET by motherbeltFunny what a difference a Republican President makes! When allegations against Clinton came out, they were treated as wacko conspiratory theories. Now, whatever anyone says about Bush that is bad is reflexively accepted as the truth.
Joann is my favorite:
...."So why am I not surprised? George Bush is not only the worst
President in the history of this country he's also the biggest criminal.
She's not surprised Bush has done these things, because he's "the biggest criminal." Why is Bush a criminal? Because he has done these things.
There you have it: Liberal Circular Logic.
Mother
August 6, 2008 - 06:05 ET by NorthCoasterBut it "feels right", to believe that Bush and Cheney have....._______. Fill in the blank with whatever ridiculous story comes along and the Left wing nuts just feel that it must be so.
Sarc off
Just another LDS (Liberal Derangement Syndrom) example.
I really wish liberal
August 6, 2008 - 06:27 ET by NewsbusterbrownI really wish liberal extremists knew what an impeachable action was.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Just shows the type of audience that Blitzer and Caferty have.
August 6, 2008 - 06:29 ET by c5thenAssuming that the letters they read on-air are "representative" of all the rest, (do they have others or is that all there is?) it shows the type of audience that watches them. On the MSM stations (CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, PBS) any allegation against the administration is taken as fact, sometimes even when continuously disproved.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
No, c5then
August 6, 2008 - 06:32 ET by Cool ArrowI think he read both of them.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
This was my first thought.
August 6, 2008 - 07:45 ET by Free ThinkerThis was my first thought. Cafferty, Olbermann, and the others on the fringe are what they are. But who are these dopes that wrote in and actually believe any of this? Surely these letters are not real. Can people be this stupid? By the time Cafferty and the evening news got to this story it was long ago blown out of the water as just another case of unsubstantiated BDS with no evidence to even suggest it may be true.
Unfortunately
August 7, 2008 - 09:18 ET by rogue9772People CAN be and ARE this stupid if their only source of information on the world are these places. There are some people who don't have the desire to put any effort into learning about the world in which they live, and will simply accept whatever is told to them at face value.
This sort of simpleton thinking is what the public schools are gearing kids towards, which only serves political bosses who only crave more power for themselves.
Ron from Winnepeg
August 6, 2008 - 06:36 ET by Cool Arrow“Ron from Winnipeg,” lectured those in the lower 48:
I guess the Upper 9 are feeling a bit smug.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Hello Ron-
August 6, 2008 - 06:59 ET by cocodrieI hope you enjoy your inferior health care up there. At least you can count on coming down here for an operation if you need one, we don' have long waiting lines. We can't help you with your non existant gun rights as we have no international police to send when you have trouble. As long as you are north of us I guess you can continue to look down on us if you like.
Hey c'mon.... give
August 6, 2008 - 07:09 ET by MidAmericaHey c'mon.... give em a break. All the Bush haters are about to lose their gig in a few months.
Maybe Cafferty Instead?
August 6, 2008 - 08:31 ET by ChasvsThis communist needs to be put out of our misery ASAP!
Aw, c'mon. If you want to
August 6, 2008 - 08:34 ET by fitzfongAw, c'mon. If you want to execute Bush for treason (guffaw), don't you think the most creative and effective way to do so would be to put him on a bicycle in New York City around the time an always drunk Jack Cafferty is driving by?
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
BLITZER: We're just hearing
August 6, 2008 - 08:35 ET by superconBLITZER: We're just hearing now, Jack, that there may be an effort in
the Congress to now go ahead and have some hearings on this explosive,
explosive charge. What do you think?
Yeah..he heard that from his producer during the commercial break.
Wolf just totally made that up in an effort to gin up a buzz.Those two together are like an Abbott and Costello routine.
I haven't watched CNN in years as I cannot believe the astounding lack of professionalism they exhibit.
They way that that bleepin fool Cafferty is allowed to blubber on about the President like that shows what an amateur operation CNN has become.
Victory in Iraq.
Liberals suck.
McCain for Preznint.
Hey, Ron from Winnipeg...
August 6, 2008 - 09:00 ET by ontheright...glad you have such an interesting life there in Great White frozen north that you can actively participate in a foreign Media's blatant bias.
BTW...how's the health care there in the land of the Mounties?....Good luck with that!
Oh yeah, considering your obvious BDS, I would be willing to bet you are a AGW proponent. How's the weather there? I hear, could be wrong though - never can tell with this biased media here in the states - that there has been one of the coldest winters on record across the norther section of the North American continent. How's that working out for you?
I'm sure Kirk will agree
August 6, 2008 - 09:30 ET by AndanteKirk said "... If true, then Bush, Cheney, et cetera deserved to be clapped in irons, held for trial and executed for treason."
I agree and we'll get right on that as soon as Clinton is executed for the treasonous act of giving away our missile guidance systems to the Chinese.
"Why can't I just eat my waffle?" -- Obama
"If true, then Bush, Cheney,
August 6, 2008 - 10:11 ET by Chris Norman"If true, then Bush, Cheney, et cetera deserved to be clapped in irons, held for trial and executed for treason."
Ooooo, Don't you just love it when a liberal talks tough?
By the way, I've been thinking about this for awhile and though it's difficult to describe, I've tried to quantify it: There seems to be a new kind of liberal on television -like Cafferty and Olbermann - who try to play themselves off not as liberals per se, but as straight arrow, tough talking, logical thinkers who just can't stand what the Bush Administration has done. They hide their liberalism behind their tough talk and act like they are the traditionalists and the Bush Administration are the radicals. I haven't got any further than that and can't put a name on them yet. Anyone want to help?
McNotObama '08
Chris, I think you're spot
August 6, 2008 - 11:53 ET by marpelChris, I think you're spot on with your analysis of KO and Cafferty. But, they are also mentally ill. I was married to a psychologist for 10 yrs and he used to tell me that the mentally ill are the most manipulative people in the world. With these 2 examples, he's absolutly right. Let's call them "Manipuliberals" or "ManiLibs" for short....LOL!
Oh, yes. They manipulate the
August 6, 2008 - 13:37 ET by Chris NormanOh, yes. They manipulate the news, words, and quotes and turn them on their heads, so they have cheap fuel for their rants. They won't come out and admit that they're liberal, so, instead, they just self righteously criticize only conservatives and Republicans.
McNotObama '08
Go Figure
August 6, 2008 - 10:28 ET by Wildcatter1980Imagine that. With the price of gasoline between $3.50 and $5.00 a gallon, the Democrat-controlled Congress won't allow debate or an up/down vote on allowing drilling for domestic oil and natural gas, but they can conduct investigations into events THEY supported 7 years ago!
In line with my comments elsewhere (the first Suskind book thread), the far left and the Democrats will try to keep the next 3 months about bashing Bush, Cheney, and the Republican Party in their efforts to stir up their base to go vote for the Obamassiah in November.
Hatred and Liberals.
August 6, 2008 - 16:58 ET by needleAnd if the Suskind’s charges are false (something Cafferty and the rest of the Bush haters do not bother to consider), as the White House strenuously insists, does anyone think that we will get an apology from Suskind, Cafferty, Olbermann, and all of the other bile-filled Bush haters?
Of course not. We have not heard a word of apology from them yet concerning any of their other false charges. They just keep on repeating them even though they know that they are false.
What is of utmost importance is hatred of Bush and his administration. The false charges and the outrage they stoke are all to justify the hatred. The false charges are created out of their hatred, not the other way around. When the charges are proven false, the hatred does not go away. No, the hatred scrounges around to try and throw up some other new charge so as to justify itself.
And do the haters care about the consequences of what they are doing? Of course not. It is perfectly evident that not only do they wish this country to be destroyed; they are doing whatever they can to help that occur. This is what liberals call patriotism.
It appears that Hatred is a family value for Liberals.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Having been soundly
August 6, 2008 - 10:50 ET by BuffNBoneHaving been soundly critiqued for using "some people say" references, at best CNN picked emails supporting its assertions or, at worst, they made up a few bogus ones. They report, you decide.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Cafferty and Suskind
August 6, 2008 - 14:04 ET by charlietexasJust another tale of "Get GWB" right up until he leaves office. These stories have just fallen on deaf ears. It is nothing but dribble to sell books. Blah, blah, blah.
Crazy Uncle Jack is at it again.
August 6, 2008 - 14:08 ET by AmericanEnergistWhenever someone has CNN on and I hear Jack Cafferty's voice, I am reminded of my childhood visits to the dentist - a slow drill and no local anesthetic.
CNN should send him on a one-month hiatus and see if their ratings rebound. Then, they could trade him to MSNBC for a 'kvetcher' to be named later.
www.ArmchairEnergist...
Blitzer has zero credibility thanks to Old Grumbles
August 6, 2008 - 14:53 ET by Captain KirockBlitzer has zero credibility since he has been associating with this loon.
Everyone knows that Old Grumbles Cafferty is a certifed angry idiot, but I used to consider Blitzer a legitimate journalist. When Old Grumbles was added to his show (maybe 4 years ago?) Blitzer quickly lost all credibility in my eyes.
they publish this tripe
August 6, 2008 - 16:46 ET by UndercoverConservativeBut are "afraid" of publishing a book about Mohammed's first wife. And here after almost a decade of "OMG BUSH is gonna DIZAPEER me cuz HEz the DEVVIL!" I thought that everyone was afraid to come out with "Da Troof!".
Seems Islam is still the bigger threat. If the Bush administrator is the "standard by which Evil is judged", then what does that make Islam that anti-America/Christian/Bush books are published every day but few neutral Muslim books are allowed and anti-Islam books are not published or banned as "slander"?
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
allow me to love
August 6, 2008 - 17:52 ET by JIMMY1660allow me to love America
bill clinton leaves the military in scrambles-sandy burger gets
our Army murdered in Somalia, and someone talks about impeaching GW &DC for keeping us safe and sound since 9/11.
I expect GW to write a book. GW make it truthful and expose the State of the Union as you found it and as you leave it.
Should make some heads roll, and make a great case for TREASON.
Jimmy... Hear!
August 6, 2008 - 17:56 ET by bigtimerJimmy...
Hear! Hear!
Unfortunately or fortunately I don't think Pres. Bush is the type to do it...
Still wished he would have Laura write it for him though.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
5the 9/11 theory
August 7, 2008 - 10:21 ET by welderforeKenneth J Roberts
Does any one know how much it would take to get away wiith this type of thing it would take about 1,000 people who could keep a secret and I have found on occassion in my 64 years maybe one or two that could be trusted with a secret. . the whole deal is left winged attack on a sitting president in time of war. the left is so mad that Kerry did not win and Gore , they had better be glad that niether of them are in a position to rule ANY THING , they have no sense and no logic about them they say we should cut back while they up their use of carbon . oil is the economy and with out it we would be living under bridges and in card board boxes .I equate the news media with the old enquier and the tabloids that spew their lies across the country for the sake of selling paper with words on it . no truth just words. Al Gore is not as smart as a fifth grader . he can't understand the process of us breathing in good air and letting the bad air out . and Siuskind is just wanting to sell his book no matter the cost to our national security. We will miss Bush I will make that prediction before the rest of the strained bunch has their way with us we will miss him deeply.