McClellan: Bush ’secrectly declassified’ 2002 NIE on Iraq to selectively leak to reporters.
McClellan: Bush ’secrectly declassified’ 2002 NIE on Iraq to selectively leak to reporters.
During his “Today” show appearance this morning with host Meredith Viera, former press secretary Scott McClellan confirmed that President Bush himself had authorized the leak of the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq:
MCCLELLAN: But the other defining moment was in early April 2006, when I learned that the President had secretly declassified the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq for the Vice President and Scooter Libby to anonymously disclose to reporters. And we had been out there talking about how seriously the President took the selective leaking of classified information. And here we were, learning that the President had authorized the very same thing we had criticized.
VIERA: Did you talk to the President and say why are you doing this?
MCCLELLAN: Actually, I did. I talk about the conversation we had. … And I told the President that that’s what the reporter was asking. He was saying that you, yourself, was the one that authorized the leaking of this information. And he said “yeah, I did.” And I was kinda taken aback.
Watch it:
Marcy Wheeler writes, “Thus far, though, we only had Dick Cheney’s word that he had actually asked Bush to declassify this information. We didn’t have Bush’s confirmation that he had actually declassified the information. … But now we’ve got George Bush, confirming that he, the President of the United States, authorized the leaks of ‘this information.’”
Transcript
McCLELLAN: But the other defining moment was in early April 2006, when I learned that the President had secretly declassified the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq for the Vice President and Scooter Libby to anonymously disclose to reporters. And we had been out there talking about how seriously the President took the selective leaking of classified information. And here we were, learning that the President had authorized the very same thing we had criticized.
VIERA: Did you talk to the President and say why are you doing this?
McCLELLAN: Actually, I did. I talked about the conversation we had. I walked onto Air Force One, it was right after an event we had, it was down in the south, I believe it was North Carolina. And I walk onto Air Force One and a reporter had yelled a question to the President trying to ask him a question about this revelation that had come out during the legal proceedings. The revelation was that it was the President who had authorized, or, enable Scooter Libby to go out there and talk about this information. And I told the President that that’s what the reporter was asking. He was saying that you, yourself, was the one that authorized the leaking of this information. And he said “yeah, I did.” And I was kinda taken aback.
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38 Responses to “McClellan: Bush ’secrectly declassified’ 2002 NIE on Iraq to selectively leak to reporters.”
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He needs to be on the stand,under oath. I keep hoping that the Dem led congress will grow some grapes and some backbone. Or is that too much to ask?
May 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pmCongress, it's time to dust off Fitzgerald, only this time go after the BIG FISH - Bush, Cheney and Rove. Libby has already been pardoned, but he was the fall guy anyway.
Do you really need more clarification? McClellan is on Keith right now, and is stating, quite clearly, that Bush is the one who authorized outing Plame Wilson, CIA agent specialist in WMD.
And George? We're all waiting for an apology.
INVESTIGATE, INDICT AND IMPEACH NOW!
PEACE
May 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pm#1, it's too much to ask.
McClellen is on Olbermann now saying the same thing. Next up...why he didn't speak up sooner.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pmTwo words: subpoena and treason. Congress, it's long past time to act. DO YOUR JOBS!
May 29th, 2008 at 8:25 pmOne wonders if Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and the other Democrats will finally act to impeach this criminal administration or will they simply allow the clock to run out and allow no accountability against Bush, Cheney, and the rest of this most impeachable administration?
May 29th, 2008 at 8:29 pmI know,maybe we can get Monica to clean that dress and give shrub a BJ. Or get Gannon to do it?
May 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pmThe democrats don't want to bring impeachment charges against the most unpopular administration in American history because it might effect the November elections and so the worst criminals get off without a catch ?
May 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pmTalk about placing party above country ! No impeachment, no consequences .Well except for our poor ailing deocracy , our reputation and most likely the democrats themselves in November .
Who is above the law ?
this is what i don't understand. it was understood Bush declassified the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq way back when so he wouldn't get impeached. but as to having proof he authorized the treasonous outing of a spy (Valarie Plame), which we all know he did, is not proven.
" Bush acknowledges declassifying intelligence
Critics: White House should explain why information was released
Tuesday, April 11, 2006; Posted: 7:21 p.m. EDT (23:21 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Monday that he had declassified intelligence documents in 2003 to help explain his administration's reasons for going to war in Iraq.
"I thought it was important for people to get a better sense of what I was saying in my speeches," Bush said, answering a question from an audience member at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. "And I felt I could do so without jeopardizing ongoing intelligence matters.
Some Democratic critics have said the president approved leaking sensitive intelligence for political reasons despite repeated public pronouncements that he would punish anyone in his administration found to have leaked classified information.
Questions also have arisen over when the documents officially became declassified.
While the White House points out that the president has the right to declassify information, White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters on July 18, 2003, that the documents had become declassified that day -- 10 days after Bush, according to the court papers, approved their release to the news media."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/10/whitehouse.leak/index.html
May 29th, 2008 at 8:40 pmEight(8) years of Treason from Bush, the Republican Party and the lying corporate media. Heck of a job, Traitors...
May 29th, 2008 at 8:44 pmThe first Journalist who reported this was Jason Leopold and then came Marcy. This information is old news just new to those who didn't pay attention. Next as Jason reported and many called him a liar, we will find out the Seal vs Seal is Karl Rove's indictment by the Grand Jury. The Media did a great job for the White House by spinning the lies and covering up. If it wasn't for Journalist like Jason, Marcy and others this would be a shock. Now Nancy Pelosi had this information and did nothing with it and now she has not only the written word of Scott but a face to face admission by the President will Pelosi still do as she is told by the GOP and pray for Bush or will she do the job she was elected to do and start the Impeachment Hearings? Looks like Pelosi, Leahy and Kerry are all looking to put Obama in office to make sure they get a job in his Cabinet before the voters find out just how deep these three were hooked up with the White House. Diane Feinstein's husband got a Government contract for her cooperation in putting the new AG in office. Look every Law Makers has a price and if not they will write a book to tell their crimes and Americans will buy that too.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pmwhat a book!
May 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pmThom Hartmann has stated twice on his show that Obama has said He WILL prosecute any illegal behavior found in the previous administration.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:00 pmI have not personally heard Obama say this but I do trust Thom.
This administration can not be prosecuted for any crime done in office unless they are first impeached !
May 29th, 2008 at 9:06 pmCall or E mail 10 people and tell them to call or e mail 10 people and tell them to take 5 minutes and write their congress person to put scott mcclellan under oath and begin impeachent proceedings !
Democracy is not a spectator sport !!!!! DO IT NOW !!!!
And because Obama has made it known he will prosecute any illegal behavior found in the Bush ad, can you imagine HOW MANY would like to see Obama gone, done in? For this reason, I am terrified for Obama's life.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm"All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing."
May 29th, 2008 at 9:12 pmpsssst ..... do something .
freeman
May 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pmI am not an expert in Constitutional law, but Obama is as he taught it for 10 years. If he says he will go after them, then there is a way he knows about.
Obama can not do anything unless Bush is impeached first !
May 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pmHELLO ?
You are the power friend , flex your muscles !
May 29th, 2008 at 9:15 pmSelf be your guide self be your leader do not look for any other leader . Gautama Buddha
May 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pmThis story was first reported TWO YEARS AGO! By Jason Leopold!
The story is now republished here:
http://www.pubrecord.org
Bush at Center of Intelligence Leak?
By Jason Leopold
The Public Record
Editor’s Note: In light of explosive revelations made Thursday morning by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claiming that President Bush ordered the leak of classified information in the CIA leak case, The Public Record is republishing an April 2006 story by Jason Leopold who first broke the story about Bush’s role in the leak.
Bush at Center of Intelligence Leak, by Jason Leopold, Thursday April 06 2006
Attorneys and current and former White House officials close to the investigation into the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson said Thursday that President Bush gave Vice President Dick Cheney the authorization in mid-June 2003 to disclose a portion of the highly sensitive National Intelligence Estimate to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward and former New York Times reporter Judith Miller.
These current and former White House officials are among the 36 witnesses who have testified before a grand jury and have been cooperating with the special counsel's probe since its inception.
The officials, some of whom are attorneys close to the case, added that more than two dozen emails that the vice president's office said it recently discovered and handed over to leak investigators in February show that President Bush was kept up to date about the circumstances surrounding the effort to discredit former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:21 pmOlbermann's interview of Scott McClellan was excellent. I also thought John Dean was insightful. Mike Malloy is right now talking about the complicit media -- something that McClellan was surprised by as well. NOBODY questioned anything. They were all too excited to be allowed to travel with the troops and signed away freedom of the press. I am not saying that McClellan was an innocent bystander but I applaud his fortitude to write the book. His life will never be the same,
May 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pmTreason.
Rep Conyers? Rep Pelosi?
Your move.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:31 pmHas anyone read this book? I can't put it down
I am astounded at what he said about Cheney and Rove and their role in the Plame leak.
This should vindicate Jason Leopold big time. The only question is where is Fitzgerald and why isn't he being hauled before Congress?
May 29th, 2008 at 9:36 pmPelosi and Reid need to be booted out the same time W is.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:45 pmThe story and point that needs to get put out, reinforced, and shouted, is that not one single critic is calling him a liar or attacking the information.
He's a traitor, disgruntled, etc etc, but not one has calledhim a liar.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:50 pmAs you may or may not know, the level of classification equates to the DAMAGE to the United States which the release of the classified information would cause. Here we have the top classification authority of the United States releasing damaging information in order to create a background to propel the nation into an unnecessary, preemptive war against everything the United States had come to stand for. This was a dastardly act of of criminal proportions!
May 29th, 2008 at 10:13 pmand Bush leaked the information in April and then in October says "this town is full of leakers. We may never find the leaker."
Read this for background.
McClellan Suggests Plame Cover-up
http://www.pubrecord.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73:mcclellan-suggests-plame-cover-up&catid=1:nationworld&Itemid=8
Pelosi should be impeached too.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:24 pmsing, birdie, sing
May 29th, 2008 at 10:31 pm"McClellan Knew About, Defended Bush Leak of Iraq NIE."
From April 7, 2006:
Q: He was asked about leaking classified information, but the President said, "I've constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks." Not just classified information. He says "particularly leaks."
MR. McCLELLAN: The President believes the leaking of classified information is a very serious matter. And I think that's why it's important to draw a distinction here. Declassifying information and providing it to the public, when it is in the public interest, is one thing. But leaking classified information that could compromise our national security is something that is very serious. And there is a distinction.
Now, there are Democrats out there that fail to recognize that distinction, or refuse to recognize that distinction. They are simply engaging in crass politics. Let's make clear what the distinction is.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:41 pmI toldja you gotta love Scotty, regardless of his true motives.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:06 pmNow the truth about libby and that fat pig, Chenney coordinating their obstruction of justice and their treason outing Plame is told by Scott, time for Congress to get MacClellan under oath!!!!!! Rove should be feeling very uncorfatable as his wealthy and putrid bubble is getting smaller... Rove should get life for treason, execution for War Crimes! Where is Rice???? She is lying low and avoid questions about her lie and War Crimes! RiceMustGo.com!!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:51 amDear Rep. Pelosi and Rep. Conyers:
Thank you for keeping impeachment off the table. No matter what the evidence, it is absolutely imperitive that no one in the Bush Administration be impeached. We must stand firm to show the rest of the world that our President is above the law, above the Constitution, and is accountable to no one. Our President must be free to invade countries at will, to imprison and torture any one, at any time, and to destroy the lives of all who question or oppose him (or her). It is our manifest destiny to control and dominate the rest of the world through fear and force of arms.
I only hope you both live long enough to see the fruits of what you have sown. Somewhere along the line, you traded upholding the Constitution for political gain. In the end, you will end up with neither.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:16 amHe was saying that you, yourself, was the one that authorized the leaking of this information. And he said “yeah, I did, heh, heh, heh”
May 30th, 2008 at 8:48 amBriseadh na Faire - well said!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:35 amIf only they saw these words, one can only hope.
All of these revelations are old news to those of us who have been paying attention the last 7.5 years. It is painfully obvious that this Congress will not act. They've had the last 1.5 years to. Maybe when a new administration takes the helm, but I wouldn't count on it. And even if action is taken in a new administration, it will take years and years of litigation, and in the end, these traitorous bastards will still walk.
So what is it going to take people? Who can serve the peoples' bidding?
WE CAN!
I call for a 10 million person march in D.C. Goddamn take to the streets and STAY until these spineless politicians are FORCED to act!
The power of the web can make this happen. Just imagine if all the resources of the progressive blogosphere were put together to organize such an endeavor.
I say we can do it. I say we have to do it. I say it is our DUTY to do it.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:39 am"confirming that he, the President of the United States, authorized the leaks of ‘this information.’”
It took less that this for Congress to go after Nixon. Can we please impeach him now?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pmCareful, people. While we fight the last war, Bush is preparing to fight the next war. Rove's magician antics are in full swing. McClellan is taking one for the team. While we look over here, something happing over there.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:28 amHave you all put your name down on Rep Robert Wexler's web page for being in favor of Cheney impeachment hearings? If not, it is at
http://www.WexlerWantsHearings.com
When Wexler gets publicity as he did this last week for calling for sworn testimony by McClellan, there is a nice spike in the number of people who discover his site and add their names.
There are also videos including his questioning of Mukassey in which he showed Mukassey to be either ignorant or a liar. Although I think McClellan deserves credit for courage and growth, I want to hear Wexler question him.
And please pass the word on the web about WexlerWantsHearings because that is the only place the millions who want Cheney out are going to learn that WexlerWantsHearings exists.
June 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pm