White House Refuses To Deny Spying On Iraqi Prime Minister
White House Refuses To Deny Spying On Iraqi Prime Minister
Excerpts from investigative journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, “The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-2008,” reveal that the White House has conducted an “extensive spying operation” on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, supposedly one of the Bush administration’s strongest allies.
Today in the press briefing, reporters gave White House Press Secretary Dana Perino a chance to deny the allegations. Perino refused to do so, however, adding that she wouldn’t even comment on the book:
Q To follow up on that Dana, why are you not simply denying the allegations in Woodward’s book?
MS. PERINO: Why am I not denying what allegations?
Q Denying that there is — that spying –
MS. PERINO: I didn’t deny it. I said I declined to comment on it. And I will decline to comment on it.
Watch it:
The Iraq government reacted sharply to the allegations today. Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that Baghdad plans to press the Bush administration for an explanation. “It reflects also that the institutions in the United States are used to spy on their friends and their enemies in the same way,” al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Ron Suskind also recently revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies had tapped the phones of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated last year.
Transcript:
Q Dana, to the Woodward book, if you have any comments on the Woodward book in general? And particularly, the allegations of spying on the Iraqi government? The Iraqi government spokesman said today, “If it is true, it casts a shadow on the future relations with such institutions,” referring to the CIA and others. And your concerns about whether this might slow down any sort of strategic forces agreement?
MS. PERINO: Okay. I haven’t — I don’t have a copy of the book yet. We did receive one or two at the White House late yesterday evening, and they are working through it. So all I know is the coverage of the book that I’ve seen, and that I’ve read in news reports of it. [...]
So with that said, I would just point to the fact that we would not comment on any of the assertions in the book regarding the allegation that you brought up. What I can tell you is we have extensive cooperation with Prime Minister Maliki. Our ambassador sees him almost daily. President Bush speaks to him by secure video teleconference at least every other week, if not more. And we have a good idea of what Prime Minister Maliki is thinking, because he tells us very frankly and very candidly, as often as he can.
And that’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to succeed in a lot of these different areas, especially in the economic, diplomatic and security areas. [...]
Q To follow up on that Dana, why are you not simply denying the allegations in Woodward’s book?
MS. PERINO: Why am I not denying what allegations?
Q Denying that there is — that spying –
MS. PERINO: I didn’t deny it. I said I declined to comment on it. And I will decline to comment on it.
Q And also, what is the latest on the negotiations with the Iraqi government on the strategic framework agreement? Is there a possibility that any announcement on this will be coupled with an announcement on the troop –
MS. PERINO: I don’t believe so. I don’t think that they’re going to be coupled. We still have some things to work out with them. And our negotiators had a little bit of a break over the past week and I’m sure they’ll be starting that up again early next week and let me give you an update when we — when they get back. But I don’t think that that announcement would be coupled. If that changes I’ll let you know.
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Bush spies on everyone. He has no friends, other than the handful he took to the Beijing Opening Ceremonies.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:26 pmPardon me, Bush doesn’t spy on his influence peddling buddies. Or if he does, he uses it for purely personal purposes.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:28 pmShorter Dana: I don’t like this job anymore. **sniff**
September 5th, 2008 at 6:29 pmThe Bush regime spy on their Iraqi puppet? Heaven, forbid.
I was under the impression that the Bush gangster regime was spying on everyone, yet the creepy-looking head of Homeland Security claimed before hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana that he didn’t know how many people had refused to evacuate from New Orleans. Maybe they are not so all-knowing as we sometimes assume…
September 5th, 2008 at 6:30 pmBig Brother is watching.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pmWhite House Refuses To Deny Spying On Iraqi Prime Minister
– - You bet! Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
Oh, wait…
September 5th, 2008 at 6:36 pmWelcome to the club Ali al-Dabbagh…these War Criminals have been spying on everyone they can…illegally.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:42 pm“It reflects also that the institutions in the United States are used to spy on their friends and their enemies in the same way,” al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:48 pmAnd their citizens. Press the administration all you want on this, please. Good Luck.
bushco as Pogo
September 5th, 2008 at 6:51 pm(We have met the enemy and he is us)
Now that’s what I call Freedom!
September 5th, 2008 at 6:51 pm.
It’s not spying when America does it… YES?
.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:55 pmOT
gregory (msnbc) said palin got a rock start applause when she entered the repug con-v.
Gawd what a mess he is.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pmThese fu(king goons know absolutely nothing about living life. They’d spy on their own parents (they probably do). They are so full of themselves they have to do this to feel some sort of purpose in life. But their purpose is based on prurient and selfish interests. They don’t care about ‘regular’ people like most of us here. They don’t have a clue and are so out of touch with the real world they have to instigate problems and occurances to feel important and necessary. Its sad. But what is even more sad is we continually let them get away with it. Think about it, most of us in this country have more in common with the average Iraqi, Iranian, Russian or any other family than we have in common with John McSpy, (Boy)George Bush or Dick(head) Cheney or any other super-rich, pampered, ownership class people.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pmThis shit in this world just needs to stop! I realize that there bad people and governments in this world but, most of it is imaginary and/or created. We should be reveling in each other’s cultures, not using them to scare us to death. Ever heard the old addage ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do?’ That’s what that means. Why is it that republicans let the neocons hijack their party and turn it into the seek and destroy party? Or is it destroy and take? This has happened throughout human history and has always failed. Why don’t we try create and build just for once.
Game of Life Says: #12
David Gregory is worthless as a journalist. He’d suck up to an active bee hive if he thought it would give him camera time.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:06 pm“Have you been spying on the Iraqi government?”
“No, no, no, no, no, no, yes. But in a good way.”
As frustrated as we get with Perinno, she is just the kind of WH spokesperson a Republican president would want – one that won’t tell you the truth or anything useful.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pmIt’s only Bush bringing Democracy to the Iraqi’s…Republican style.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:12 pm“Is there a possibility that any announcement on this will be coupled with an announcement on the troop – …”
On the troop what? What “announcement”? That was a very well-timed interruption, methinks. But I’m the suspicious type.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:20 pmSpying on your allies? What would Saracudda say about this?
Oh, never mind, she isn’t answering the phone, even at 3AM.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:25 pmAnd what is this story about her and her husband’s business partner? Is it just innuendo? Is it bullshit? There’s some smoke, but is there a real fire?
September 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pmWayne A. Schneider and Jane E. Schneider; two people I’d like to have a beer with. Does that mean you’re going to run for public office? LMAO But, I’m serious about the beer thing.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:31 pmThanks, Mr. Evil. That sounds like fun. The beer, I mean, not running for public office.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pmWho was that Israeli guy that went to PRISON for spying on us??
September 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pmThanks, Mr. Evil, I’m not a beer drinker, usually scotch or champagne. Oops, does that make me an uppity elitist?
September 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pmDana ~ dear, hold this up to the mirror and read:
hctib gniyl a m’I
September 5th, 2008 at 7:39 pmCriminals!
September 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pmRWe ~ Shoulda been Joe (I-Israel) Liebernamm…
September 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pmRWeSafer Says:
Who was that Israeli guy that went to PRISON for spying on us??
His name is Jonathan Pollard, and there’s the Wikipedia entry about him, and his own side of the story. You can make up your own mind which is more truthful.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:46 pmSorry, meant to include a link for Pollard’s side of the story. I thought I did.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pmJane E. Schneider Says: #24
Well, I like beer. I guess that makes me a downity slobberist.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pmYou guys are fun!
The Bush “accomplishments” list keeps getting bigger!
McCain = Bush
September 5th, 2008 at 8:06 pmUm, well, denying would be honest. Declining to comment is the Republican, dishonest, closeted response. They don’t know what real honesty is, so they spin their words to hide the truth. This is a perfect example of how Bush, Cheney, McCain, Palin– all of them – just cannot be honest. Turf them out.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:19 pmWow, President Bush is going out with a bang!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:31 pmSpokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that Baghdad plans to press the Bush administration for an explanation. “It reflects also that the institutions in the United States are used to spy on their friends and their enemies in the same way,” al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pmHey Ali ,don’t think your special , they are also spying on their own countrymen ! 10’s of millions of them according to USA TODAY , and collecting all their phone records , internet records and opening their mail !
Dana Purina looks tired.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:46 pmTelling lies 24X7 is hard work, and she looks like she got rode all night and put away wet.
Mr Evil, we’d be a lot more fun if we had the beer, scotch and champagne!
RUCerious, of course Bush wouldn’t know that you never put a trusty steed away wet, he’s ascared of horses. (And he’s probably ascared of wimmen, too, what with Bar and boyfriend-killer Laura around.)
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 pmIBTunion4obama Says:
Wow, President Bush is going out with a bang!
Please don’t tease me like that! :)
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 pmPurina looks like she’s on her last legs.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:31 pm& what she’s saying abith teh WH not seeing the book is baloney; the publisher would have had to submit the manuscipt for security reasons before even going to print.
Oh and Ali just to show you it really isn’t personal with these guys ,I offer this song ,inspired by their support of another dictatorship like the one we helped fund in your own country before the Bush Administration decided they needed to control your oil .
September 5th, 2008 at 10:10 pmEnjoy .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XSVHbQWb1c&feature=related
911 1973
September 5th, 2008 at 10:13 pmLooks a little like minneapolis .
September 5th, 2008 at 10:22 pm“My thing is that anybody’s interesting if you go into the complexities. That’s my problem with the whore. We’ve seen the whore, obviously, two-dimensionally, one-dimensionally. But if we’re truly going to portray a whore in a complicated light, then I’m interested.”
Lili Taylo
September 6th, 2008 at 8:13 pm