Robert Parry: From exposing Iran-Contra to Hillary's underpants...

[wyldwolf]

Since they left the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton have been under the protection of the Secret Service. Records are maintained showing where they go and, to an extent, whom they meet.

Ordinarily, those records are kept as closely held secrets, but theoretically at least, Bush – with his expansive view of his powers as “unitary executive” – could gain access to them, either formally or informally.

For Bush, the temptation will be strong to use whatever means he has at his disposal to ensure that his
successor continues his “war on terror” policies and doesn’t authorize serious investigations into controversies such as torture and wiretapping.

If she wins the nomination, any information, especially some tidbit that suggests sexual improprieties, could spread like wildfire through the media landscape. A scandal would prove especially devastating if backed by real information, like what might be available in Secret Service records. http://consortiumnews.com/2007/110507.html

It hurts to read Robert Parry as he speculates about Hillary's extra-marital sex life.
I'm so old, I remember when Parry had the most important site on the entire Internet.

I know he's hurting for money (who isn't?) but is he that desperate for cash? Has Parry learned what I've known for a long time - that there's BIG money in attacking Hillary? What if he stuck to the issues and left Hillary's sex life out of consortiumnews.com?

Reading this story, there's a between-the-lines feeling that he knows something.

Parry says: "Already, new rumors about the Clintons’ marriage have begun to circulate on the Internet."

I haven't seen any of these rumors, have you? Can you send me the links if you know of any?

I am disappointed in Bob Parry.

Of all the people jumping on the sex bandwagon, I would've thought he be the very last guy.

From exposing Iran-Contra to Hillary's underpants...

(big Al Gore sigh...)

I need a drink.

thank you, Bartcop

[Turbineguy]

1. New rumors on the internet?

what about the supermarket tabloids? Rarely a week goes by.

[blm]

22. Swim by the smear, sink with the smear, I guess.

.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. BartCop gets HIS undies in a twist anytime anyone

says anything "against" Hillary Clinton. In fact, Robert Parry just pointed out a fact: that Bush has years of Secret Service reports that might have something that could be used against the Clintons. He says that "a tidbit that suggests sexual improprieties" would spread like wildfire, which is no doubt true.

And he's correct in stating that a scandal would be especially devastating if backed by Secret Service records.

Maybe Parry has heard something is about to hit the fan. Someone should ask him, instead of just complaining about it and assuming he's trying to hurt HRC's candidacy. Maybe he's trying to warn them and her supporters that he's heard something. He's the only one who knows.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KoKo]

23. There was a post on DU about what might be the rumors..about a week ago.

This may be part of it or separate. But, given Bush's Warrentless wiretapping since he was installed and the zeal of the Repugs & NeoCons wanting to stay in power...it's likely that Bush has access to every move they've both made and if he couldn't find anything...he'll conjure up some documents that have just enough innuendo backed up by some scrap of info...that his machine...including Rove (who has lots of time on his hands these days) will blast out through their might Media Machine.

This is why some of us didn't want Hillary to run. If they think making nice with Poppy and Murdoch will protect them...they have forgotten that Poppy still has another son waiting in the wings that he'd very much like to see redeem the Bush *cough* good family name that Chimpy has dragged through the gutter.

Either Bill and Hillary are clueless or too trusting in their Wall St. Money to have figured that if they are willing to lie and forge to go into Iraq...they sure as hell will come up with something on the Clintons that will remind everyone of the eight years of hell with RW Scandals the country was put through.

:-(

[blm]

28. I'm quite sure Bill trusts Poppy won't spill, because Bill didn't spill throughout the 90s.

That works out really well for accountable government and democracy doesn't it?

[KoKo]

30. But....for the Clinton "Hush/Silence" on "Iran Contra" they got 8 years of hell

from Mellon-Scaife and Murdoch in the wings. What's I'm wondereing is what kind of bargain could Clinton's make that they would escape another "dragging through mud" if anything is made up or found about Bill since he left office?

Will the Clinton's take another "silence" when their part of the bargain to keep "IC" off the investigative agenda didn't seem to work for them their last time around. :shrug: What Mighty Bargain would they have made with them this time for Hillary to get in? Is it as fake as our putting our Dems in and finding out they were on the "inside" with the very people who stole three elections?

[blm]

32. Those personal attacks were great smokescreen while GOP was rewriting banking laws

to favor the financial industry.

They certainly kept the media busy with all those personal attacks ginned up to maintain steady media coverage.

Listen - I don't really think that some of the RW firebreathers are part of Poppy's network - and that he and Clinton probably agreedt that the bases would do what the bases would do and that when push came to showve they'd throw a life jacket - like Arlen Specter not voting to remove.

Now Arlen, Poppy Bush controls and has since the Warren Commission.

[DURHAM D]

3. I think the warning is that political operatives in Poppy's

administration made shit up before and they will make shit up again.

[blm]

10. I'm more concerned that IranContra's outstanding matters were covered up before

and I expect many of Bush2 illegal operations will receive the same treatment.


http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

[IndianaGreen]

12. I recall something about an airport in Arkansas and the wink and nod from an Arkansas governor

to flights connected to Iran-Contra.

[blm]

16. Clinton also supported Reagan-Bush politically on their IranContra policy.

So, it's likely he was sympathetic to Poppy Bush - and Jackson Stephens - and Marc Rich - and the other notables in IranContra and BCCI investigations.

[IndianaGreen]

24. No one talks about BCCI anymore

but it was a major scandal involving some of the most powerful people in the country.

We are still paying for BCCI. :-(

[blm]

25. BCCI is continuing as we speak. The funding of terror networks, black market nukes,

drugrunning, armsdealing - Poppy and his cronies never stopped - they just turned to privatization during the 90s.

[mod mom]

26. NPR's Fresh Air interviewed UK Guardian journalists on this very subject.

I didn't get a chance to hear the entire interview, but in case anyone is interested here is a link to listen:

Nuclear Deception in Pakistan?




Fresh Air from WHYY, November 13, 2007 · In a new book, two British investigative journalists dig into the story of Pakistan's clandestine nuclear network — and America's role not just in condoning its ally's nuclear ambitions, but aiding them.

Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark are senior correspondents for the Guardian newspaper; both previously worked for the Sunday Times of London.

Their book is titled Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in Nuclear Weapons.

listen to interview @:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16251052

[blm]

27. Thanks for staying alert on this - Sibel Edmonds has said this has been going on

but she gets ignored - though she was in the position to hear exactly what was being discussed by all the players in the Arab world who have been part of Poppy's operations.

[mod mom]

29. These two authors's work must be controversial, as Terry Gross made a comment

saying such, but of course there are denials with this bunch when faced with facts.

[Bongo Prophet]

34. Closer to the Mena Inner circle were the Hutchison Brothers

I think they were keeping Bill at arm's length on that, possibly through blackmail.

This is based on the usual research sources, plus some friends in Little Rock in late 80's, who said (paraphrase) - "the Clintons are a bit crooked, but nothing compared to what the Hutchisons are doing in this state. Sometimes it takes a little crook to beat big crooks" - and then imparted a few rumours dealing with CIA, drugs and Real Estate/S&L shenanigans. You know, the 80s.

Asa Hutchison was the DA back then, and Mena was under his jurisdiction -- and later became DEA head under W, of course.
In the pattern that they follow, old crooks just get upgraded to the same type of job (like Reich and Abrams and Poindexter, etc etc) - this is about as close to admission - indeed, flaunting! - of guilt as one can get. That's the thing about W, they are too proud to even hide things well.

A side note on Asa Hutchison--
One time on Bill Maher's show he referred to white folk as "clean skinned" while trying to make the case that he was NOT a racist prick.


The OP is not a serious person as regards to principle, unless the principle is getting his/her "client" elected, at least as far as I can tell. And Bartcop ALWAYS needs a fuckin' drink. That is his ego kick shtick.

[blm]

37. The problem with a 'little' crooked is that it prevented full disclosure of BushInc's

illegal operations at a time when they were at their weakest and most exposed after that Dec 1992 BCCI report.

And the failure to pursue the outstanding matters led directly to Bush2 - 9/11 - this iraq war - and Pakistan's current world of troubles.

[Bongo Prophet]

38. Yes, history has proven that to be true

At the time of my discussion with friends in Litle Rock, I don't even think Clinton had announced a run for prez - but it was assumed he would. I remember being taken aback a bit about how "small town" out in the open the corruption was. It sounded like everybody knew some shit was going down, but just kept their heads down so as not to be noticed. This was 1989, and only some of the drug running stuff had come to light. Strange times.

I hear you loud and clear on the crap that has come down the pike since then. It is because I knew of this history that W's BS was so predictable, and even though so much was exposed, one would still be mocked as a conspiracy nut. Telling them to just watch c-span was of little help, and the Kerry BCCI hearings, Walsh report, etc. were too much work for them.

Some people view this as a game. Candidates to win or lose like baseball teams.
Except in this game many people die, or get filthy fucking rich off of others' suffering.

As always, I appreciate your work here on DU.

[blm]

40. Thanks - some people think it's all about gameplaying completely unaware of the consequences

or the heavy loss of life and liberties and the role of citizens.

[Bongo Prophet]

35. blm, or others- are there ANY candidates you think will uncover Bush crimes?

OKay, Kucinich maybe, but I have not heard a word from him on that and the odds of him being candidate are quite low.

The closest in my mind was Kerry, but that ship has sailed as we know.
I am not sure even he could've/would've done anything to unleash the new justice dept on them to the extent that you or I would like.

Someone made a good point on a panel at the Miami book fair, stating that the neocons will move like a virus to find any host that will do their bidding (currently Guiliani) but the terror/drug/arms franchise is more deeply entrenched and perhaps less mobile.

As priorities go, I hope at least the caging and other anti-democratic policies get squashed, and open records get restored.

I would be interested on your views on this, ignoring the shallow candidate advocacy mode, just an analysis based on your years of keeping up with these matters. It's not like Hillary is the only one who might cover for these guys, but the whole inner circle, who always call for "moving on, nothing to see here"

There are just too many battlefronts for one lifetime, it seems.

[blm]

36. Actually I do believe Kerry would've opened the books on them if he had taken office

because his record was one that ALWAYS sought to get MORE documents released to the public and why he had to take Poppy bush to court to do so - sometimes he won, other times Poppy won.

Clintons have already proven they have no interest in opening ANY of the books on BushInc.

I have to believe that an Obama, Biden, Dood or Edwards would to varying degrees - especially since Obama has been getting advice from Gary Hart and Kerry on foreign policy issues, and has advocated more transparency in government.

Hopefully, Edwards recent tact re corruption will take hold and bring a commitment to open government to the table.

Basically, the country's BEST BET to expose it all was Kerry. And why so many powerful Dems worked WITH BushInc to undermine his candidacy.

[IndianaGreen]

4. David Geffen said recently that Bill Clinton was still engaged in reckless behaviour

Geffen is a former Clinton pal and fund raiser.

[DURHAM D]

7. Didn't Geffen make the comment months ago when he

announced his support for Obama.

Wonder if he has buyer's remorse after the McSinger fiasco?

[blm]

8. uh....LA and NY can be VERY small towns.

They will usually cover up sexual peccadilloes where they can, as it's generally regarded as normal behavior.

Even when GWBush had his affair in the late 80s with Bo Derek, no one in LA paid it any mind. Heh - now I'll bet they WISH they had taken pictures at the time.

[beachmom]

5. I didn't take it as an attack on the Clintons. The point is the secret service

has detailed records of things that should be kept private; yet given the history of the Bush family, they will use their powers in ruthless ways. The piece was about the Bushes, and the position the Clintons find themselves in with the Secret Service. As to the "rumors", well I have heard things over the years in tabloid style media, but the main body of evidence is Bill Clinton's behavior in the past, which we unfortunately know to be true.

[blm]

21. Leave it to spinmeisters to spin it into 'Hillary's underpants' just to attack Parry.

The reach was longer than Ali's on the best day he ever boxed.

[blm]

6. He didn't mention 1 word about Hillary's underpants - you know it but chose to

insult the intelligence of other DUers instead.

[AntiFascist]

9. The real controversy is the involvement with Iran/Contra....

why doesn't Parry focus on that? Everything else about sexual impropriety and what not is just smoke and mirrors designed to obliterate this issue. The Bush family will fight to never allow the true crimes to be uncovered.

[blm]

11. The Bush family has Dem friends who help protect their secrecy and privilege.

And I expect THAT is what will continue unfortunately for this nation and the world.


http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

And I think it's safe to guess that Parry believes this exact same thing.

Does anyone believe that Robert Parry WANTS the books on IranContra to remain closed?

I am shocked that ANY Democrat would support the Bushes in this way and want it to continue into the next Dem administration.

[AntiFascist]

13. Thanks for pointing out this excellent article...

President Clinton may in fact be indirectly responsible for the mess we are in now by enabling the Bush family. These 4 paragraphs sum it up quite well:

...

Later, as tensions grew in the Middle East, the American people and even U.S. policymakers were flying partially blind, denied anything close to the full truth about the history of clandestine relationships between the Reagan-Bush team and hostile nations in the Middle East.

Clinton’s failure to expose that real history also led indirectly to the restoration of Bush Family control of the White House in 2001. Despite George W. Bush’s inexperience as a national leader, he drew support from many Americans who remembered his father’s presidency fondly.

If the full story of George H.W. Bush’s role in secret deals with Iraq and Iran had ever been made public, the Bush Family’s reputation would have been damaged to such a degree that George W. Bush’s candidacy would not have been conceivable.

Not only did Clinton inadvertently clear the way for the Bush restoration, but the Right’s political ascendancy wiped away much of the Clinton legacy, including a balanced federal budget and progress on income inequality. A poorly informed American public also was easily misled on what to do about U.S. relations with Iraq and Iran.

[blm]

14. EXACTLY - never should've been a Bush2, a 9-11, Iraq war, Iran saber-rattling

the chaos in Pakistan today......ALL should have had full exposure with IranContra, Iraqgate, BCCI and CIA drugrunning onvestigations.

What happened?

Clinton took Poppy's side instead of the side of the American people and their right to the truth.

[Forkboy]

17. Taking Yours and Bartcop's spin about Hillary is like asking Condi what she thinks of Bush.

Bartcop can be a funny bastard, but it's HIS panties in a bunch whenever Hillary gets slighted by anyone in the smallest way.He's a fucking baby.

[blm]

18. What's absurd is that Bart LOVES to use the Reagan and Bush criminality to point

out the rampant corruption of the BFEE, but he HATES the Democratic Senator who uncovered, investigated and exposed most of that corruption, but LOVES the Democrat most responsible for covering up all the outstanding matters relating to those illegal operations for Poppy Bush.


http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

Essentially, Bart thinks its much braver to protect the BFEE than to investigate and expose them.

[Forkboy]

19. Yup...one of the reasons I don't pay him much attention anymore.

Funny how he always hated the pink tutu Dems, and it turns out he IS one.

[blm]

20. Yes - he went from being a towncrier about BFEE corruption to being one of the

chief cheerleaders for Dems most responsible for protecting the BFEE.

You see, Bill and Hillary HAVE to protect the BFEE to get on the inside so they can defeat them.....nevermind that it led to Bush2, 9-11, Iraq war, probably war with Iran and this dangerous time in Pakistan.....

Sorry, Bart, but this nation CAN'T AFFORD the coverups you treat so cavalierly.

[Beacool]

31. The rumors are not about Bill

They are about Hillary and Huma Abedin. The usual suspects are salivating speculating if Hillary is having a lesbian affair with her "body person". Google "Huma Abedin" and you'll see what I mean. Ever since she appeared this summer in Vogue, the rumor mill has been working overtime on this nonsense. The fact that Huma is muslim has the Freepers freaking out that she's a Saudi spy (she was raised in Saudi Arabia) and is influencing a presidential candidate.

http://www.observer.com/node/37040

http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=1037


P.S. I'm new, if it's not allowed to post links please let me know.

[blm]

33. We heard that already - I highly doubt Parry was referring to that.

.

[KoKo]

39. That's a very odd piece from the NY Observer....

Hard to believe this woman is so mysterious. Surely there is more information on her than this article states that can be verified. Otherwise, it's odd gossip.

[blm]

44. I don't think anyone is rising to the bait. I doubt Parry would and doubt he means this

rumor is the problem. It's Bill we've heard has partaken in some 'opportunities' after leaving office. LA and NY are very small towns when it comes to these matters.

[KoKo]

41. Wyld...how do you think Hillary's campaign will deal with this?

It's something that sounds totally RW..but the New York Observer had it out last Spring and no one took any notice of it. Yet...after all that time Huma's background does seem odd. Why would Hillary put a person with such a strange background in such a high position?

If Huma is being trashed and her background is being lied about...wouldn't someone be defending her at this point?

It's an odd story. I'd put it out there with the usual stuff that the Clintons get thrown at them...and maybe the NYO has turned into the NYPost...but then...I thought Hillary and Murdoch had made peace with each other.

Why would Hillary who is so careful promote someone with such an odd background into such a high position in her campaign? :shrug: We know Hillary is very smart and has been through the wringer with everything the "M$M/Vast RW Conspiracy" could throw at both Bill and Hillary.

:shrug: Hillary is not my candidate...but if Huma is being unfairly smeared and this is all bogus about her background then Huma herself needs to provide more info. Otherwise it's malicious gossip that might circulate "below radar" out on the web..that never goes anywhere but her reputation will always live on Google with the Freepers talking about her and that will affect her down the road in her career. At the very least Clinton should figure that at some point more folks are going to ask questions about Huma. When did Huma get her citizenship? Was it while she was a student at George Washington or later. Why did her family go to Saudi Arabia when she was two years old?

Is this all made up about her so that folks will read and then Hillary can give out a background sheet on Huma which is totally different from NYO article and she can say this was a smear by folks who want to hurt both Huma and Hillary?

[Evergreen Emerald]

42. And yet not story one on Guliani or Thompson's KNOWN affairs.

here we go.

[blm]

43. Parry knows how BushInc works better than most - but I think he's off a bit

on this. I think BushInc would be just fine with a Clinton2 following them in office as Clinton1 certainly benefited them in many ways throughout the 90s.

I think what they DON'T control is the polemicist wing of the party that attacks the Clintons completely oblivious to the comfort the Bushes have with them. That attack wing serves as a great smokescreen for the coziness in the long run.