Fmr. CIA Chief: “We Probably Gave Powell the Wrong Speech”

[CatWoman]

In a fascinating interview with Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Former European CIA Chief Tyler Drumheller recounts what it was like working for the CIA during the run up to the Iraq War and talks — to the extent he can — about how the administration dealt with the extraordinary renditions we've been hearing so much about lately. Drumheller first broke his silence back in April of last year on CBS' 60 minutes. (h/t Glenn)

Spiegel International:

Drumheller: I had assured my German friends that <"Curveball's" claims> wouldn't be in the speech. I really thought that I had put it to bed. I had warned the CIA deputy John McLaughlin that this case could be fabricated. The night before the speech, then CIA director George Tenet called me at home. I said: "Hey Boss, be careful with that German report. It's supposed to be taken out. There are a lot of problems with that." He said: "Yeah, yeah. Right. Dont worry about that."

SPIEGEL: But it turned out to be the centerpiece in Powell's presentation — and nobody had told him about the doubts.

Drumheller: I turned on the TV in my office, and there it was. So the first thing I thought, having worked in the government all my life, was that we probably gave Powell the wrong speech. We checked our files and found out that they had just ignored it.

SPIEGEL: So the White House just ignored the fact that the whole story might have been untrue?

Drumheller: The policy was set. The war in Iraq was coming and they were looking for intelligence to fit into the policy. Read more…

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/31/fmr-cia-chief-we-probably-gave-powell-the-wrong-speech/

[Dinger]

1. Is That when He Said "This Is Bullshit"?

Powell, that is?

[soswolf]

2. Powell didn't get the wrong speech,

he got the shaft.

When Bush first took office, the one positive thing I took out of it was that Powell was going to be Sec. of State.
Little did I know that the most competent person in that administration would be shut out in the manner he was.

What a crock.

[KG]

3. please. powell was all too happy to go out and tell those lies.

one of the all time great american myths: colin powells honor and integrity. he's never had an ounce of either. he's been a water carrier for the RWers since he tried to cover up the mi lai massacre.

[Error]

4. Ohhhh.... that speech?

You gave him that speech?

You were supposed to give him the other speech...

oops!

[CatWoman]

5. great sense of humor there

:hi:

welcome to DU, Error :)

[Canuckistanian]

6. Haha, good one

The fact is, he would have read either speech. AND he would have asked for more.

I hear there's a red light on Colin's front porch.

[Poiuyt]

7. I saw that 60 Minutes with Drumheller

He clearly was upset at the way the CIA was taking the fall and being blamed for all the "bad intelligence."