Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed the White House Iraq Group. Formed in August 2002, the group, which included Messrs. Rove and Libby, worked on setting strategy for selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion. The group likely would have played a significant role in responding to Mr. Wilson's claims.
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) was, according to SOURCEWATCH, "the marketing arm of the White House whose purpose was to sell the 2003 invasion of Iraq to the public." Established in August 2002, WHIG's members included Rove, Libby, Mary Matalin, Karen Hughes, Steven Hadley, Andrew Card, and Condoleeza Rice. To date, all seven of these individuals have been called to testify before Fitzgerald's grand jury.
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I think it is vital to the future of our republic that the dirt on the selling of the Iraq war comes out, and that the key players face legal consequences. That may be the only thing that proves our system of government still works; that at the end of the day, the Karl Roves of this society can't spin their way out of commissions of felony crimes.
But as encompassing as Fitzgerald's net may turn out to be, he won't be able to put each and every person responsible for the Iraq debacle in the slammer. At the root of our problems is the underlying philosophy of the neoconservative agenda, and eradicating that will take more than making a handful of conspirators do the perp walk down the front steps of the White House.
Ultimately, we need to expose the true nature of the vision of modern conservatism, which is to turn America country into a militaristic, theocratic oligarchy.
And we have to explain why that is total anathema to the things this country is supposed to be.
If and when indictments happen for Rove, Cheney, et al. -- I'll no doubt be feeling the urge to shout from the roof of our 7 floor downtown building with a bullhorn, "RULE OF LAW, MUTHAFUCKA!"
ReplyDeleteBut that's just me.
You're right in that the bigger picture matters even more. William Rivers Pitt has a great piece on truthout.org today, saying Americans need to feel we're special, we need it BAD -- it's like our Prozac, and we're running dangerously low.
Now that will be a real bullhorn moment!
ReplyDeleteThink how easy it would be for anyone with a decent speech writer - democrat or republican, who cares - to appeal to America's core values. Not the neocon values, but the values that made us a worthwhile country in the first place. It would help if this orator had a record to back himself or herself up. And I hope to God that he or she really MEANT it, too. It would be so easy to expose the Neocons as unpatriotic and anti-American because baby, it's the truth.
ReplyDeleteIt's alright to read the WSJ for their news as long as you use the editorial page for a birdcage liner.
ReplyDeleteI use it to pick dog poop out of the yard.
ReplyDelete"And we have to explain why that is total anathema to the things this country is supposed to be."
ReplyDeleteThe fact that we have to explain things like this does not bode well for the future.
Cap,
ReplyDeleteMatalin and Carville: two peas in an iPod. She goes to jail, I suspect he'll be smacking a lot harder and sharper into his forehead.
Mike,
Yeah. It's amazing that we even need to say things like that. My theory is that the appeal of the far right is that by belonging to it, you too can be part of the ruling class.
?
Jeff