Who’S To Blame For The Lies Of The Last Seven Years?

Who exactly has been behind many of the outright lies of the Bush Administration during the last seven years? Who’s To Blame For The Lies Of The Last Seven Years?By Cliff Montgomery – June 5th, 2008The recent memoir of former White House press secretary Scott McClellan apparently has shocked many in the corporate press, even though it dimly echoes what already had been proven about the Bush Administration many times over during the last several years.One can only conclude that the corporate media are the only people on earth who have not paid a bit of attention to this White House…At any rate, the deliberations over McClellan’s book have re-ignited a basic question: Who exactly has been behind many of the bizarre moves, and sometimes outright lies, of the Bush Administration during the last seven and a half years?Of course, the moves almost certainly cannot be fully blamed on any one person. But one thing is clear: Much of the lies, deceptions and flagrant hubris of this Bush White House stems from the largely false claim of increased executive privilege during a time of war.And since this grab for increased Executive power has been based on a war-time footing, it only makes sense to uncover the ringleaders of the Bush Administration’s war machine.Who are the confederacy of dunces making these war decisions, anyway? Who decided to confuse Iraq for Afghanistan, or Saddam Hussein for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda? And who, in the name of all that is holy, decided to let the country of Pakistan–a state filled with Islamist sympathizers–serve as the principal hunter of al-Qaeda leaders?These interesting decisions came courtesy of either the National Security Council (NSC), or of council members. We’ve  therefore decided to offer the following quotes from an April 21st, 2008 Congressional Research Service study on the make-up of the Bush Administration’s NSC:”The National Security Council (NSC) was established by statute in 1947 to create an inter-departmental body to offer confidential advice to the President on all aspects of national security policy. Currently, statutory members of the Council are the President, Vice President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense; but, at the President’s request, other senior officials participate in NSC deliberations.”The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence are statutory advisers. In 2007, the Secretary of Energy was added to the NSC membership.”The President clearly holds final decision-making authority in the executive branch.”Over the years, however, the NSC staff has emerged as a major factor in the formulation (and at times in the implementation) of national security policy.”Similarly, the head of the NSC staff, the National Security Adviser, has played important, and occasionally highly public, roles in policymaking.””Congress enacted the statute creating the NSC and has altered the character of its membership over the years. Congress annually appropriates funds for its activities, but does not, routinely, receive testimony on substantive matters from the National Security Adviser or from NSC staff.”Proposals to require Senate confirmation of the Security Adviser have been discussed but not adopted.””In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the George W. Bush Administration established a landSecurity Council. Both of these entities overlap and coordinate with the NSC, but some observers have advocated more seamless organizational arrangements.””In February 2001, President George W. Bush issued National Security Presidential Directive [NSPD]-1, ‘Organization of the National Security Council System.’ The NSPD indicated that the NSC system was to advise and assist the President and ‘coordinate executive departments and agencies in the effective development and implementation’ of national security policies.”Among the statutory and other officials to be invited to attend NSC meetings, the Attorney General will be asked to attend meetings pertaining to his responsibilities, both matters within the Justice Department’s jurisdiction and those matters arising under the Attorney General’s responsibilities…to give advice and opinion on questions of law.”The National Security Adviser was charged with determining the agenda, ensuring necessary papers are prepared, and recording NSC actions and presidential decisions.””Subsequent to 9/11, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act…abolished the position of Director of Central Intelligence [DCI] and established a new position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI) with enhanced authorities over the entire Intelligence Community. The DNI replaced the DCI in NSC-level deliberations.Evaluation – “Although there is little official documentation of the work of NSC staff in the George W. Bush Administration, the roles of both National Security Advisers, Condoleezza Rice and Stephen Hadley, have not on the whole been high-profile ones.”Media accounts reflect strong disagreements between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, but few have suggested that the National Security Adviser was dominating the decision-making process.”Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!