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Ear to the Ground

State Dept. Silent on Iraqi Corruption

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Posted on Oct 5, 2007

Asked to what extent the State Department had covered up corruption in the government of Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the department’s top Mideast official told the House Oversight Committee that information that could “damage” the U.S. relationship with Iraq is considered “confidential.”

That didn’t go over well with committee Chairman Henry Waxman, who then threw down the gauntlet:

“I think that Secretary Rice is going to have a confrontation with this committee, because we’re not going to accept the idea that if you say something that could be negative about the Maliki government, it’s classified, but if you say something positive about them, it’s OK.”


Los Angeles Times:

Lawrence E. Butler, the deputy assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that the information was considered classified because it could damage relations between the United States and Iraq, and could only be discussed in private with members of Congress.

“Where revelation of information would damage bilateral relationships, it is intended to be kept confidential,” Butler told the committee. “It goes to the nature of our relationship with the government of Prime Minister Maliki.”

The showdown was the latest in a series of confrontations between the State Department and Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills). As the committee chairman, Waxman has repeatedly accused department officials of attempting to cover up misdeeds in Iraq, including alleged abuses by Blackwater USA, the main private security contractor for U.S. diplomats in the country.

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By Dale Headley, October 7, 2007 at 11:01 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Any acknowledgement of the depth of corruption threatens the Bush administration’s claims of “progress” in Iraq; therefore, any exposure of what is really going on there (corruption on a massive scale) cannot be tolerated.  Otherwise, our great military hero, George W. Bush, might not be able to announce “Mission Accomplished!”  - again.

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By Outraged, October 6, 2007 at 10:38 pm Link to this comment

“Where revelation of information would damage bilateral relationships, it is intended to be kept confidential,” Butler told the committee. “It goes to the nature of our relationship with the government of Prime Minister Maliki.”

What?!!  Iraq doesn’t HAVE a functioning government,,so I guess he means the dirty deals between members of this administration since they’re the ones in control in Iraq.

Isn’t that obstruction of justice because supposedly we’re in control there, because they don’t have a government in place.  Therefore, Butler’s comment really is saying our relationship with ourselves.  Then shouldn’t we have a right to know what we’re doing with ourselves?  Am I confused?

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By vet240, October 6, 2007 at 8:19 pm Link to this comment

To characterize the actions of the State Department as one of silence is wrong.

The State Department, ran by The bu$h lap-puppy Condi Rice is running the show and I’m sure she’s actively hiding information about the corruption from the Legislative branch and the American people who they are ripping off big time.

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By 1Kalifornia, October 6, 2007 at 11:32 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Condoleeza Rice should be forced to resign.

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By rodney, October 6, 2007 at 11:07 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Iraqi corruption how about Bush Administration corruption. NO WMD’s, 9-11 lies about Saddam, Mission not Accomplished, Lack of response to Hurricane Katrina. Billions of dollars for Halliburton.KRB Blackwater, war profiteering,Sending soldiers into battle without body armor and armored vehicles, Billions of US dollars missing and unaccounted for. Over two hundred thousand weapons sent to Iraq unaccounted for. Outsourcing the war to a mercenary army,secret documents that okay torture, Abu Graib, Secret prisons, Guantomano Bay, secret and illegal wiretaps,ignoring Habeas Corpus and the Geneva Convention, Firing US attorneys for political reasons,secret payoffs for innocent people that have been murdered in Iraq by US personnel, can’t find Osama Bin Missing,No Child of a Millionaire Left Behind,No health care for Children. Yet no impeachment, and executive priviledge stonewalling any and all investigations. The Most corrupt Administration in the history of our nation whose members should be jailed and held accountable for war crimes, and all we can worry about is OJ,Brittany Spears,Larry Craig,Paris Hilton,and Micheal Jackson. While America sleeps our nation and our liberty’s are being stolen. The yes men Republicans, and the spineless Democrats , all have been bought off by the most corrupt system ever known, made up of Corporations and Lobbyists and political donors. One day, maybe sooner than later, my comment will land me in jail as a unpatriotic dissenter, while the powerful and corrupt will get more powerful and more corrupt. Bush will be forever known as the President who turned our Republic into a Dictatorship. The mini Hitler [Bush] will one day be followed by a full blown Hitler.

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By PACRAT, October 6, 2007 at 9:45 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Getting caught brings results - sometimes!

Of course there is widespread corruption in Iraq - after all most of the contractors are friends and donors of this administration! And the corruption would continue if the lid were kept on - thank goodness that occasionally someone leaks the word about a scandal and then this administration takes action (or pretends to) to remedy the situation.

It’s ridiculous to think that Secretary Rice would rein in the Blackwater and other contractors unless there were a revelation of corruption and public outcry. And then to act as though it was her idea is ludicrous!!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an administration that was honest and truthful right up front and not tie the hands of Congress by lies and so-called “executive privilege.” 

I can imagine a whole generation of kids who get caught doing something wrong claiming “excecutive privilege.”

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By DennisD, October 5, 2007 at 6:13 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Whoever is willing to bring to and take CRAP while in the White House has my vote in 08.

C - Consequences
R - Responsibility
A - Accountability
P - Prudence

That means we can eliminate all of the front runners from either party right away and concentrate on the rest. Vote CRAP in 08 or be very disappointed in 09 and beyond.

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By thomas billis, October 5, 2007 at 5:18 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

The Bush administration has taught the Iraqi government well.Steal and classify.That energy task force that Cheney chaired think will be finding out anything soon,The day after the statue of limitations runs out maybe a memo will be leaked.

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By QuyTran, October 5, 2007 at 4:58 pm Link to this comment

The old South Vietnam’s regime was defeated not by Communists but by corrupted leaders since President Diem was massacred. This was bloody lesson that we should learn for wherever and whenever the U.S. Foreign policy invaded.

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By TAO Walker, October 5, 2007 at 4:46 pm Link to this comment

Another “Clinton cackle” is definitely in the cue-cards (Don Stivers, #105022), as Congress gets set to lay another rotten egg on those slaphappy fools they give such faithful lip-service to, theamericanpeople.  The working title of the upcoming Hollywood version is:  We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Consequences!

When it opens soon in your neighborhood theater it’ll likely be:  Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker!!  But with the sports channels going full-blast, and the holiday season looming already over the event-horizon, your average run-o’-the-mill yankee doodle dandy will have no trouble staying convinced the only ones really playing for-keeps here are just waiting for “the flop” before they go “all-in.”

The global gangsters are counting on Homer’s continued self-medication, as they get set to pick up everybody’s chips, cash-out, and retire to some extradition-free tax haven like Dubai.

So long, suckers.

HokaHey!

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By Don Stivers, October 5, 2007 at 3:59 pm Link to this comment

What happened to the showdown with Valerie Plame?

Big deal.  Does anybody suffer the consequences for anything?  Just our soldiers and the tax payer. 

Am I missing something?  Are there any consequences for anything?

“Whew!  I testified before the Senate.  Got a big lecture about how good the Senator lecturing me is.  Was told I was a bad boy.  Don’t do that again.  Whew!”

We were NOT defending ourselves when we started “Iraqi Freedom”!  Any consequences for the lost life and money?

Any answers out there?

Do I just get the Clinton cackle?

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