Wilkinson responds to Waxman
Rep. Henry Waxman (D -- California) recently released a detailed report (pdf) identifying "237 specific misleading statements about the threat posed by Iraq made by [President Bush, VP Cheney, Sec. Rumsfeld, Sec. Powell, and NSA Rice] in 125 public appearances in the time leading up to and after the commencement of hostilities in Iraq." In addition to the report, Waxman and his investigative team have provided a computer database along with a short summary of the reports findings.
Jim Wilkinson, Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications, was asked about Waxman's report today during his "Ask the White House" session:
Josh, from New York writes: This week Representative Henry Waxman released a report by his Committee on Government Reform titled "Iraq on the Record - The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq." The study finds that administration officials (Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld and Rice) made 237 specific false or misleading statements regarding the Iraqi threat, most of them in the month prior to the vote for a war resolution. How would you respond to Representative Waxman's report?
And what was Mr. Wilkinson's response?
I would refer you and Congressman Waxman to the text of the more than 17 UN resolutions that the Saddam Hussein regime flouted. I also refer you both to the many UN weapons inspector reports highlighting the WMD activities of Saddam Hussein. I would continue my referrals by pointing you both to the congressional law passed that made regime change in Iraq the official policy of the US government (signed by President Clinton). I would also refer you to the USAID report just released on the mass graves that Saddam Hussein filled with the innocent. I would also refer you to the text of the many reports that highlight the rape rooms, the torture chambers, the public executions, and the environmental atrocities Saddam Hussein committed. And you might want to read up on the WMD attack in Halabja in 1988 by the Hussein regime where he killed the innocent (the anniversary of this attack was this week).
So, to summarize:
Q: Congressman Waxman's report claims top Administration officials repeatedly misled the American public about Iraq. How do you respond?
A: Saddam was an evil man.
And who is Jim Wilkinson exactly?
The White House's Web-site provides a bibliography. It turns out he knows a lot about "strategic communications." The highlights:
- "Prior to joining the National Security Council staff, Mr. Wilkinson served as Director of Strategic Communications for General Tommy Franks at U.S. Central Command. At Central Command, Mr. Wilkinson coordinated the commands strategic communications activities throughout its 25-nation area of responsibility, including those related to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa."
- "During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Wilkinson served as General Tommy R. Franks principal spokesman and managed the U.S. militarys public affairs activities in the region."
- "From 1992 through 2000, Mr. Wilkinson worked in Congress for U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey."
- "Mr. Wilkinson received his B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and his M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University."
It doesn't specify the field in which he received his M.A. degree from Hopkins, but one has to wonder whether he studied under Wolfowitz or one of the other Straussians there.
Postscript: Disinfopedia has more on Wilkinson. Among other highlights, (1) his staff position in Dick Armey's office saved him from a career as an undertaker in East Texas, (2)he led the Miami protests against the Florida recounts during the 2000 election, and (3) he will be Director of Communications for the 2004 Republican Convention.
As for his Hopkins degree, it was in Government (see quote).
1:16:25 AM 
|
|
