Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Sark Considers Feith for VP in 2008

I have been considering vice presidential running mates for my possible run for the presidency in 2008. In this post I share with you my thoughts about Douglas Feith. (In my posts below I consider Richard Perle and L. Paul Bremer.)

Here's just a few of the many reasons why I'm considering Doug:

1) Feith led the Office of Special Plans at the Pentagon from September 2002 to June of 2003. This now defunct intelligence gathering unit has been accused of manipulating intelligence to bolster support for the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. According to the British newspaper, The Guardian, "This rightwing intelligence network [was] set up in Washington to second-guess the CIA and deliver a justification for toppling Saddam Hussein by force."

2) Also while leading the Office of Special Plans during this period, Feith authorized "back-channel" meetings that dealt not only with Iraq, but also with Iran. A senior Administration official said the US Government had learned about the unauthorised talks "accidentally," and that it was unsettling "the government hadn't learnt the lessons of last time around," referring to the secret contacts and rogue operations that led to Iran-Contra.

3) Feith is currently under investigation by the Pentagon's Inspector General and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI). Republican Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts began the investigation when he wrote to the Pentagon Inspector General asking him to start the review:

“The Committee is concerned about persistent and, to date, unsubstantiated allegations that there was something unlawful or improper about the activities of the Office of Special Plans within the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

Like Richard Perle and Jerry Bremer, Doug Feith is obviously a master military and political strategist. America could rest easy with him in the VPs' office!

Next on my list for consideration: John Bolton

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2 comments:

Servant said...

The inspector general is investigating the activities of the OSP. We'll get the results of that investigation when Bunnatine Greenhouse gets her SES restored.

Thanks for reminding me. I was getting way behind in waiting for the inspector general's report.

Paul M. Sark said...

No problem on the reminder.

Doug will be exonerated, of course!