Pentagon Watchdog Slams Prewar Intel

Investigation Finds Efforts To Link Al Qaeda And Iraq Were Inappropriate — But Legal

(CBS/AP)  Pentagon officials undercut the intelligence community in the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq by insisting in briefings to the White House that there was a clear relationship between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda, the Defense Department's inspector general said Friday.

Acting Inspector General Thomas F. Gimble told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the office headed by former Pentagon policy chief Douglas J. Feith took "inappropriate" actions in advancing conclusions on al Qaeda connections not backed up by the nation's intelligence agencies.

The briefing called the relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda "mature" and "symbiotic," while the CIA called it "murky," reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. The small Pentagon intelligence office presented the information because it was convinced the CIA was doing shoddy work in the months before the war.

Gimble said that while the actions of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy "were not illegal or unauthorized," they "did not provide the most accurate analysis of intelligence to senior decision makers" at a time when the White House was moving toward war with Iraq.

"I can't think of a more devastating commentary," said Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.

He cited Gimble's findings that Feith's office was, despite doubts expressed by the intelligence community, pushing conclusions that Sept. 11 hijacker Mohammed Atta had met an Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague five months before the attack, and that there were "multiple areas of cooperation" between Iraq and al Qaeda, including shared pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.

"That was the argument that was used to make the sale to the American people about the need to go to war," Levin said in an interview Thursday. He said the Pentagon's work, "which was wrong, which was distorted, which was inappropriate ... is something which is highly disturbing."

Republicans on the panel disagreed. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said the "probing questions" raised by Feith's policy group improved the intelligence process.

"I'm trying to figure out why we are here," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., saying the office was doing its job of analyzing intelligence that had been gathered by the CIA and other intelligence agencies.

Gimble responded that at issue was that the information supplied by Feith's office in briefings to the National Security Council and the office of Vice President Dick Cheney was "provided without caveats" that there were varying opinions on its reliability.

Gimble's report said Feith's office had made assertions "that were inconsistent with the consensus of the intelligence community."

Responding to the report, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, "The president has long acknowledged that intelligence leading up to the war in the Iraq was inaccurate. And he has taken dramatic actions in order to revamp the intel community."

Asked if the president feels ill-served by subordinates who manipulated intelligence on which he based decisions and took the U.S. to war, Perino said the president takes responsibility and has taken steps to make sure that bad intelligence doesn't happen again, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports.

Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman denied that the office was producing its own intelligence products, saying they were challenging what was coming in from intelligence-gathering professionals, "looking at it with a critical eye."

Some Democrats also have contended that Feith misled Congress about the basis of the administration's assertions on the threat posed by Iraq, but the Pentagon investigation did not support that.

In a telephone interview Thursday, Levin said the IG report is "very damning" and shows a Pentagon policy shop trying to shape intelligence to prove a link between al Qaeda and Saddam.

In September 2005, Levin had asked the inspector general to determine whether Feith's office's activities were appropriate, and if not, what remedies should be pursued.

The 2004 report from the Sept. 11 commission found no evidence of a collaborative relationship between Saddam and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terror organization before the U.S. invasion.

Asked to comment on the IG's findings, Feith said in a telephone interview that he had not seen the report but was pleased to hear that it concluded his office's activities were neither illegal nor unauthorized. He took strong issue, however, with the finding that some activities had been "inappropriate."

"The policy office has been smeared for years by allegations that its pre-Iraq-war work was somehow 'unlawful' or 'unauthorized' and that some information it gave to congressional committees was deceptive or misleading," said Feith, who left his Pentagon post in August 2005.

Feith called "bizarre" the inspector general's conclusion that some intelligence activities by the Office of Special Plans, which was created while Feith served as the undersecretary of defense for policy — the top policy position under then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld — were inappropriate but not unauthorized.

"Clearly, the inspector general's office was willing to challenge the policy office and even stretch some points to be able to criticize it," Feith said, adding that he felt it was subjective "quibbling." Feith maintains that the policy office and other, smaller groups created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks proved prudent and useful in challenging some of the CIA's analysis.

[seven-pesos]

as long as you have presidents that come out of the slave state southern states you'll always have war, hate, phony christians and corrupt politicians.

that's the way of the south!

[j-whitman]

Conservitve DRUDGE REPORT, fails to mention the NIE, or other investigations against the administration ---- Media Bias Conservitives fail to mention.

[karlimhof]

Douglas Feith and his AIPAC/AEI henchmen had/have an agenda - war against Irak, Iran, Syria.

They knowingly slanted and fabricated information which was allowed to bypass our intelligence agencies. Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz gave the green-light. This was a crime. Their actions have led to the death of hundreds of thousands, a million displaced persons, destroyed lives.

THEY MUST PAY THE PRICE FOR THEIR CRIMINAL ACTS!

[randalds]

How much info do you need when you got a world wide picture of Sudam and a host of others discarging their weapons within city limits? Along with missing people and an asortment of twisted bodies, bones, and broken homes!
Posted by fizzal at 07:07 PM : Feb 10, 2007

Now of course you're describing Iraq post US invasion. Right?

[fizzal-2009]

How much info do you need when you got a world wide picture of Sudam and a host of others discarging their weapons within city limits? Along with missing people and an asortment of twisted bodies, bones, and broken homes!

[feelfree1]

Athough General Tommy Franks is a war-criminal and a failure, but he was right about one think, when he said that Doug Feith was "the f---king stupidest guy on the face of the earth."

I would be in favor of leniency for Franks, if he can provide evidence, leading to the conviction of Feith, or of any other top Bush regime officials.

[gdmoore2]

long_rider: Truthout.org was not previously on my reading list. It is now. Thank you.

[bluestardad]

Hey Congress, We know you cannot protect innocent high school pages in the Halls of Congress nor put Pedophiles in Jail like Mark Foley, how about thieves of billions of dollars, and Liars that cause the deaths and Maiming of Thousands of American Soldiers and sends our country to a war on a lie? The Middle East is not in American Interest, we have invested 50 years of blood, and money is enough is enough! Did the Israeli or Saudi Arabian Neocons slip you some money how about thirty pieces of silver for your vote or compliancy in this war?
Write your congressman and let them know how you feel! firststatehttp://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[long_rider]

This is just an opinion, but one worth reading.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021007A.shtml

This case is a calssic example of the media censorship of the free press. We never see news coverage of this one.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021007A.shtml

[bluestardad]

The middle east is not in Americas interest! Pull out 50 years of investment in blood, money, and effort has proven no results! Lets interupt your ignorance with some facts! Israel and Saudi neocons are pushing us to war!

Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. It also provides analysis of the voting records of U.S. federal representatives and senators with regard to how they voted on legislation related to Israel. The New York Times described AIPAC on July 6, 1987 as "a major force in shaping United States policy in the Middle East."

[gdmoore2]

heetseeker - Regarding your 0630 post, well said. Your last point will be the most difficult for the Bush administration to handle. Bush's goals are so loose, they do not know clearly when they should leave. To make matters worse, their intelligence apparatus seems free to assert what the neocons hope for, rather than just clearly stating current conditions. They have stacked up too much of their own credibility on an outcome they insist on defining, and have placed the burden on the U.S. military. As Col Mike Turner said, "...again, they have handed the military the nightmare scenario."

[bvckvs-2009]

He took discarded perfectly good information, and reported made up stuff instead. He did it in order to deceive the government, and to start a war. As a result - nearly a million people have died.

If he can't be prosecuted for this - there's no reason for us to have a justice system.

[grumpas]

skyk: "These people obviously don't know what a war crime is. Bush hasn't committed any war crimes." I personally consider it a crime of war to ask our Military to put their lives on the line for a what ever personal reason Bush had in starting this unnecessary war (and I do believe it was personal)! I consider all the 3000 military dead, Iraqi dead and the destruction of Iraq to be War Crimes! Bush is the one responsible for all those thousands of people's deaths, he has blood on his hands like never before! I consider Abu Grab and Gitmo war crimes of the highest order because he bares the ultimate responsibility there to for his flipant attitude toward Muslims and war! So, I will have to agree with them Bush is a War Crimial if I ever saw one!

[mbcsmith]

ska/nk

Who pays your blogger salary? Edwards?Clinton?Obama?

[dallison7]

All politicians lie, cheat, and steal. It%u2019s in their nature. The need for control. That%u2019s why the become politicians.

Posted by rray52

Probably true, but most still have enough moral fiber to not lie for the purpose of starting a war. To lie in order to get elected or to protect your marriage, or your reputation is wrong. To lie as this bunch has is treason!

[formrusmcsgt]

First you point at your predecessor, if that doesn't wash then you shoot the messanger.
Posted by dallison7 at 08:11 AM : Feb 10, 2007

How silly of me......true enough.

[rray52]

skyk
All politicians lie, cheat, and steal. It%u2019s in their nature. The need for control. That%u2019s why the become politicians.

[dallison7]

If you're a neocon, you'll employ the "shoot the messenger" approach and blame it all on the media.....
Posted by formrusmcsgt

First you point at your predecessor, if that doesn't wash then you shoot the messanger.

[formrusmcsgt]

How can anyone spin this any other way?
Posted by skyk at 07:39 AM : Feb 10, 2007

If you're a neocon, you'll employ the "shoot the messenger" approach and blame it all on the media.....

[skyk-2009]

Gimble's report said Feith's office had made assertions "that were inconsistent with the consensus of the intelligence community."

They LIED and to this point over 3000 American's have been murdered by those LIES! How can anyone spin this any other way?