Saturday, January 28, 2006
Secret White House Tape Reveals Illicit Plan
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 - A recording of a top level Republican strategy meeting of the Bush Administration recently came to light when a self-described whistle-blower who requested anonymity sent a tape to the New York Times. The president occasionally will record meetings for later transcription and the White House staff person who heard the tape said he was so disturbed by its content that he believed it was in the best interest of the country to make it public.
According to a source at the Times, the editors decided not to publish the discussion as it was deemed "outrageously sick and Machiavellian." However, copies of the tape were later sent to freelance journalists who cover the political scene in Washington.
Attending the meeting with President Bush were Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and Senior Advisor Karl Rove.
At the meeting Cheney proposed creating a "diversionary incident" to help justify the wiretaps without interference by the courts and to demonstrate the administration's tough stand on terrorism in time for the November elections. He proposed planting explosives, weapons, and maps of possible targets on a "low level Muslim group in the U.S." When members of the group are arrested by the FBI, the Justice Department would announce that the group was discovered by listening to their overseas telephone conversations.
Gonzales reported a CIA team, code name "The Electricians," could carry out this plan "discreetly and surreptitiously." He suggested distracting the Muslims with a trustworthy prostitute and proposed Rice for the job. Rice said she would do whatever necessary to support the Republican agenda but she drew the line at wearing a push-up bra and thong.
Rumsfeld pointed out that to make Rice's role believable she would need a pimp and recommended Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist for the job. "Excellent choice," said Bush, who then brought up the subject of leaking the story to the press. "Who can we count on to do it right?" he asked.
Rove endorsed Sinclair Communications. He reminded the group that Sinclair was the company that pre-empted Nightline's episode of reading the names of those killed in Iraq, and planned the hour-long propaganda attack on John Kerry two weeks before the 2004 election. "They will report whatever we tell them," he said confidently.
"OK," said Bush. "We got a plan. But what do we do if we get found out?" he asked. Rove reported that Jack Abramoff has agreed to pay off anyone necessary to keep them quiet, including extended vacations to a Caribbean Island. "And even if the left wing press starts sniffing around you can always claim Executive Privilege now that you got the Supreme Court in your back pocket," Rove pointed out.
According to a source at the Times, the editors decided not to publish the discussion as it was deemed "outrageously sick and Machiavellian." However, copies of the tape were later sent to freelance journalists who cover the political scene in Washington.
Attending the meeting with President Bush were Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and Senior Advisor Karl Rove.
At the meeting Cheney proposed creating a "diversionary incident" to help justify the wiretaps without interference by the courts and to demonstrate the administration's tough stand on terrorism in time for the November elections. He proposed planting explosives, weapons, and maps of possible targets on a "low level Muslim group in the U.S." When members of the group are arrested by the FBI, the Justice Department would announce that the group was discovered by listening to their overseas telephone conversations.
Gonzales reported a CIA team, code name "The Electricians," could carry out this plan "discreetly and surreptitiously." He suggested distracting the Muslims with a trustworthy prostitute and proposed Rice for the job. Rice said she would do whatever necessary to support the Republican agenda but she drew the line at wearing a push-up bra and thong.
Rumsfeld pointed out that to make Rice's role believable she would need a pimp and recommended Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist for the job. "Excellent choice," said Bush, who then brought up the subject of leaking the story to the press. "Who can we count on to do it right?" he asked.
Rove endorsed Sinclair Communications. He reminded the group that Sinclair was the company that pre-empted Nightline's episode of reading the names of those killed in Iraq, and planned the hour-long propaganda attack on John Kerry two weeks before the 2004 election. "They will report whatever we tell them," he said confidently.
"OK," said Bush. "We got a plan. But what do we do if we get found out?" he asked. Rove reported that Jack Abramoff has agreed to pay off anyone necessary to keep them quiet, including extended vacations to a Caribbean Island. "And even if the left wing press starts sniffing around you can always claim Executive Privilege now that you got the Supreme Court in your back pocket," Rove pointed out.
