Remember
this?
The sequence of events during that day gave off an extraordinary Orwellian odor, as if the loquacious Mr. DiIulio had been subjected to a swift but thorough course of Republican thought-reform. The news cycle began with a story in The New York Times previewing Mr. Suskind's long, engrossing investigation of how Karl Rove and his minions grind out policy sausage in the West Wing.
The paper reported that Mr. DiIulio had nicknamed the White House boss and his minions the "Mayberry Machiavellis." He had given Mr. Suskind a vivid, detailed view of the political evisceration of domestic policy; the intellectual vacuum on the President's staff; the absolute authority of the fearsome Mr. Rove; the dominating influence of the "religious right and libertarians"; and, in short, the Bush administration's failure to achieve anything of significance on the home front.
That morning, Mr. DiIulio made matters slightly worse when the University of Pennsylvania, where he is a professor of political science, issued a brief statement on his behalf. He apologized for any hurt feelings and quibbled with two minor errors, but affirmed the Esquire story's substance.
The White House quickly reasserted its will to control the news. At his noon briefing, Mr. Fleischer crisply informed the press corps that "any suggestion that the White House makes decisions that are not based on sound policy reasons is baseless and groundless." Although Helen Thomas tried to press the issue, the questioning instantly reverted to Iraq, where Mr. Fleischer wanted it. He did reveal, however, that Mr. DiIulio "has spoken with officials in the office--the faith-based office, and talked with them."
Within less than two hours, another release emerged from the Penn press office: "John DiIulio agrees that his criticisms were groundless and baseless due to poorly chosen words and examples. He sincerely apologizes and is deeply remorseful." He promised never again to discuss or write about his frustrating experiences in the White House.
Meanwhile, yesterday's Washington Post reported
this bombshell:
Pakistan's top nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, has told investigators that he helped North Korea design and equip facilities for making weapons-grade uranium with the knowledge of senior military commanders, including Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, according to a friend of Khan's and a senior Pakistani investigator.
Khan also has told investigators that Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg, the Pakistani army chief of staff from 1988 to 1991, was aware of assistance Khan was providing to Iran's nuclear program and that two other army chiefs, in addition to Musharraf, knew and approved of his efforts on behalf of North Korea, the same individuals said Monday.
Today,
from the wires:
Pakistan's top nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan appeared on state television on Wednesday to confess and apologize for leaking nuclear secrets to other countries, while absolving the government of any responsibility.
Khan, revered at home as the father of the country's nuclear bomb, has been accused of leaking atomic weapons secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea.
"My brothers and sisters, I have chosen to appear before you to offer my deepest regrets and unqualified apologies to a traumatized nation,'' Khan said on Pakistan Television, speaking in English. "I also wish to clarify that there was never ever any kind of authorization for these activities by the government.''
See? We are spreading our ideas in the Islamic world.
(thanks to Kevin Drum for the link)