I had the opportunity to see FRONT LINE's new piece, THE DARK SIDE last night. It was a chilling depiction of the manner in which Cheney and Rumsfeld play their chess games with people in high places in government. And it confirms our worst fears about these two unchecked neocon facists: to this day their power remains virtually unchecked by the Executive or legislative branches of government.
In the run up to the war in Iraq, we learn Cheney spends an inordinate amount of time over at the CIA, browbeating intelligence gatherers into writing HIS version of Iraq's search for acquiring WMD's. In spite of a formal Congressional finding that there was no "undue influence" exercised by Cheney over the CIA analysts responsible for formulating a report to the Senate Intelligence Committee, a number of former CIA operatives come forward and in no uncertain terms finger Cheney for inappropriate meddling in what should be independent fact-finding by CIA professionals, for use by the President and Congress.
Meanwhile, over in the Defense Department, Rumsfeld (in concert with Cheney), is developing his own intelligence gathering apparatus because the two plotters understand that the CIA are not providing the answers they wish to justify America's rush to war with Iraq.
We learn that the way Cheney and Rumsfeld operate (Cheney lurking like a snake in the shadows and Rumsfeld in an open, confrontational, bullying manner)haven't changed in three decades.
Cheney's public harping on "aluminum tubing" and "Iraqi agents meeting in Praque with terrorist elements" continues on unabated in spite of firm CIA input suggesting there is little or no solid evidence linking these to WMDs. He ignores official reports and continues to abuse his office by publicly denouncing unsubstantiated actions by the Iraqis.
In yet another episode of Cheney's inappropriately asserting his own version of global events, Secretary of State Powell is handed his UN speech written by Cheney's people, and is directed to read it as is, without editorial comment. In time, Powell's increasing clashes with Cheney and Rumsfeld leads to his resignation, with Rice waiting in the wings to take over as Sec State.
Bush then hangs Tennent out to dry, suggesting that it was HIS fault that the "Nigerian yellow cake" reference in his State of the Union speech came about, even though it is demonstrated that Cheney and Rumsfeld had manuvered to have it included in the text of the speech. Tennent resigns and then, as an after-thought, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which we interpret as Bush's doing penance for laying the blame on Tennent instead of his other two stooges (Cheney and Rumsfeld), where blame undoubtedly belongs.
All our worst fears are realized in this excellent piece of unbiased journalism. Cheney and Rumsfeld, soon after 9/11, decided that "Iraq must go" and they twisted any and all media opportunities, intelligence gathering and follow-on reports, and interactions with other high government officials, towards this end.
The unanswered question is this: when will these two be held to account for their actions?
Sadly, we already know the answer: Cheney, Rove, and Rumsfeld have no need to worry, regardless of their reckless abandon and long list of foreign policy blunders. They are the symbols of how far off track America is in the summer of 2006.