frankenlies.com
#14: Footnotes with Franken
In the footnote at the bottom of page 49 of Truth, Franken references Gen. Colin Powell’s February 2003 speech to the United Nations. Franken writes,
"Powell would later say of the speech, which was written by the vice president’s office ..."
"Written by the vice president’s office"? Even Franken’s close friends at the left-wing Media Matters don’t seem to buy that!1
An early first draft may have been compiled by the Vice President’s office and the National Security Council,2 but reports reveal that Gen. Powell and his chief of staff "spent four days and nights in a CIA conference room with then-Director George Tenet and other top officials trying to ensure the accuracy of the presentation"3 and shaping the speech. Gen. Powell also told KABC radio in October 2005 of the speech, "I didn’t tell them [the intelligence community/CIA/anyone] what they should tell me to say."4
Franken ... is ... wrong ... again. Are you sensing a pattern here?
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Notes:
1 “NY Times downplayed Powell's responsibility for false weapons claims in U.N. address,” Media Matters, October 27, 2005. http://mediamatters.org/items/200510270014.
2 Bruce B. Auster, Mark Mazzetti and Edward T. Pound, “Truth and Consequences,” US News and World Report, June 9, 2003, http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/unmovic/2003/0609conseq.htm says the first draft came from “Cheney's staff and the National Security Council.” ... Richard W. Stevenson and Douglas Jehl, “Leak Case Renews Questions on War's Rationale” New York Times, October 23, 2005, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/politics/23strategy.ready.html?ei=5090&en=2c312d38cdb5246b&ex=1287720000&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print claims that an early draft came from “Scooter” Libby, but it was rejected by Powell and Tenet.
3 “Former aide: Powell WMD speech 'lowest point in my life',” CNN, Tuesday, August 23, 2005. http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/19/powell.un/. Sourced through the Media Matters post entitled, "NYTimes downplayed Powell's responsibility for false weapons claims in UN address," http://mediamatters.org/items/200510270014. Lawrence Wilkerson, Powell's former aide, has since had a falling out with his ex-boss.
4 As of November 2005, the audio of the interview can be found at http://www.kabc.com/mcintyre/default.asp.