Former Admin. Official Needs Only Three Words To Explain Manipulation of Intel: ‘The Vice President’

Think Progress have the video of Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, appearing before the Democratic Policy Committee hearing in which he is asked:

JONES: My question is this to all four of you who would like to answer, maybe it’s a very simple question. I apologize if it’s been asked before. But what perplexes me is how in the world could professionals – I’m not criticizing anybody here at this table – but how could the professionals see what was happening and nobody speak out?

I’m not saying you did not do your duty, please understand. My point is as a congressman who trusted what I was being told – I’m was not on the Intelligence Committee, Senator Dorgan, but I am on the Armed Services Committee – and I was being told this information. And I wish I’d the wisdom then that I might have now. I would have known what to ask. But I think many of my colleagues – they did not have the experience on the Intelligence Committee – we just pretty much accepted.

So where along the way – how did these people so early on get so much power that they had more influence in those in the administration to make decisions than you the professionals.

WILKERSON: Let me try to answer you first. Let me say right off the bat I’m glad to see you here.

JONES: Thank you sir.

WILKERSON: As a Republican, I’m somewhat embarrassed by the fact that you’re the only member of my party here.

JONES: I agree.

WILKERSON: But I understand it. I’d answer you with two words. Let me put the article in there and make it three. The Vice President.

Watch the video here.

UPDATE

Crooks and Liars have an even longer video in which the panel go on to discuss the role of Feith's Office of Special Plans and the value of the junk that emanated from that office. The panel also hear that there was no failure of intelligence. The intelliegence community were doing a fine job, it's simply that the Bush administration did not like the answer they were hearing.

Watch the C&L video here.

Tags: Wilkerson, Iraq, war, intel, manipulation, Vice President, Cheney,