Self-Refuting Fact Check

Glenn Kessler of the WaPo looks at the recent (and very suspect) denouement in the Yema leak case and leaps to the absurd and self-refuting conclusion that a lot of Republican critics owe Barck Obama and his 2012 reelection team a big apology.

His gist: retired FBI bomb expert Donald Satchleben leaked to the AP that the FBI was studying a new, enhanced Al Qaeda uinderwear bomb picked up as part of a reent plot. At the Administration's request the AP sat on this for a few days, then broke their story - White House reassurances notwithstanding, Al Qaeda had been hatching a plot to mark the anniversary of Bin Laden's death. Liar, liar, pants on fire? Not so fast! The Administration promptly pushed back - let's cut to Kessler's explanation, in which he quotes fellow WaPo reporter Walter Pincus:

In an effort to counter the misimpression caused by the story,  John Brennan, then-White House counterterrorism chief, along with others, held backgrounders with analysts and reporters and disclosed immediately after the AP story appeared that there was no threat to the United States — in effect, no real “al-Qaeda plot” because the whole affair was run by the CIA and was thus under U.S. control.

The CIA use of a Saudi agent to get a bomb device by convincing the terrorists he would blow up an America-bound aircraft was a riveting story. But there were other goals for the operation, including finding the location in Yemen of the bomb builder.

And in the course of explaining that 'no plots against the US' meant 'no plots we didn't know about', Brennan spilled enough beans that reporters picked up on the Saudi and British involvement. Ooops.

And from all this Kessler infers that Republican critics alleged that the first leak, which suggested that the White House was lying, came from the White House. Really? And now we know that the original leak didn't come from there, so they should all apologize.

Let's not hold our breath. Kessler explains the role of John Brennan in the overly expansive briefing and quotes from his later confirmation hearing:

This became an issue in Brennan’s confirmation hearing to be CIA director, and so he provided written answers for the record about the briefing (starting on page 18.) Asked if he would have changed his briefing, Brennan said no and added: “Once someone leaked information about interdiction of the IED and that the IED was actually in our possession, it was imperative to inform the American people consistent with Government policy that there was never any danger to the American people associated with this al-Qaeda plot.”

Imperative? Said who? Actually, that was asked and answered in the hearing, but Kessler left this bit out:

Q: In retrospect, if you could go back and change what you said in that interview would you, and If so, how? Why was it insufficient to simply say that the U.S. government successfully interdicted or disrupted an al Qaeda plot?

A: No. Once someone leaked information about interdiction of the IED and that the IED was actually in our possession, it was imperative to inform the American people consistent with Government policy that there was never any danger to the American people associated with this al Qa’ida plot.

Q: Who instructed you to conduct the call and how were the participants selected?

A: The White House press office asked me to conduct the call to ensure the American people appropriately understood the current threat environment. The White House press office selected the participants.

They pushed back too hard in the course of sparing themselves a bit of awkwardness during the campaign. Like the critics said.

Comments

[matt]

what a bunch of bullshit. The operation was run by the UK and it was a UK agent whose cover was blown. The Brits were livid.

In the secret world, one doesn't talk about fight club.

These people will lie to our faces and then just blow it off when challenged. Scumbags.

They were looking to score some cheap national security points for the election all along.Brennan has been a primary source for the leaks.

[NK(tryin' again)]

Thank you TomM and Matt-- you guys really nailed the explanation of what's going on here.
The difference between the GWB Nat'l Sec people and the Obamaniacs? The Obamaniacs really do pervert Intel for political reasons, in the exact way they falsely accused GWB of doing.

[MarkO]

Every day I feel safer. Hell, I won't need any insurance.

[narciso]

I've related the incident to the Departed,
Di Caprio's Costigan character, who was close enough by family ties, to the mob that
he could pass as one, similarly the subject would likely be from the tribes of perhaps
Ma'rib, like the chieftain, that was droned back in 2010.

[narciso]

I made that point more then a year ago.

[Ignatz]

.....let's cut to Kessler's Pinocchio's explanation, in which he quotes fellow WaPo reporter Walter Pincus the little boy who cried wolf.....

[narciso]

Which is full of misdirection, it was as mentioned by matt, a UK/ General Intell,
plot

[Threadkiller]

Off topic for Ig:

"...An estimated one billion board feet of fire killed timber can still be salvaged out of forests that have been devastated by the Yosemite Rim fire.  Immediate action is required, however, because after a short period of time the timber declines until it becomes unsalvageable.  The amendment authored by Congressman McClintock streamlines the process by waiving judicial review of salvage plans for the 2013 fires..."

http://mcclintock.house.gov/2013/09/amendment-allowing-burned-timber-to-be-salvaged-from-fire-areas-approved-by-house-of-representatives.shtml

[4JIB2]

Wasn't that amateur mirror obsessed Tom Donlan part of this leak? That guy will have a great career owning a hair salon once we can get rid of him.

[NK(tryin' again)]

Pension Fund Fraud payments-- these unlawful (but charitable) payments out of the Detroit pension funds helped bankrupt the City; this is the near term future for all Blue Hell cities and States and the medium term future for the US Treasury: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013309080062

[Beasts of England]

Off topic: a new high school is being built in town and one of the local politicos feels it would be a good idea to name it for JEF. Ha! If this occurs, I’d suggest that the sports teams be named the BHOHS Feckless Narcissists.

And I’ve taken the liberty of penning a fight song / alma mater for them.

(to the tune of ‘We Are the World’)

I am the World, I own your children
I am teh Won to make a brighter day, so I’ll keep jivin’
It’s a choice I’m making, I’m saving my own hide
It’s true I’ll make a better day, just me and me

[Frau Rhoenrad]

Beasts - Just say No!

What's next?
Benedict Arnold Middle School
Richard Nixon Elementary
Tammy Baker Charter School
John F. Kerry Military Academy
Tokyo Rose High School
Barney Franks School for Boys

[naryrose]

Frau:
You are on a roll today! Very funny.
There is something sleazy about Brennan. I just flat out don't trust him.

[Frau Rhoenrad]

When will Bezos start improving the WaPo?

MarkO, you're on your way to more than better physical health. Next stop is The Coué method:
"Tous les jours à tous points de vue je vais de mieux en mieux"

[centralcal]

lol, Frau.

[matt]

There's something sleazy about the whole pack of them. Children, narcissists, grifters, bunco artists, flim flammers, gandy dancers, and snake oil peddlars all.

[Ignatz]

--"...An estimated one billion board feet of fire killed timber can still be salvaged out of forests that have been devastated by the Yosemite Rim fire. Immediate action is required, however, because after a short period of time the timber declines until it becomes unsalvageable.--

A couple of problems, TK;
1. There is only one mill relatively nearby and a billion feet is about ten years supply. There is one other mill far down below Fresno and it's even smaller. After next summer the wood is pretty much worthless.

2. Forest Service timber cannot be exported (except for certain Alaska sales), the only other possible outlet to sell the wood.

3. Almost none of it can be gotten out this year under any circumstances because available loggers are being used to salvage private land that got burnt first and the logging season ends out here in mid Nov and starts back up usually in May.

[Frau Rhoenrad]

Brennan? Every culture I know of has a proverb about being known by the company you keep.

[daddy]

I'm waiting for the Talking Point saying that it was leaked at Dick Cheney's behest.

[Threadkiller]

I think McClintock's efforts were directed towards getting the first board foot of the burned land.

[Threadkiller]

Brennan:

http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2013/09/corsi-obama-al-qaeda-head-cia-chief.html?m=1

[Threadkiller]

...off...

[Danube on iPad]

Further OT: Beasts, I'm pulling for The Tide to do it again (though not as hard as you), but they haven't looked quite that sharp so far. Are you concerned?

[Frau Unterleib]

Oh, boy! Wendy Davis has announced she is throwing her Ladyparts into the TX governor's race. In preparation, will the Goracle have time to check out her lower chakra?

[daddy]

Just in from the morning Dogwalk and had on Sean Hannity's Radio Show. He had on Louis Gommert of Texas and 1 other Rep, and they both said that they had just received a call from Boehner's Office pushing a new House Bill of some sort (even before they receive the Senate's response to what they voted on last week and sent to the Senate) calling for the suspension of 1 year and I forget what else, and that the House members should vote for it, even before having a chance to read it because Boehner says its all stuff they have previously voted on. I can't be more specific, but both Gommert and the other guy were very critical of the lack of Republican Leadership in the House, so time to catch-up and see if we've surrendered yet and what sort of terms we're offering.

I hope I misunderstood Gommert completely.

[Extraneus]

Timber industry suffers as loggers blame federal regs for lost jobs

In the last two decades since the spotted owl was listed as an endangered species, more than 200 sawmills have closed in the Pacific Northwest directly killing 40,000 good-paying jobs.

[Ignatz]

--Oh, boy! Wendy Davis has announced she is throwing her Ladyparts into the TX governor's race.--

How else is she going to get good polling?

[Gmax]

Wendy Davis is going to be beat like a dirty throwrug

[Beasts of England]

Danube@5:52 - I think it's the worst we've looked during the Saban era. Ole Miss will give us a good run...

[naryrose]

Wendy Davis will lose. Her 15 ninutes were up 15 minutes ago.

[Gmax]

Romney won by 16 points. No presidential year turn out. And late term abortions hanging around her neck like the albatross in Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.

[Gmax]

Iggy

I would not do Davis with your package...

[naryrose]

Why the change by Reid from Dec.15th to November 15th? I am referring to the continuing resolution.
Bammy won't negotiate medical parts tax according to Carney. Even Reid calls it stupid. Is Obama stuck on stupid?

[Ignatz]

I may have said this before but the timber industry's previous reliance on Federal timber was a serious market distorting government intervention.

The Feds cut more than the market required and seriously depressed demand and prices for private timber.

Imagine the Federal government growing on their own land twice as much corn and wheat as anyone else and dumping it on the open market; that's about what the timber industry was like.

The mills that closed were almost exclusively those that depended all or mostly on Federal timber and had little or no land base of their own. Moreover those jobs and mills would have been lost anyway come 2009.

[naryrose]

Late term abortions are not supported by the majority of the people in Texas. She should move and run in New York or Boston with that agenda.Hey,it worked for Hillary. Arkansas people wouldn't give Hil a wate management job so she had to go to New York state to spin her lies. People in Arkansas were on to her.

[Extraneus]

Concrete Posts Shaped Like Male Genitalia The Talk Of Scott Township

“We looked through and found something that we thought was pleasing to the eye, but apparently to one person it was not,” Commissioner Meyers says.

[Extraneus]

Speaking of parts and packages.

[daddy]

Today may be the last chance for Sue's Texas Ranger's to stay alive and squeak into the American League Wild Card Playoffs, so even tho' all sensible people despise the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Astro's, Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, John Cornyn, Wendy Davis, Ronnie Earle, Ma Richards, David Gates and Bread, The Steve Miller Band, LBJ, Tex-Mex, mullets, country music (exceptin' Merle Haggard), Urban Cowboy, Johnny Manziel hype, JR Ewing, that Hook 'em Horns hand gesture, Shiner Bock, the heat, Javelinas, the Super Conducting Super Collider, the lack of decent nightlife in Corpus Christi, their inability to cook Bar-B-Q the proper North Carolina way, Tony Romo and whatever pig he's dating lately, and the fact that Texas is such a Teeny Tiny State, I think we ought to all overlook that stuff and pull for Sue's Texas Rangers today as they take on the Angels.

We're with you Sue---Go Texas!

[pinkman]

Bandar is the new Bin Laden; aided and abetted by acolytes in CIA.

We're in a global yellow shit-storm, and all any politically cognizant American can think of is Obamacare or the debt limit, or some other local bullshit. When Americans can get their heads out their arses and think of more than regional and continental issues, the storm will continue to stink up both the local and World stage.

[narciso]

It's distressing to consider that the primary leaker in the Plame case, not only
didn't get indicted, but got some cushy jobs related to private military contractors. and is currently Erdogan's man in Washington, that would Richard Armitage.

[Danube on iPad]

More delicious:

"Meghan McCain, like her father Senator John McCain (R-AZ), is the kind of Republican the media adores. Namely, both father and daughter love to smite their own party. That offers each a modicum of media protection. The elder McCain´s media shield evaporated when he ran for the White House in 2008, and now his daughter´s force field is ebbing thanks to her new not-a-reality-show Raising McCain on the new Pivot channel. Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe said the show offers 'new depths of irritation waiting to be plumbed.'"

[NK(tryin' again)]

Don't underestimate the geopolitical effects of the National Bankruptcy of a world power-- note the absence of Armada or even much of a Royal Navy these days.

[Ignatz]

I was with you on your despise list, daddy, except for Tex Mex and country music.
Who can despise Bob Wills?
Now despising Spade Cooley who murdered his wife is not that hard, but then he was an Okie. :)
BTW, Merle H is a California pencil neck.

[Sue]

::grin::

[Sue]

::grin::

[daddy]

Let's hope that Tonight the Bottle and the Ranger's Don't let Sue Down:)

[matt]

I shall not join in that sentiment, daddy. My Angels have the chance to close out the season at .500 if they win three more games. They're giving it all they've got to be mediocre, I say!

We went to The Pit in Raleigh recently and the BBQ was sublime. But I do like some Texas BBQ, I must say.

And I will see you your Tony Romo and raise with a Stevie Ray Vaughn and a Ray Wylie Hubbard.

[narciso]

Juan is still buying the CBO koolaid, he is quite clueless, as to what's really going on

[Sue]

Half the players on tha Angels are our rejects. Well 2 of them anyway.

[narciso]

Poor Woodhouse, he thinks this is actually an argument;

.@GOP. You see @BarackObama wallop you today? A little advice: #YouDontMessWithThat

[MaryM]

Nice, daddy! Except... I admit I like David Gates and Bread (first album I ever bought) and I thought Steve Miller was from Milwaukee?

[Sue]

I'm just beyond thrilled I had the good sense to turn down TC's bet. And even more thrilled those damn Yankees are going to join us in sitting out October.

[Ignatz]

And I've always had a soft spot for the Astros, especially the JR Richard through Nolan Ryan era.

[Extraneus]

Anyone going to join me in buying Barilla pasta this week? I know it's not low-carb, but it's pretty good.

Barilla Pasta Now Being Boycotted Because Owner Says He Won't Use Homosexual Families in Ads, Preferring a Traditional Family Image

[henry]

Sue, the Cards are in. ::duck::

[Sue]

Whatever. Daddy has always been my favorite anyway.

[narciso]

And they didn't think this through either:

http://twitchy.com/2013/09/26/we-are-all-lab-mice-now-white-house-didnt-think-this-obamacare-promo-through-pic/

We have the Dolphins enough said,

[Sue]

Duck, duck, goose. They are going down to TC's Sox.

[Extraneus]

(Nice Stalin video at the link.)

[NK(tryin' again)]

My wife and I are Barilla customers.. now we will be for life. I still have not gone to a Starbucks since the CEO said people like me weren't welcome there because I oppose Homo Marriage.

[narciso]

I see, he chose poorly;

http://twitchy.com/2013/09/26/we-won-man-child-brad-woodhouse-says-obama-walloped-gop-on-o-care/

[Gmax]

Whoa dissin Shiner Bock, and after all the nice things I said about Alaskan Amber? I would take a swipe at Alaskan team except that I don't follow the lower level minor leagues...

[BB Key]

OT ,What do you think of the Hokie Stone Helmets

[Frau Barilla über alles.]

Iggy, I was relieved to see that daddy did not include "King of the Hill" in that list. I'm with you on the Tex-Mex and country music.

[centralcal]

I prefer another pasta brand, but I have to stop at the store on my way home for some other items and will throw in a couple of Barilla products.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Did I see a Tarhole badmouthing Bob Wills, Joe Ely, Jimmy Dale Gilmore and the Gourds (get him, Porch); not to mention numerous acts that play at Antones and I could've remembered one bottle of wine ago? And people wonder why we're leaving the Bojangles conference.

[Jane-Rebel Alliance1]

There is something sleazy about Brennan. I just flat out don't trust him.

Might be his conversion to Islam.

Why would anyone convert to the religion of war in the US?

[Gmax]

The Houston Astros deserve your pity...

[Sue]

The Houston Astros played as tough as they could with the team they had. I'm not ready to say the same thing about the Rangers.

[Sue]

Did he really convert?

[Frau Barilla über alles.]

From narciso's link:
@BarackObama kicks ASS!

How about his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution? Too busy kicking ass?

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

BB Key,

Was there some significance to that color scheme? I thought it looked fine tbh but I was wishing more than my usual wrath of Satan on Beamerball as those Chokie turds took forever to put away Marshall and the Bojangles network wouldn't break away to the Terps/Mountainqueers game.

[Gmax]

Sue

So you are saying the Rangers don't deserve your pity?

I think if this collapse keeps the team out of the playoffs for the first time in 4 years, that GM needs to find a couple bats and a new manager.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Shiner Bock is pretty good and they make a nice Oktoberfest too. Their Ruby Redbird tastes like cold garbage imo.

[narciso]

You're going to need a whole new set of entries in the JOM glossary captain,

[BB Key]

CH , The local quarry stone on their buildings....I like the idea of wearing a helmet made of rocks :)

[Threadkiller]

"White House press secretary Jay Carney mocked Republican demands that their agenda be considered as part of talks to raise the debt ceiling, saying the GOP proposals were missing only legislation questioning the president's birthplace.

Carney dismissed suggestion that the White House discuss the Keystone XL pipeline or other items on the GOP wish list that have been floated as concessions Republicans would seek from White House would make in exchange for a debt ceiling increase.

"The only thing I didn’t see on it was a birther bill attached to it,” Carney said"

http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2013/09/video-jay-carney-birther-bill-only.html?m=1

A fine example of how the GOP is damned no matter what. The Republicans in the House are birthers?

Only when the Dems need them to be.

[Sue]

No I'm saying the Astros could just as easily won as the Rangers. With less talent.

[daddy]

I would take a swipe at Alaskan team except that I don't follow the lower level minor leagues...

Iditarod this:)

Just about off on the afternoon DogWalk, but I've got a question having seen that Canadian Coin Ad again for that boring Polar Bear/Queen Liz Silver coin:

If they replaced Liz on the coin with Camilla, do you think that would spur the economy, because everyone would be trying desperately to unload that coin to some other poor sap, or would it cripple the economy because everyone would refuse to take ownership of one of the dang things for services rendered?

Same question for Princess Kate, just the other way round: Would she spark a boom in coins changing hands, or coin hoarders hoarding them for themselves?

Perhaps in the long run it's better just to stick with boring Old Queen Liz and not risk a crisis on the money supply.

Kayrooooooooo!

[BB Key]

CH , it is a knock off of Maryland's diamondback helmet

[Ignatz]

Speaking of country music is this the best country tune since the seventies?
I can't think of a better one.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

BB Key, like I said I thought they looked fine. I'm probably too rough on the Hokies than I should be for a couple of reasons. First Beamer always brought his A gameplan against fat Ralf and your guys slattered us. Second, the Bojangles conferences Top Men had a chance to jettison the Hoos and their empty trophy case when whatever clown was governor demanded that they take Tech or else; and as usual those goobers did the wrong thing.

[Danube on iPad]

"I think it's the worst we've looked during the Saban era."

How quickly you have forgotten the loss to (I think) Louisiana-Monroe. And the one with Utah.

But I still love The Reptle. Also, those ole boys down there jes' love their fuhball.

[Danube on iPad]

Those pussies have some funny ideas aobut what kickng ass really is.

[narciso]

So what's this deal about Allen West leaving Pajamas Medis, it comes from Buzzfeed, and it's curiously anonymous
allegation,

[Threadkiller]

Probably moving to Pigford Media.

[narciso]

Not amused TK, Buzzfeed of course, puts forth a very unlikely charge, against him,

[Ignatz]

For anyone who has met, TK, does he look anything like a bulldog in person? :)

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Is Ol' Miss the biggest worry, Beasts? Is L$U supposed to be good this year? Unless the Mad Hatter's talent level is off the charts, I can't take anybody seriously who manages the clock as poorly as Les does. He's like the playoff version of Marty Schottenheimer of the BCS. Georgia's always a brick shy of a load. I can't stand Squirrelier. Auburn? Meh. Vandy will probably always be just a couple of players away. The Vols and Methcats should be dropped from the conference. Florida lost their QB and probably weren't good anyway.

Who am I missing?

[4JIB2]

BTW, I have always considered Waylon Jennings version of Bob Wiilis is Still The King to be the best western song ever.

And it was during my OTS at Lackland and Goodfellow that I became a smitten Tesanphile as a result.

[4JIB2]

Sorry, bad link.

Better one for Bob Wills is Still the King

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Asleep at the Wheel has been keeping the Texas Playboys flame burning for quite a while. Bob hit the bottle pretty hard. You could gauge how in the bag he was by the number of times he'd cry out in the songs. If you listen to a Bear Family collection of everything Bob and the Texas Playboys recorded, there are a few sessions where Bob was absent because he was drying out.

[MarkO]

You know, that Barney Fife could kick ass just like Obama.

[narciso]

Chrissy Teigen is hot but stupid, this guy has no excuse;

http://twitchy.com/2013/09/26/unhinged-democratic-desperation-summed-up-in-one-disturbing-photo/

[matt]

Unfortunately, Texas Mexican food hardly deserves to have the word Mexican involved where I come from. Went to the best place in San Antone and was deeply disappointed.

Mexico has 7 major regional cuisines and I love to cook all of them. I once spent an entire evening trying to get my pumpkin mole' just right and it came out fantastic.

There is a place on Melrose Blvd in LA that has been there for 40 years or so called Antonio's. He came up from Mexico back in the late 40's as a kid and ended up as the premier location chef for almost any major film shot in Mexico. John Wayne helped him get set up when he went on his own.

He can take a flank steak and make an asada that is out of this world or a birria and his nopales and mole' Oaxaca are world famous.

He's probably about 80 now but his kids run it and every now and then you'll see someone famous there because a - it's Antonio's and b- the food is incredible.

I can't remember the last time I had red sauce on the outside of a Mexican dish. One of the good things with so many immigrants is that they bring their food along.

Now you can get good Indian, Thai, Mexican, and even Peruvian and Vietnamese all over the country now except maybe in Kentucky. Kentucky is tough, culinarily speaking.

[4JIB2]

CH,

Well, Waylon had been known to imitate his idol from time to time:)

Suspicious Minds with Jessi Colter

Its their latest rendition from 2010 and not as good as the original but still its a song and presentation I have always loved.

[narciso]

It's a good effort, some covers are better then others, like Fools Rush in, by UB$0

[DrJ]

Now you can get good Indian, Thai, Mexican, and even Peruvian and Vietnamese all over the country

Yup -- even in our dinky town. No Peruvian or Ethiopian here though: We have to go down the hill for that.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

I can't wait until Rick Perry shoves Abortion Barbie's pink tennies up her fat ass

[henry]

Narciso, Pocan is one of the geniuses that got Walker recalled... Oh wait, he got his ass kicked and blames it all on the Koch brothers. WI Dems now define the term LOSER.