Radar

Tome Deaf
Feith Takes Aim at Fellow War Hawks

feithfranks_fresh.jpg
FIGHT CLUB Feith, Franks (inset)
Despite what you may have heard, former Pentagon official Doug Feith is not the "dumbest motherfucker on the face of the earth," nor is he responsible for any of the many failures of U.S. policy in Iraq. These misunderstandings will be explained away in a forthcoming 900-page book written by him that's being described as a "a massive score-settling work" aimed at his fellow architects of the Iraq war. Radar takes a quick look at Feith's hit list as described in a Washington Post preview, and speculates on some possible revenge motives behind each selection.

General Tommy Franks
Characterized as being dismissive of Feith's interest in post-war planning. Feith shares that Franks once advised: "Doug, I don't have time for your fucking bullshit."

Payback for: Franks deeming Feith, variously, as "the dumbest motherfucker on the face of the earth" and "the stupidest guy on the planet"

Condoleezza Rice
Is said to have "failed in her primary task of coordinating policy on the war."

Payback for: Reportedly once closing a presentation given by Feith by saying, "Thanks Doug, but when we want the Israeli position, we'll invite the ambassador."

Colin Powell
Reportedly "allowed himself to be publicly portrayed as a dove, but ... he never expressed opposition to the invasion," and should be blamed for failing to secure critical pre-war assistance from Germany, France, and Turkey.

Payback for: Referring to Feith's intelligence unit at the Pentagon as the "Gestapo."

Richard Armitage
Helped Powell in "repeatedly working behind the scenes to undercut sound proposals." Feith claims Armitage "reflexively opposed any idea originating at the Pentagon."

Payback for: According to Bob Woodward's State of Denial, Armitage often sat across Feith in meetings and glared at him as though he "wanted to reach across the table and snap Feith's neck like a twig."

Paul Bremer
The Coalition Provisional Authority head did "more harm than good" and simply refused to implement Feith's sure-fire plan to transition political power back to the Iraqis.

Payback for: Bremer's documenting in his book how Feith was actually involved in making some regrettable decisions that he later blamed on Bremer.

George Tenet
The CIA under Tenet is accused of "politicizing" intelligence and sweeping information tying Saddam Hussein to terrorism under the rug.

Payback for: Tenet describing Feith's work in his book as "complete crap" and "an example of bad government."

Feith's book states that President Bush privately concluded that war with Iraq was "inevitable" in December 2002, and finds little fault with Feith's old boss Donald Rumsfeld. The book won't be available till next month; do your best to contain your excitement till then if you can.

By Nick Curran   03/10/08 1:20 PM
Related: D.C. Confidential, Douglas Feith, George Bush, Iraq War, Tome Deaf, War Pigs
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