CIA Veteran Analyst Confronts Donald Rumsfeld on Iraq War 'Lies'

Interview with Ray McGovern, retired CIA analyst, conducted by Scott Harris

Something unusual happened in Atlanta, Ga. on May 4, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was confronted with tough questions about the U.S. War in Iraq. The questioner was Ray McGovern, a retired 27-year veteran CIA analyst who had himself been in charge of the president's daily brief during the 1980s. In his now famous exchange with Rumsfeld, McGovern demanded to know why the Defense Secretary had lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and links to al Qaeda, the Bush administration's long disproven rationales for the war.

Meanwhile, turmoil at the CIA was evident when Porter Goss abruptly resigned as CIA director and President Bush promptly nominated a successor, Gen. Michael Hayden. Hayden, deputy director of National Intelligence and former director of the National Security Agency quickly came under fire from both Democrats and Republicans for his ties to the Pentagon and his direct involvement in carrying out President Bush's order to perform warrantless surveillance of American citizens, an action many observers maintain violates the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. There is speculation that Goss's resignation could be linked to an unfolding bribery scandal involving convicted Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham, defense contractors, poker games and prostitutes.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Ray McGovern about his encounter with Donald Rumsfeld and his assessment of the changes in leadership at the CIA.

Read Ray McGovern's articles online at www.truthout.org

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