Update on Waxman's Hearings into Sibel Edmonds' Case

[lukery]

A few weeks ago we ran a campaign, Let Sibel Edmonds Speak, calling on Henry Waxman to fulfil his promise to hold open, public hearings into Sibel Edmonds' case - hearings which will put Richard Perle, Doug Feith and others in prison, if not in a noose.

We have not yet received an answer of any kind from Waxman, but hope to get him on the record one way or other this week now that COngress is back in business after the Easter recess.

In the meantime, Phil Giraldi has written a new article about Waxman's apparent reluctance to hold hearings into Sibel's case.

Shorter Giraldi: Waxman appears uninterested in investigating "credible" claims that Perle, Feith & Grossman are engaged in treason because he is beholden to AIPAC & Israel.

Former CIA officer Phil Giraldi has a new piece out in the April 23, 2007 print edition of the American Conservative about Sibel Edmonds and our call to have Henry Waxman hold hearings into her case.

Giraldi is an expert in Sibel's case and features prominently in the new film about Sibel, Kill The Messenger

I've electronically liberated the article in full at my place, here are some snips to avoid the copywrite issues:

...FBI whistle blower Sibel Edmonds and her numerous supporters both inside and outside of government have been urging Waxman to hold open hearings on her claims regarding malfeasance and corruption among high-level government officials.

Edmonds... has recently elaborated on her allegations, stating that investigations already carried out by the FBI would demonstrate that three former senior officials were involved in illegal weapons sales and other activities that would justify charges of espionage and possibly even treason against them. The three are leading Pentagon neoconservatives Douglas Feith and Richard Perle, as well as former State Department number three Marc Grossman. Edmonds is no crackpot and is considered to be a credible witness, most of whose charges were substantiated both by former FBI officials in 2002 and by the Department of Justice in 2005. Waxman appears to be uninterested in pursuing the matter, however, possibly because Israeli officials and the country's defense industry are believed to have been involved in the weapons diversion activity.

Congressman Waxman is regarded as close to Israel's principal lobby, AIPAC, and even promised Jewish voters back in November 2006 that there would be no Democratic congressional committee chairmen involved with Middle Eastern policy who were not completely supportive of Israel.

As Giraldi says in Kill The Messenger:

All of these people (Perle, Feith) have been investigated by the FBI at one point or another for passing secret information to Israel.

In no cases were any of them convicted. The prosecutions were dropped… in my opinion because of political pressure not to get into this kind of case that involves 'Israel' and 'Espionage'.

I'm not yet ready to write-off the possibility that Waxman will hold hearings into Sibel's case. He has previously promised to do so, and we haven't yet heard from his office that he won't hold hearings. Congress has been in recess for the past two weeks and we'll be attempting to get him on the record one way or other this week. I've been told that a number of prominent-ish people tried to get Waxman to go on the record on Monday (yesterday) in response to Giraldi's new article to no avail - but surely he can't maintain that position, so in the meantime, no news is good news.

Oh - and for those of you who are saying 'Huh? AIPAC? Israel? I thought Sibel's case was about Turkey and the American Turkish Council (ATC)!' Sibel says that both AIPAC and the ATC both essentially operate as fronts for the same criminal organization. Or as Giraldi put it in his earlier article about Sibel's case:

On one level, (Sibel's) story appears straightforward: several Turkish lobbying groups allegedly bribed congressmen to support policies favourable to Ankara. But beyond that, the Edmonds revelations become more serpentine and appear to involve AIPAC, Israel and a number of leading neoconservatives who have profited from the Turkish connection.

I'll keep you updated, of course. Stay tuned, and thanks for your help & support, again.

[mmonk]

1. Thanks lukery.

[lukery]

at your service n/t

[KharmaTrain]

2. The Man Is A Little Busy At The Moment

When the Democrats took control of the House, Waxman said the problem wasn't finding the corruption of this regime, but where to start. There's 6 yeras worth of Executive neglect, corruption and abuse along with another 12 years of House Repugnican slime that people are expecting to get straightened away in 4 months. Waxman has documented a lot on the Edmunds situations as well as many others, but while he has this on his plate, look at all the other scandals that have popped up in the interim. Take your pick...Attorney Scandal, Contractor Fraud, Abramoff, Plamegate...there's a ton of things that need to be investigated and only a limited number of people to do that investigating.

I applaud Sibel's courage...and I surely haven't forgotten about here...nor have others here. Her day is coming. She's truly a national hero. I know it, you know it, Waxman knows it.

[lukery]

3. yes BUT

all we want frmo him atm is an announcement that he will hold hearings in, say, June.

The good news is that there isn't any investigation required here - all the investigations have already been completed.

[ajeffersonian]

18. Is busy a valid excuse?

Waxman had time for Valerie Plame, and he has time for Tillman & Lynch (April 24 scheduled hearing) - and I don't think either of these rise to the level of importance to the nation as Sibel's case. So he has the time if he has the desire - he can surely take a moment out and respond that he intends to hold a hearing, and when. So does he have the desire? and if he doesn't, why not? Is he afraid of what might be presented?

[StateSecrets]

19. Of course NOT

However, our objective is much harder to achieve without the MSM headlines' backing; thus, it boils down to active & persistent citizenry; now, that's what we are about; right?

[lukery]

28. that's exactly what we're about n/t

[Geomas]

29. Absolutely!

I think especially if Kill the Messenger could be aired in the United States, it would spark great interest in this matter. If the major networks are not willing to air it, perhaps a cable channel might?

[lukery]

32. [erhaps

i'm not aware of the status of the negotiations.

ktm was shown at a film festival in chicago 2 weeks ago.

[mmonk]

23. No, busy is not a valid excuse.

Neither is the excuse of there are more important things or any of the other various excuses.

[KharmaTrain]

25. If Things Were So Simple...

Neither of us know what this man is working on...what's still being investigated and thus can't be called for a hearing. This isn't a popularity game here...he's got a lot on his plate and some of it is easy to work on, a lot is very complex. You may say everything is laid out for him, but he may not agree and it's I'll differ to his judgement in such matters. He not only knows the situation, but he also knows what he can and can't do in this current session.

Again, the problem here isn't he doesn't care or is avoiding your pet issue, but there are so many things he is trying to unravel...it's gonna take years for much of this picture to unfold. What's developing here is a template of corruption that will make proving Sibel's claims easier...but this byzantine game has just begun...and sadly, with a regime that will stonewall and obstruct every step of the way, that's what we face.

IMHO...the place Ms. Edmunds will best be heard is in the Hague. It may take a while, but that's the only place true justice for these crimes can be handled.

Cheers...

:hi:

[randyconspiracybuff]

36. No, Busy Is A Copout

It's easy to dig into issues that are directed at Bush Admin. only. Sibel's case is more complicated; yes, it's damaging to the Neocons. But some of these Neocons also had roots in the Clinton Admin. And many Democrats are aligned with the Turkish Lobby.

But if the Democrats are not going to police corruption in their own Party, then I'm going to vote Third Party in '08.

[mmonk]

4. Do you think McNulty is slowing things up

looking for certain assurances?

[lukery]

6. mcnulty is knee deep

in the AIPAC stuff - i haven't quite untangled it all.

but waxman doesnt need mcnulty

[elehhhhna]

5. K&R

[StateSecrets]

7. K & R

Thanks Lukery.

Waxman's silence is also directed at 30+ organizations, including the ACLU, POGO, GAP, Open the Government, Liberty Coalition...and the list goes on; and, of course, thousands of citizens who have called or written to him.

[mmonk]

8. True

But he hasn't given an answer yet meaning he could decide to give her a venue.

[lukery]

9. right

sibel told me that his office normally returns phone calls to all those people, and now he is blowing them all off.

surely he can't do that for much longer.

[DemReadingDU]

10. Thank you for keeping us updated about Sibel, n/t

[randyconspiracybuff]

11. K&R

Great job Luke. Let's make sure that after winning the elections, we don't just 'trust the politicians to do the right thing'. Let's make sure they actually keep their promises to give us a more honest government.

[lukery]

12. sibel email list

btw - if anyone wants to be put on an email list that i will ping when i have a new sibel-related post, please email me and i'll create a list.

[mmonk]

13. Strickly email

or can we pm you here with our email address? Nevermind, I'll email you.

[lukery]

14. that'd be fine n/t

[mmonk]

15. .

:kick:

[yodermon]

16. I found & watched Kill the Messenger

on P2P last weekend. Phenomenal.

I'm wondering: Is there anyone else who knows what she knows, independently, and who would be willing to testify?
Treason charges require the testimony of 2 witnesses.

(for the record, I will purchase KTM whenever it becomes available.)

[lukery]

17. australian version

you probably saw the oz version (50+mins) - the full version is feature length

there certainly are others who know what sibel knows - it's all documented within the FBI (wiretaps) - and has been verified by multiple investigations. sibel doesn't know this info 'independently' - and yes, sibel has a number of people (fbi agents etc) lined up ready to testify as soon as waxman announces hearings.

[Geomas]

21. Yes, It's the Oz Version

The version of Kill the Messenger that has become available by BitTorrent is indeed the version that was broadcast on Australian television.

[yodermon]

33. Excellent

I thought the film felt a bit shortened compared to what i'd read on your blog(s).
Glad to know about the other witnesses.

[randyconspiracybuff]

30. Treason Charges Would Not Be Likely

The bar is very high on Treason and those charges have rarely been brought in American history. Charges would most likely be brought under other criminal statutes like the Espionage Act, etc.

For the record, though, I do think it is treason what these crooks have done.

[Geomas]

20. Oversight Hearings Are Much Needed!

Please, Rep. Waxman, honor your word and hold oversight hearings into Sibel Edmonds's allegations. Please have the courage to pursue the truth wherever it may lead.

[wildbilln864]

22. K&R! nt/

[Oilwellian]

24. I've called & written Waxman's office asking for a hearing

I will be greatly disappointed in Henry Waxman if he doesn't hold a hearing. If he truly wants to go after the nest of criminals running our government, Sibel can help him bring them ALL down.

[Geomas]

26. Me too.

I've faxed a letter to his office asking for a hearing. I hope he'll follow through. My impression of Waxman, dating back to the Clinton administration, is that he is one of the more politically partisan members of Congress. Sibel's revelations may inculpate not only Republicans, but also some Democrats. Here's hoping that Waxman will put country above party.

[mmonk]

27. All is the operative word.

[lukery]

31. thnx for your efforts n/t

[sce56]

34. Are you a constituent? We need those in his district to ask especially the Malibu crowd.

Courtesy of http://www.coastaladvocates.com

These people used their voices to defeat a LNG terminal off the coast of Calif.
Most are in Waxman's district.

[Blackhatjack]

35. The fact that KTM has not been shown by MSM in US speaks volumes....

...We know how they value the almighty dollar. It would pull in phenomenal numbers of viewers. So why has one of them not taken the plunge?

Might be instructive to ask them if they have been threatened with prosecution if they were to air the feature length film?

The failure to air the film in itself may be yet another scandal. Can you say 'chilling effect' and 'prior restraint' ??

If the BBC would air it, there would be no way to keep it from 'seeping into' the US, and being viewed by large numbers here. Guess we will have to wait until Tony Blair is gone for that to happen.

[randyconspiracybuff]

37. I Think In U.S. the Directors Want Theatrical Release

...we'll see. With all the garbage out in the movie theaters, you'd think this film would be a refreshing change.

[lukery]

38. uk

it'd be great if it was shown in the UK - for starters.

i'll chase up and see how those negotiations are going.

[StateSecrets]

40. UK

Please keep us posted;-)

[Blackhatjack]

42. Someone like George Soros could buy the US rights and make it available for free showings...

Small theatres would love to have an in demand film they could show with no royalty fees to pay. It would be like Christmas to them, keeping the ticket sales and concession receipts.

[mmonk]

43. There's an idea.

But how do you get him to have the same idea?

[Blackhatjack]

44. I suspect that George Soros would like nothing better than to help put away some Repub Neocons...

This is where you make the decision to use your wealth for a noble purpose.

Being free of these guys, exposing their nefarious plans to the light of day, and forcing politicians to deal with the problems inherent in a government wrapped in secrecy, are all noble purposes.

Hopefully someone might suggest it to him.

[pberq]

39. Kick & Nominated

[StrictlyRockers]

41. K&R Let Sibel speak!

[rateyes]

45. K & R

:kick:

[reprehensor]

46. Whoa...

Lukery, keep the heat on.

[mamab]

47. What? Perle? That good Democrat?

I'm sure a former supporter of JFK can't be involved in something like this!

:sarcasm:

[donkeyotay]

48. Thanks for keeping on this issue

For one thing, if we ignore this corruption - like all the others, ie Iran-Contra - it will come back worse than ever. Secondly, the unstated subordination of our nation's interests to another's cannot be accepted, and it is wrong to think silence is the answer. I don't want some token investigation, some scapegoats. I want our government back. I think Washington is afraid that the scope of the corruption. I'm afraid of that, too. But we can't keep pretending that our democracy is just fine when it's not.

[Gabi Hayes]

49. I just read the headers of posts responding to the OP, and none of them had the

obvious, concise reason Waxman is 'reluctant' to touch this:

AIPAC

they're SO much more influential than people realize

it's really just that simple

[lukery]

50. giraldi makes it clear what he thinks n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

51. very true, and THANKS a brazilian for your most excellent work on this

subject

it's amazing to me that her story is being completely ignored

wait a minute...no it's not