From: BBurkett16@aol.com To: dianesnewsclips@aol.com
. Bill Burkett: I want my good name and reputation back
.
Re: Watch "Record of Iraq War Lies" on PBS April 25
.
.
Mr. Wallace:
.
I appreciate all of the information that Mr. Moyers will convey. It isn't that no one was fighting at every breath, this massive lie, or the many others including the current largest scam since Enron, ethanol, which is a direct feed of billions in subsidy, while allowing the total monopolization of the grain and protein markets in America. I have been at the fight daily and with every breath since the 15th of April '97, on the day I uncovered the first real lie in meetings with, believe it or not, top Republican operatives like Paul Wolfowitz and George Schultz who flew through Austin, Texas, and talked about how to make GW Bush President. Those conversations outside the hallways in the second tier of operatives included how to goad Saddam into a War to overthrow Hussein.
.
I've written an entire body of work including debunking the lies about Iraq
even before Congress voted. Those articles were published at places like the
Online Journal. I contacted every Senator and Congressman concerning the misinformation campaign that was being conducted. I debunked everything including the WMD trailer with common sense and pure research, and it wasn't hard. I used my background as a senior War Planner during Desert Storm to actually do the war planning and talked with former colleagues who were now in charge of war planning - and who themselves were frustrated and trying to debunk this mess. Yes, the war planners weren't the problem.
.
General Franks was spineless and just took the orders from his commanders and forced them to happen. A great leader would have not only questioned them, but reviewed and confirmed them to be true. His own staff planners didn't agree with the intelligence. They knew better, but saluted and marched instead of falling on their sword. I wrote a forecast as to what would happen which is available through Online Journal and it makes me look like a prophet today. I'm no prophet, my moral integrity and work ethic are intact.
.
Combine this Moyer's report and Lee Iacocca's book and you have the burgeoning reckoning beginning to germinate in America. But it took the many of us who sacrificed our carcasses to allow the time, opportunity and cynicism-optimism one-two punch that is America to kick in. We were soldiers for truth and right. We've paid the price, thousands of us who didn't receive an ounce of notoriety and didn't shirk like the Dan Rathers' did. We didn't have the luxury of money, career, or viewership. All we had was our single voice and we spent it.
.
Yes, hear the report. But also read Lee Iacocca's new book and especially his opening letter. "Where are the Leaders?"
.
A little over twenty years ago in my private consulting days, I worked for Mr. Iacocca on two projects. I also worked with other top CEO's on other projects including defense contracts, mergers and layoffs. In comparison there were the CEOs and big bosses who put themselves at the center of everything and every thought was centered around their own position. Lee Iacocca put his mission first and provided selfless leadership. He had that nervous energy of waking up every moment and trying to improve something and being concerned that he wouldn't do enough. Where are those leaders today?
.
Corporate America has killed them. But mostly, the American People have grown lazy, slovenly, and cowardice. Courage isn't standing on a pile of rubble at the WTC after it's attack. Courage is putting something or someone else first and knowing it might cost you.
.
It's fear combined with sacrifice and vision. It's resolve that something must be done and the energy to do it. That's what's missing and you're right - it all begins with each of us.
.
Bill Burkett, Baird, Texas