Did Capitol Hill Blue Post An Article With Fabrications?

Me ^

[William McKinley]

In this article on Capitol Hill Blue, there are the following lines:

"The report had already been discredited," said Terrance J. Wilkinson, a CIA advisor present at two White House briefings. "This point was clearly made when the President was in the room during at least two of the briefings."

Bush's response was anger, Wilkinson said.

"He said that if the current operatives working for the CIA couldn't prove the story was true, then the agency had better find some who could," Wilkinson said. "He said he knew the story was true and so would the world after American troops secured the country."

Serious allegations. But I notice it is a single source. Being a conservative, I value the lessons of experience, and experience has told me that single sources are to be treated with skeptism. When I see one, I want to know more about the source quoted so as to establish if I should treat that source as credible.

So what about "Terrance J. Wilkinson"?

A Google search for "Terrance J. Wilkinson" found no results (which will change when Google picks up the Capitol Hill Blue article).

Google suggested that the name might be Terrence. But a Google search on "Terrence J. Wilkinson" also produced no hits.

Perhaps the middle initial is the problem. Alas, a Google search on "Terrence Wilkinson" CIA gave no hits, and a Google search on "Terrance Wilkinson" CIA also yielded no hits.

A Google news search on Terrence Wilkinson comes up with nothing relevant. So does a Google news search of Terrance Wilkinson.

A Google search on one of the phrases from one of the quotations comes up empty.

I would anticipate a 'CIA advisor' who attends the same briefings as the President to live somewhere near D.C. But there are no listings according to Anywho for a Terrance or Terrence Wilkinson in D.C., Maryland, or Virginia.

A Google search on "CIA Advisor" Wilkinson also comes up empty.

Perhaps Capitol Hill Blue would be better served by providing some more information about the person quoted so that others can judge his credibility. That is, if he exists.

[jpl]

Yep, Doug is one of the good guys.

I understand that Mr. Thompson helped you out and that there is a bond of loyalty there. I appreciate and respect that. But I just read that piece he wrote titled "The Madman of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue", and I am fairly certain that had someone other than a personal friend written that piece and posted it on here, he would have been permanently banned from the site in a heartbeat. I've seen people get banned from here for a lot less than that, including some people that I consider to be "good guys". It's your website and you get to choose who stays and who goes, but I must tell you, it strikes me as more than a little hypocritical sir.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I wondered whether Doug was getting heat from the press pack for exposing the DNC (and the mainstream press) for writing the war script - PRE-WAR. I confess to having forwarded this article to a few hundred pundits and pols in the past month - and it was picked up and shared by a blogger or two.

 

Dems plan to undermine America to beat Bush

CapitolHillBlue  | January 6, 2003 | By DOUG THOMPSON

 

 

The Dems. just really crossed the line, imho. Glad to know Doug Thompson's legit.

 

Check out McAuliffe, Carville, Daschle and Gephardt's talking points - think back on the press coverage during the war. GRRRRR.

 

Thanks, Mr. Thompson.

[William McKinley]

Very interesting.

Writers and broadcasters friendly to the Democratic cause have already been provided talking points... Capitol Hill Blue obtained a copy of the talking points... The talking points outline a strategy to raise public doubts of the President’s real intentions, including: ...--Claiming the Bush administration has “manufactured” evidence against Saddam Hussein and used that evidence to encourage Britain and other allies to join the American fight against Iraq;

Very, very interesting.

[Mo1]

I wondered whether Doug was getting heat from the press pack for exposing the DNC (and the mainstream press) for writing the war script - PRE-WAR. I confess to having forwarded this article to a few hundred pundits and pols in the past month - and it was picked up and shared by a blogger or two.

I remember that article ..

[Jim Robinson]

Oh well. Guess we all have our faults. Trusting people I know and have been through the trenches with (so to speak) is one of mine. I have a lot of good friends who don't care much for Bush. Some I try to persuade otherwise, some I don't. We also have a lot of DU trolls and also some not so friendly so-called right-winger types posting a lot of leftist garbage and propaganda and those guys are more likely to be shown the door. Some people you can trust and tolerate more from than others and that's just the way it is.

[AGreatPer]

"This story smelled before Thompson came on this thread and it smells now!"

It still does. There is no back-up to the story. Period.

As a reporter for many years and an Editor for many years, I would have never submitted this crap without back-up and I would have never said "Run with It" as and Editor.

But, times have changed. They do have to sell ads.

[swheats]

“No Democratic member of Congress will question the President’s patriotism openly but we will use the media and other surrogates to raise doubts.”

Isn't this what the current article by Doug is doing now? Attempting to raise doubts about what Bush knew and when he knew it?

Just asking because I didn't see or hear first hand Bush or a representative acknowledge Bush was wrong or lied about something.

[PhiKapMom]

Beginning to think that there are some journalist out there that need a refresher course in Ethics in Journalism because they seem to have forgotten what they knew about ethics!

[PhiKapMom]

You are right! That is exactly what Thompson has done and if it wasn't displayed for all to see here on Free Republic my bet is that he wouldn't have changed the title or the first paragraph.

Any first year journalism student would have known better than to use the word "lie" in this instance!

[Jhoffa_]

Interesting how this "international intelligence" community consensus is all of a sudden "wrong."

You know, that's an excellent point.

Everyone on the face of the planet signed on to the idea that Saddam had a nuke program and would have an operational nuke sometime this decade..

Now.. suddenly, there's been a 180 and we are told that Saddam never had nukes and we just invaded Iraq because we are big, arrogant, power mad, jerks.

Now, even if you DID buy into the "powermad jerk" theory.. What about the consensus that existed pror to the invasion?

Were they ALL wrong ALL along? Where are these people now and what are they saying?

[swheats]

I was glad to see that he backed off. Score another for the hounds of FR. LOL

[arasina]

I attempted to do a creative Google search and used T.J. Wilkinson (also tried Terry). I may not have found the elusive Terrence J. Wilkinson listed as Mr. Thompson's source, but I did find an interesting website with a few postings back in 1997 by a T.J. Wilkinson who took on the role of Ambassador of Ethiopia. (which I found intriguing only because the geographical location is a smidgeon connected to the subject: information about Saddam making a large purchase of uranium from AFRICA) Here's one of his posts:

Re: Civil War in Afghanistan

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ UNOL Caucus Area ]

---

Posted by T.J. Wilkinson/Republic of Ethiopia on September 05, 1997 at 15:03:15:

In Reply to: Civil War in Afghanistan posted by Rep. of Korea on September 05, 1997 at 14:58:35:

:The situation in Afganistan certainly should be dicussed by this body; however, the delegate from the Republic of Korea's suggestion to send in peackeepers to "end" the civil war would not be appropriate at this time. It is interesting to note that the right honourable delegate from the Republic of Poland was recently censured for making this same suggestion about the situation in Korea earlier. Until Afganistian presents itself as a clear threat to the peace and security of the region, then no military action should be taken by the United Nations. Thank you.

The website is a forum for leftist thinkers and they're still at it much like we are here at FreeRepublic.

Welcome to the UNOL Public Discussion Area!

We, the peoples that bring creativity from our diversity and bridge cultures over any obstacle, play a central role in the promotion of peace, goodwill, and dialogue. The objective of this Public Discussion Area, in concord with the UNOL purpose and challenge , is to bring together those with the spirit of global citizenship and responsibility to find a common ground on any universal topic related to the United Nations. The focal point of discussions, where we all unite, will grow simultaneously as steps are taken towards becoming one world with many voices.

Hand in hand we can achieve it.
In Goodwill,
Siir Kilkis,

I also found a T.J. Wilkinson who is an archaeologist with a great deal of experience in the Mesopotamian area, including taking part in a recent investigation by National Geographic of the damage to artifacts in the Baghdad museum or something.

Perhaps these two TJ's are one and the same and neither is the "witness to a lie" Terrence J. Wilkinson. It was fun searching anyway.

[rwfromkansas]

I apologize for my "false phone line" accusation then.

No problem sir.

Best wishes.

[arasina]

Any first year journalism student would have known better than to use the word "lie" in this instance!

Makes me wonder if Doug will do a report for us on how the "Impeach Bush" cabal is doing.

HRC: "Let's see, I don't, you know, recall...what was it that caused my darling Billy to be impeached? We could really get the Bushies if we impeach him for the same thing! Bwaaahaahaa! This is more fun than working on the Nixon impeachment committee! Cackle cackle!"

[section9]

Sorry, Jim. Although Doug helped you out through the Lawsuit, I simply can't stomach this "mystery guest" story without any secondary sourcing. For instance, to assert that I proceed from a strictly partisan point of view while Doug is strictly nonpartisan ignores his screed against Bush back in February called "Madman of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue".

It was the kind of thing you'd read on DU, and it was repulsive. It was also bad fiction.

If you want to call yourself "mad", then call yourself an "opinion writer" and publish CHB as an opinion journal. Just don't pretend to be a reporter.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[cinFLA]

No big deal. Move on. The SacBee bypasses this problem by generating front page headlines based on "unnamed" sources.

[rwfromkansas]

I sent about 5 questions to be forwarded on to Wilkinson, which Doug says has been done. If he states in a response to one of my questions that he believed Bush was reckless in his decision to run with the info, I will have to seriously consider doing a story on it myself. But I would have to find a second source for confirmation, somebody else at the meeting. As a college journalist, this would be an almost impossible task.

Quite frankly, I believe probably there was other info he had which led Bush to believe the report was accurate.

[woodyinscc]

Any first year journalism student would have known better than to use the word "lie" in this instance!

There is a veritable onslaught in the leftist media running with this! All the usual suspects are on the same page, with the same talking points. They even managed to dredge up Bianca Jagger.LOL Hang on to your seat belt, it is only going to get worse. The good is that Bush knows who he is up against and is always a step ahead. He has more then an ace up his sleeve, he has a royal flush to be played when the time is right.

[PhiKapMom]

That's good!

[PhiKapMom]

In his State of the Union, President Bush reference British Intelligence!

Wish the mainstream media was as conscientious as you are -- double sourcing should be mandatory!