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Page Turners: Interview With Author Laurie Mylroie

Aired August 04, 2003 - 15:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: A new book is out which focuses on differences here in Washington on how to fight the war on terror leading up to the war in Iraq. The book is "Bush Vs. the Beltway: How the CIA and the State Department Tried to Stop the War on Terror."
I spoke earlier with its author, Laurie Mylroie. And I began by asking her about the allegation she makes in the book title.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURIE MYLROIE, AUTHOR, "BUSH VS. THE BELTWAY": Well, it's sharply stated, but it is the case that significant elements in both the CIA and the State Department opposed going to war with Iraq and sought to undercut that war and then subsequently the rationale for that war.

WOODRUFF: But isn't that because they had different beliefs than you and others do about Iraq's role in the war on terror and in the 9/11 attacks?

MYLROIE: Well, they developed a view under the Clinton administration that Saddam was no threat. They were unwilling to reconsider it, even after September 11.

And even when you put before them evidence of Iraq's involvement in terrorism or the dangers posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, at least some of them prepared to deny that, without giving reasons, and then they leak it to their allies in the media. And that has significantly hampered the public understanding of the reasons for this war.

WOODRUFF: What is the proof that Iraq is connected to 9/11 and al Qaeda?

MYLROIE: It's the terrorist masterminds, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Ramzi Yousef. They're all Pakistani Baluch, born and raised in Kuwait. The Iraqis, while they occupied Kuwait, used the occupation of Kuwait to develop false identities for key agents.

WOODRUFF: And if that's the case and if you have this information, and you had it for some time, why doesn't the Bush administration have it?

MYLROIE: I don't think the senior people understand, and particularly the president. And those below them face serious bureaucratic obstructionism in the pursuit of that information. WOODRUFF: But you've been arguing this point for some time. Your book is now coming out. I know you're talking to people throughout the government all the time. What do you think is going on there?

MYLROIE: Well, what they told me in February was, we cannot pursue this question of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed's identity because of the bureaucratic obstructionism that was raised over Yousef's identity. Of course, at that time, they thought they'd find weapons in Iraq. It may be now that they might be more willing to pursue it, despite that bureaucratic obstructionism.

WOODRUFF: All right, let's quickly say Ramzi Yousef involved in the original attack on the World Trade Center back in 1993. Tell us again who Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is.

MYLROIE: Well, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is supposed to be Yousef's maternal uncle. He was involved in the '95 plane plot, became the head of al Qaeda's military committee and the mastermind of 9/11. His identity, too, is based on documents in Kuwait that predate Kuwait liberation from Iraqi occupation.

WOODRUFF: But to get back to your larger allegation, that the CIA and the State Department tried to obstruct all this, are you saying it goes all the way to the top, to Colin Powell and George Tenet?

MYLROIE: No. Mid-levels within the bureaucracies, they don't want to acknowledge the mistake they made that left us vulnerable on 9/11. I don't think either the secretary of state or the CIA director understand that.

WOODRUFF: So are you saying the people in the agency, in the CIA, and State, are just ignoring what's before their very eyes?

MYLROIE: That's right. They refuse to see what's before their eyes. They say there is no evidence, when there is in fact evidence.

WOODRUFF: But why in the world would that prevent them from doing what you say ought to be done, just because you say they don't want to admit they've made a mistake in the past?

MYLROIE: It's very common within bureaucracies for people to have very narrow agendas, not to think above their pay grade, to look to their personal and institutional interests, and not to think of the bigger picture. And part of that is to avoid embarrassment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: Talking with author Laurie Mylroie about her book about the CIA and the State Department, in her words, stopping the war on terror.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com








Aired August 4, 2003 - 15:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: A new book is out which focuses on differences here in Washington on how to fight the war on terror leading up to the war in Iraq. The book is "Bush Vs. the Beltway: How the CIA and the State Department Tried to Stop the War on Terror."
I spoke earlier with its author, Laurie Mylroie. And I began by asking her about the allegation she makes in the book title.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURIE MYLROIE, AUTHOR, "BUSH VS. THE BELTWAY": Well, it's sharply stated, but it is the case that significant elements in both the CIA and the State Department opposed going to war with Iraq and sought to undercut that war and then subsequently the rationale for that war.

WOODRUFF: But isn't that because they had different beliefs than you and others do about Iraq's role in the war on terror and in the 9/11 attacks?

MYLROIE: Well, they developed a view under the Clinton administration that Saddam was no threat. They were unwilling to reconsider it, even after September 11.

And even when you put before them evidence of Iraq's involvement in terrorism or the dangers posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, at least some of them prepared to deny that, without giving reasons, and then they leak it to their allies in the media. And that has significantly hampered the public understanding of the reasons for this war.

WOODRUFF: What is the proof that Iraq is connected to 9/11 and al Qaeda?

MYLROIE: It's the terrorist masterminds, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Ramzi Yousef. They're all Pakistani Baluch, born and raised in Kuwait. The Iraqis, while they occupied Kuwait, used the occupation of Kuwait to develop false identities for key agents.

WOODRUFF: And if that's the case and if you have this information, and you had it for some time, why doesn't the Bush administration have it?

MYLROIE: I don't think the senior people understand, and particularly the president. And those below them face serious bureaucratic obstructionism in the pursuit of that information. WOODRUFF: But you've been arguing this point for some time. Your book is now coming out. I know you're talking to people throughout the government all the time. What do you think is going on there?

MYLROIE: Well, what they told me in February was, we cannot pursue this question of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed's identity because of the bureaucratic obstructionism that was raised over Yousef's identity. Of course, at that time, they thought they'd find weapons in Iraq. It may be now that they might be more willing to pursue it, despite that bureaucratic obstructionism.

WOODRUFF: All right, let's quickly say Ramzi Yousef involved in the original attack on the World Trade Center back in 1993. Tell us again who Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is.

MYLROIE: Well, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is supposed to be Yousef's maternal uncle. He was involved in the '95 plane plot, became the head of al Qaeda's military committee and the mastermind of 9/11. His identity, too, is based on documents in Kuwait that predate Kuwait liberation from Iraqi occupation.

WOODRUFF: But to get back to your larger allegation, that the CIA and the State Department tried to obstruct all this, are you saying it goes all the way to the top, to Colin Powell and George Tenet?

MYLROIE: No. Mid-levels within the bureaucracies, they don't want to acknowledge the mistake they made that left us vulnerable on 9/11. I don't think either the secretary of state or the CIA director understand that.

WOODRUFF: So are you saying the people in the agency, in the CIA, and State, are just ignoring what's before their very eyes?

MYLROIE: That's right. They refuse to see what's before their eyes. They say there is no evidence, when there is in fact evidence.

WOODRUFF: But why in the world would that prevent them from doing what you say ought to be done, just because you say they don't want to admit they've made a mistake in the past?

MYLROIE: It's very common within bureaucracies for people to have very narrow agendas, not to think above their pay grade, to look to their personal and institutional interests, and not to think of the bigger picture. And part of that is to avoid embarrassment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: Talking with author Laurie Mylroie about her book about the CIA and the State Department, in her words, stopping the war on terror.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com