For those of you who expect the Iraq Intelligence Committee to get to the bottom of these intelligence issues involving the White House or expect it to be "independent," don't hold your breath. Bush's choice to be co-chair of the committee, Judge Lawrence Silberman, is even worse than his initial choice of Henry Kissinger to head the 9/11 Commission, if that's possible.

Silberman is Ken Starr with a partisan edge.

Silberman, a senior judge on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, has been described as "the most partisan and political federal judge in the country." His record is pretty damn incredible:

* As a member of Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign, he, along with Bob McFarlane and others, met in October 1980 with a supposed Iranian government emissary who offered to delay the release of hostages in Iran until after the election. Silberman does not deny the meeting took place, only that the offer was rejected. But that's just an appetizer of what's to come...

* Silberman is then appointed to the DC Circuit by Reagan, where he, along with David Sentelle (famous for dumping Robert Fiske for Ken Starr), represent the two judges who overturn Oliver North's conviction on appeal. (Sentelle named his daughter "Reagan" after the Judge who put him on the bench.) Lawrence Walsh, Iran-Contra IC, described Silberman as "aggresively hostile" during oral arguments.

*Then, in 1991, Silberman, a sitting federal judge, worked to attack Anita Hill and to help in Clarence Thomas' confirmation battle. David Brock, in his excellent and essential book, Blinded by the Right, describes in great detail the slanderous gossip and rumor that Silberman passed on to him in an effort to discredit Hill. Brock claims that Silberman also made up accusations of a conspiracy against Thomas by fellow DC Circuit Judge Patricia Wald, whom Silberman is said to have "hated with a passion." Wald is also on the Iraq Intel Commission. I'm sure she'll carry a lot of weight with Silberman.

* Oh, and Silberman and his wife read passages of Brock's "The Real Anita Hill" and commented on them.

* Brock claims that Silberman advised him to write the infamous Troopergate article about Clinton because it might "topple" Clinton. Neither Silberman or associates have ever denied Brock's claims. Oh, but it gets better.

* Silberman's wife, Ricky, founded a group that submitted an amicus brief in the Paula Jones case and Ricky approached Ken Starr about assisting the Paula Jones plaintiffs. Despite this connection, Silberman later sat on the panel that heard Clinton's executive privilege appeal concerning Secret Service testimony about Monica Lewinsky. Not only did Silberman rule against Clinton, but he issued a "scathing" separate opinion that accused Janet Reno of acting not on behalf the U.S. government, but in the personal interest of Linton. Silberman then astonishingly questioned whether Clinton, by having aides attack Starr, was "declaring war on the United States."

So, again Bush has stacked the deck.
- posted by Joshua @ 6:17 PM