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12:00:00 PM EDT
Feeling Embarrassed
Hearing FOLK
DICK TALKS AND BUSH SQUIRMS
ACT 2
THERE IS A HUSH OVER THE COURT, BECAUSE WOLFOWITZ IS NOT IN THE COURTROOM.
SULLIVAN (FROM THE BACK OF THE COURTROOM)
YOUR HONOR MAY I APPROACH?
JUDGE
YES, PLEASE APPROACH WITH THE DEFENDANT AND THE OTHER LAWYERS.
SULLIVAN
I HAVE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED THAT MR. WOLFOWITZ WILL TAKE THE 5TH AMENDMENT AND WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS PUT TO HIM HERE TODAY. I DO APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF MR. WOLFOWITZ.
JUDGE
AGAIN, THE COURT WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT A WITNESS WAS GOING TO INVOKE THE 5TH AMENDMENT. ARE YOU THE ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR MR. WOLFOWITZ, MR. SULLIVAN?
SULLIVAN
YES SIR, I AM
JUDGE
MR. DALE BOSLEY, WHO IS MY MARSHAL, WILL TAKE YOU TO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, I WILL HEAR YOUR CONTEMPT OF THIS COURT CASE MAYBE TOMORROW OR NEXT WEEK. DALE, WILL YOU SEE TO IT THAT MR. SULLIVAN FINDS OUT WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO DO TO A LAWYER. THANK YOU.
JUDGE
WELL,---- I DO APOLOGIZE TO THE JURY AND ATTORNEYS, MR JACKSON DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER WITNESS READY, WHO WILL TESTIFY?
JACKSON
YES, YOUR HONOR--------THE PEOPLE CALL MR. RICHARD CHENEY
DICK CHENEY COMES INTO THE COURTROOM, HE WAS KEPT OUT OF SIGHT FOR SECURITY REASONS.
MARSHAL
DO YOU SWEAR TO GIVE TRUTHFUL AND HONEST TESTIMONY?
DICK
YES I DO SO SWEAR.
JACKSON
GOOD MORNING MR CHENEY, MY NAME IS ROBERT H. JACKSON AND I HAVE BEEN CHARGED TO PROSECUTE THIS CASE
DICK
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE MR. JACKSON
JACKSON
YOU HAVE COME HERE TODAY UNDER THE GRANT OF IMMUNITY, IS THAT CORRECT MR. CHENEY
DICK
YES THAT IS RIGHT
JACKSON
UNDER THE TERMS----------- THAT YOU WILL GIVE TESTIMONY YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT ANY LIE AND THE GRANT OF IMMUNITY WILL BE REVOKED AND YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, IS THAT ALSO CORRECT MR CHENEY?
DICK
YES I UNDERSTAND
JACKSON
YOU ARE REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY, IS THAT ALSO TRUE MR. CHENEY?
DICK
YES
ABIGAIL ADAMS (LOOKING OVER AT PATTON)
NOW WE MAY FIND OUT JUST WHAT THESE CHARACTERS WERE UP TO, THIS ONE LIES AND OFF TO JAIL HE GOES, I TOLD YOU GEORGE, IT WILL ALL WORK OUT
PATTON
IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE IS GOING TO TELL US WHAT THE HELL THEY WERE DOING, YOU WERE RIGHT LADY, LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
JACKSON
MR. CHENEY, WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCUSS THE INVASION OF IRAQ WITH PRESIDENT BUSH?
DICK
DURING THE FLORIDA SPECTACLE, I REMEMBER GEORGE SAYING THAT IF HE WON, IT WOULD BE A SIGN FROM GOD THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO AND GET SADDAM. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME. I TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT CAME DOWN WITH THEIR RULING AND ALSO HE NEEDED TO BE SWORN IN BEFORE HE COULD INVADE. WE BOTH LAUGHED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD WORD FROM HIS BROTHER THAT FLORIDA WAS GUARANTEED NO MATTER WHAT THE COURT SAID. WE HAD OUR PEOPLE IN THE FLORIDA SENATE READY TO DECLARE THE ELECTORAL VOTES WOULD GO TO BUSH. WE HAD ALL THE BASES COVERED. GORE WAS NEVER GOING TO WIN, THAT’S WHY WE EVEN SET UP THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMEMT BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION.------. IT WAS LIKE PLAYING CRAPS WITH LOADED DICE, WE KNEW THE NEXT ROLL WOULD GIVE US THE WHITE HOUSE, WE HAD A GREAT TIME LAUGHING OVER MEDIA COVERAGE AND GORE TRYING TO WIN.
DARROW
OBJECTION
JUDGE
ON WHAT GROUNDS?
JORDAN(STANDING)
OH, MY GOD THEY STOLE THE ELECTION
JURY (ALL ON THEIR FEET)
JURY BEGINS TALKING TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT DICK CHENEY JUST SAID.
JUDGE
ORDER IN THE COURT, MEMBERS OF THE JURY, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS------------MR.DARROW YOUR OBJECTION IS WITHOUT MERIT OR FOUNDATION, PLEASE SIT DOWN-------------MR. JACKSON YOU MAY CONTINUE.
JACKSON
MR. CHENEY WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL IN THE WHITE HOUSE MOST CONCERNED WITH?
DICK
GETTING SADDAM AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPORT OUR INVASION.
JACKSON
TO THAT END ------------ GETTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOUR ACTIONS IN IRAQ, WHAT DID YOU DO FIRST?
DICK
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE TOLD RUMMY TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER AND REPORT BACK IN A FEW DAYS ON WHAT WE NEEDED ON THE MILITARY SIDE, WE ALSO TOLD GEORGE TENET TO GATHER ALL INTEL THAT WOULD SUPPORT OUR GOAL OF INVADING IRAQ BY THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER THE SUMMER MONTHS. I WAS TASKED TO SET UP A GROUP WHO WOULD SUPPORT US AND THE PRESIDENT MADE IT CLEAR THAT NO DOUBTING THOMASES SHOULD BE IN KEY POSITIONS BY THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST
JACKSON
AT THAT TIME, DID YOU RUN INTO DIFFICULTY MOVING PEOPLE AROUND?
DICK
NO, WE HAD A FEW PAINS IN THE ASS LIKE RICHARD CLARK, WHO WANTED TO WORRY ABOUT AFGHANISTAN AND BIN LADEN, I TOLD HIM TO FUCK OFF AND NOT BRING ME THAT SHIT AGAIN, WE JUST MADE HIS LIFE HELL AND FINALLY AFTER 9/11 HE RETIRED. WE ALL LAUGHED ABOUT ANOTHER DOUBTING THOMAS OUT THE DOOR. THE WORD GOT AROUND VERY FAST THAT IRAQ WAS THE TARGET
JACKSON
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR PLANS AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACK?
DICK
FIRST WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD SET US BACK AND IT DID, BUT WE KNEW THAT ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE WITH US AND WANTED REVENGE, SO WE JUST MOVED OUR TIMETABLE AND WENT INTO AFGHANISTAN FIRST, IT WAS MORE A PLUS THAN A MINUS.
JACKSON
WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER THAT FIRST MEETING ----------------AFTER 9/11, WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL?
DICK
WELL, I GOT ON THE PHONE AND LET MY FRIENDS AT HALLIBURTON KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE MORE MONEY THAN THEY EVER IMAGINED. WHEN THEY CAME TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO DISCUSS ENERGY, THEY WERE SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT I WAS TELLING THEM. FIRST AFGHANISTAN AND THEN IRAQ, THE CASH REGISTER WAS GOING NUTS, WE COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WAS TO COME. WE HAD THOUGHT IN THE MILLIONS, BUT NOW WE COULD THINK IN THE BILLIONS. I FELT LIKE A KING GIVING HIS SUBJECTS PRECIOUS STONES FOR GIFTS. I WAS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN. WE WERE ALL GOING TO GET VERY RICH.
JACKSON
YOUR TESTIMONY IS THAT THE INVASION OF IRAQ WAS FOR PROFIT?
DICK
YES, WE HAD THE LOADED DICE AGAIN, SADDAM WAS A REAL BAD GUY, WE WOULD GO IN AND BOMB THE HELL OUT OF THE PLACE, AND MY FRIENDS WOULD GET VERY RICH REBUILDING THE NEW AND FREE IRAQ. THE CONGRESS WOULD NOT DARE SAY NO, WE COULD PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET OUR PEOPLE IN AFTER THE WAR AND THE TAX PAYERS WOULD PAY THE BILL. THIS WAS THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE.
JACKSON
IN THE YEAR 2000 WHAT WAS YOUR PAYCHECK FROM HALLIBURTON?
DICK
SOMEWHERE AROUND $40,000,000.00
JACKSON
YOU HAD SOME ACCOUNTING IRREGULARITY WHEN YOU WERE CEO OF HALLIBURTON, DO YOU KNOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THESE IRREGULARITIES ?
DICK
YEA, THEY SAID IT WAS ABOUT $100,000,000.00
JACKSON
WHEN YOU HELD THESE ENERGY MEETINGS, CONGRESS ASKED FOR THOSE DOCUMENTS, WHY DID YOU NOT JUST TURN THEM OVER?
DICK
ARE YOU SERIOUS? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE NO RIGHT TO SEE THEM, THEY WERE PRIVATE, AND IF IT GOT OUT WHAT WE DISCUSSED, WE ALL KNEW WE WOULD GO TO JAIL OR WORSE, GO BROKE.
JACKSON
HOW MANY PAGES DID YOU HOLD BACK FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
DICK
I AM NOT SURE BUT SOMEWHERE AROUND 13,000 TO 14,000 PAGES.
JACKSON
DID THE SUPREME COURT SAY THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE TO SURRENDER THE PAGES?
DICK
YEA, WE WON THAT ONE------THAT IS WHY WE WERE ABLE TO PASS INFORMATION DURING THESE MEETING-S----IT WAS PERFECT.
JACKSON
HOW MUCH DID THE ENERGY COMPANIES KICK IN TO YOUR REELECTION CAMPAIGN?
DICK
I DON’T KNOW------MILLIONS TO GET BILLIONS IS WHAT I USED TO TELL THEM.
JACKSON
LETS TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR OLD COMPANY, HALLIBURTON.
DID HALLIBURTON RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT WHEN THE CONTRACTS WERE UP FOR BIDS?
DICK
SURE, THEY WERE MY FRIENDS, THEY KNEW ABOUT THE CONTRACTS BEFORE ANYONE, AND WE MADE IT SEEM THAT THEY WERE THE ONLY CORPORATION WHO COULD HANDLE THE JOB.
JACKSON
HALLIBURTON DID GET INTO SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR CHARGES TO THE GOVERNMENT. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?
DICK
WELL, THE GOD DAMN FOOLS GOT CARRIED AWAY, THEY WERE CHARGING FOR MEALS TO THE MILITARY THEY NEVER DELIVERED, I WAS PISSED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THAT. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRICE OF GAS, BUT WE HANDLED THAT OK, BUT THE MEAL THING WAS A DISASTER FOR US, EVEN THE MEDIA WHO WE HAD UNDER OUR INFLUENCE WAS RUNNING WITH THIS STORY.
JACKSON
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WAS OVERCHARGED FOR THE MEALS?
DICK
I THINK THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL GOING ON, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD SOMEWHERE AROUND $75, 000,000 WAS RIPPED OFF--------SO STUPID!
JACKSON
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CARLYLE GROUP, THIS IS A PRIVATE GROUP OF INVESTORS, IS THAT CORRECT?
DICK
YES.
JACKSON
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS GROUP AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM?
DICK
The offices of the Carlyle Group are on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, midway between the White House and the Capitol building, and within a stone's throw of the headquarters of the FBI and numerous government departments. The address reflects Carlyle's position at the very center of Washington.
WE GAVE UNITED DEFENSE ABOUT $470 MILLION, A SUBSIDIARY OF CARLYLE, TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRUSADER. THIS PISSED OFF A LOT OF MILITARY ANALYSTS, BUT CARLUCCI AND RUMMY WANTED IT, SO THE PRESIDENT TOLD US TO OK THE PROGRAM.
JACKSON
WHO IS CARLUCCI?
DICK
HE IS THE CEO OF THE CARLYLE GROUP.
JACKSON
ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU GAVE A CONTRACT TO A GROUP BECAUSE RUMMY WAS A FRIEND OF CARLUCCI?
DICK
THAT’S THE WAY THINGS WORK IN WASHINGTON.
JACKSON
HOW DID YOU AND SEC. RUMSFELD COME TO KNOW CARLUCCI?
DICK
CARLUCCI WAS FROM THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, HE WAS SEC. OF DEFENSE AND WORKED FOR THE CIA BEFORE THAT ------------I’M SURE.
JACKSON
DOES PRESIDENT BUSH’S FATHER, THE 41ST PRESIDENT, HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE CARLYLE GROUP?
DICK
SURE, HE’S A SENIOR ADVISOR AND USES HIS CONNECTIONS TO THE ROYAL FAMILY IN SAUDI ARABIA TO GET THEM TO INVEST. THE BIN LADEN FAMILY WERE INVOLVED BUT AFTER 911, WE THOUGHT THEY SHOULD PULL OUT. TOO BAD….THEY HAD LOTS OF MONEY TO INVEST.
JACKSON
JAMES BAKER IS A MEMBER OF THE CARLYLE GROUP,IS HE NOT?
DICK
YEA, I THINK HIS TITLE IS SENIOR COUNSELOR
JACKSON
HE WAS SECRETARY OF STATE, AND SECRETARY OF TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, WAS HE NOT?
DICK
YES
JACSON
HE IS ALSO DEFENDING SAUDI ARABIA AGAINST THE VICTIMS OF 911 WHO ARE SUING THE ROYAL FAMILY AND BIN LADEN FAMILY?
DICK
WELL, HIS LAW FIRM IS DEFENDING THE SAUDIS, WHICH IS ALL I KNOW ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT.
JACKSON
I AM GOING TO ASK YOU A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, PLEASE ANSWER YES OR NO.
DICK
OK, I WILL TRY
JACKSON
DID PRESIDENT BUSH DECIDE TO INVADE IRAQ BEFORE 911?
DICK
YES
JACKSON
DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW ABOUT THE PROFITS THAT YOU, HALLIBURTON AND THE CARLYLE GROUP WERE GOING TO MAKE ON THE WARS?
DICK
YES
JACKSON
DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW ABOUT THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS AT CAMP X-RAY IN CUBA?
DICK
YES
JACKSON
DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW ABOUT THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS AT ABU GHRAIB?
DICK
YES
JACKSON
DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW THAT HIS REPRESENTATIVES WERE LYING TO CONGRESS WHEN THEY APPEARED BEFORE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES?
DICK
YES
JACKSON
HAVE YOU TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY TODAY?
DICK
YES, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY
JACKSON
YOUR HONOR, THAT IS ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE AT THIS TIME FOR MR. CHENEY, I WOULD REQUEST THE RIGHT TO RECALL THIS WITNESS AT A LATER TIME.
JUDGE
MR. JACKSON, YOU WILL HAVE TO ARGUE THAT MOTION IF YOU WISH TO RECALL MR. CHENEY.
JACKSON
YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE REST.
JUDGE
MR. DARROW, YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR CROSS EXAMINATION OF MR. CHENEY.
DARROW
GOOD MORNING MR VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE RECORD I AM CLARENCE DARROW AND I REPRESENT THE DEFENDANT, PRESIDENT GW BUSH
DICK
GOOD MORNING
DARROW
MR. CHENEY, YOU WERE GIVEN COMPLETE IMMUNITY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY HERE TODAY, IS THAT CORRECT?
DICK
YES
DARROW
WHICH MEANS NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID, OR YOUR INVOLVEMENT, YOU CANNOT BE PROSECUTED FOR THOSE CRIMES, IS THAT CORRECT?
DICK
YES
DARROW
IN YOUR TESTIMONY YOU PUT ALL THE BLAME ON PRESIDENT BUSH FOR THE ACTION CONCERNING IRAQ, IS THAT CORRECT MR CHENEY?
DICK
NO
DARROW
WELL IT SURE SOUNDED THAT WAY TO ME. YOU ARE INNOCENT AND PRESIDENT BUSH DID ALL THESE TERRRIBLE THINGS, ISN’T THAT WHAT YOUR TESTIMONY SAYS?
DICK
NO, I ACCEPT MY PART IN THIS MESS.
DARROW
BUT YOU TESTIFIED THAT PRESIDENT BUSH MADE ALL THE DECISIONS, IS THAT RIGHT?
DICK
NO, I MADE MANY DECISIONS, BUT ALWAYS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, WE ALL SERVED THE PRESIDENT.
DARROW
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR TESTIMONY CONCERNING IRAQ. YOU TESTIFIED THAT PRESIDENT BUSH MADE THE DECISION TO GO TO WAR DURING THE TIME YOU WERE WAITING FOR OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 2000 ELECTION, IS THAT TRUE?
DICK
WELL, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY HEARD HIM SAY HE WANTED TO INVADE IRAQ, YES.
DARROW
DO YOU REMEMBER HIS EXACT WORDS?
DICK
NO, NOT HIS EXACT WORDS.
DARROW
HE COULD HAVE BEEN JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND NOT WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO, IS THAT POSSIBLE?
DICK
I GOT THE FEELING THAT IF HE WON THE ELECTION WE WERE GOING TO WAR WITH IRAQ.
DARROW
MR. CHENEY, WE ARE NOT HERE TO HEAR YOUR FEELINGS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT PRESIDENT BUSH SAID --------LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SADDAM?
JACKSON
OBJECTION, MR. CHENEY HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
JUDGE
YOUR OBJECTION IS OVER-RULED, I WANT TO HEAR THIS.
DARROW
DO YOU NEED ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION, MR. CHENEY?
DICK
NO, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SADDAM, BUT AFTER THE ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED THE FIRST THING HE SAID TO ME WAS THAT NOW WE CAN GO GET THAT BASTARD.
DARROW
OBJECTION, NON-RESPONSIVE.
JUDGE
MR. CHENEY, TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ASKED AND NOT ADD TO THE ANSWER.
DICK
YES, YOUR HONOR
DARROW
MR. CHENEY, IN ALL THE MEETINGS YOU HAD WITH RUMSFELD AND PRESIDENT BUSH, DID YOU EVER STATE THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO INVADE IRAQ?
DICK
YES, MANY TIMES. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE THINKS THAT I WAS THE HAWK, BUT I WANTED TO INVADE AFGHANISTAN, TAKE OUT AL-QAIDA AND THE TALIBAN. I ALSO WANTED TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN AND REBUILD IT SO THAT THE ARABS WOULD SEE THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO INVADE THE MIDDLE EAST. WE COULD ALWAYS KEEP OUR EYE ON IRAQ AND INVADE LATER IF WE HAD TO, BUT NOT RIGHT AFTER AFGHANISTAN. I TOLD THE PRESIDENT IN CONFIDENCE THAT POWELL WAS CORRECT, WE SHOULD NOT DO IT YET. IT WAS HIS DECISION TO GO INTO IRAQ.
THIS CAUSES DARROW TO BE SHAKENED, HE DID NOT EXPECT THIS ANSWER FROM CHENEY AND NOW WANTS CHENEY OFF THE WITNESS STAND BEFORE HE CAN DO ANY MORE DAMAGE.
DARROW (VERY ANGRY)
IT IS YOU WHO HAS THE TIES TO HALLIBURTON, IS THAT CORRECT?
DICK
YES
DARROW
IN ADDITION, YOU STAND TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF THIS WAR, IS THAT NOT TRUE?
DICK
YES
DARROW
YOUR HONOR, I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR THIS WITNESS.
JUDGE
MR. JACKSON ANY RE-DIRECT?
JACKSON
NO YOUR HONOR.
JUDGE
MR. JACKSON CALL YOUR NEXT WITTNESS
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