Arianna Huffington reports that Judy Miller is doing a gig in New York tomorrow evening (Wednesday) that will run guests $375.00 a head.
Bill Clinton charged $15,000 to enter the Clinton Global Initiative — so tough to compare — but at least the Clinton Foundation devoted the money to worthy global causes — for the needy.
But the big news tomorrow is Ahmad Chalabi and the many folks gathering in front of the American Enterprise Institute to greet him.
It’s all happening at 2 p.m. at 1150 17th Street, NW.
All I can urge is to make this trip a miserable one for him — something that he will regret for some time. I’m sure he’ll offer his trademark sneer at those Americans who are invoking their democratic privilege to tell him exactly what they think of his pre-war duplicity.
For those who aren’t Chalabi fanatics, the word from many I know in the CIA is that Chalabi was the person who tipped off Saddam Hussein before a coup attempt against the Iraqi leader. The CIA had cut Chalabi out of the action — because of misinformation that Chalabi had allegedly passed on and irresponsible management of sensitive information. For that, Chalabi tipped off Hussein.
Whether you are pro-war or anti-war in the Iraq case, Chalabi worked against American intelligence authorities. That is why the CIA and State Department hate him so deeply. Douglas Feith helped set him up. Others empowered him. I’ll never forget the day I had lunch with him at the offices of the New Republic in an editorial meeting organized by Marty Peretz.
He was slick in all the bad ways, compelling — but his obsession with power was clear, and it was not obvious to me that this guy had a respect for the tug-and-pull of real democratic discourse. He seemed like a mafia boss.
From Arianna on Chalabi and Miller:
Tomorrow will be a red letter day for fans of discredited neocon idols. In the afternoon, Ahmad Chalabi will be in Washington, giving a speech at the American Enterprise Institute. And in the evening, Judy Miller will be in New York, taking part in a panel discussion on reporters’ privilege at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers (7th Ave and 53rd St.), being sponsored by the Media Law Resource Center.
Tickets are $375, which includes dinner.
Still time to book seats on the D.C./NY Shuttle!
Miller’s fellow panelists include Time’s Matt Cooper, Jim Taricani, a TV reporter who served four months of home arrest for refusing to reveal a source, and Rep. Mike Pence, co-sponsor of a bill that would create a federal shield law.
The panel was originally going to be moderated by Diane Sawyer — and, as late as today, she was still listed on the MLRC’s website. But according to the organization, due to a “last-minute cancellation”, the panel will now be moderated by Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran.
So a “last-minute cancellation” caused Sawyer to cancel? Don’t you hate when that happens?
Maybe it’s just as well. It was hard to imagine Sawyer putting her journalistic credentials at risk to moderate a panel that included Judy Miller not as a target of derision and scorn but as an esteemed member of the fourth estate blabbering on about the need for a federal shield law that wouldn’t have protected her anyway even if one had been in place.
Just got some other interesting news in.
Will be back shortly. While folks are spending big bucks on Judy Miller’s “revelations” about her experience, I’m spending big bucks (well, sort of) blogging over the Atlantic Ocean on a Lufthansa flight. (Thanks for the financial support for those contributing to the blog!)
More soon.
— Steve Clemons
P.S. Here is another nice note from Arianna about DPM Chalabi’s visit with some suggestions to visit the FBI, Congress, and Arlington National Cemetary to do some confessing of sins. . .
