Josh Marshall: The Italian Connection, Part 2

[RSchewe]

For those that haven't been following this, I would recommend it. There are some interesting stories related to this issue in Talking Points Memo, The Left Coaster, The Washington Monthly (recent post), American Prospect Online (recent post). Check those links out to catch up on the recent developments if you have not been following this.

The Italian forgeries that were probably the main source of proof to mislead us into war. I am curious to see how this plays out. This issue is fascinating to say the least.


Talking Points Memo: The Italian Connection, Part 2

(snip)

Burba proceeded to do what she’d never done before. She told us who the unnamed security consultant was. His name was Rocco Martino. And she went on to describe what had happened in the year and a half since the forged documents had first come into her possession.

Ever since ElBaradei had exposed the documents as forgeries in March 2003, Burba had wanted to pursue the story behind the forgeries. But her editors at Panorama and then higher up in the Berlusconi publishing empire had warned her not to pursue the story. By December 2003, however, she had began reporting out the story on her own.

She confronted Martino and demanded to know where he had gotten the documents. She threatened him with exposure, telling him she had no responsibility to preserve his anonymity since he had deceived her.

Burba told us that Martino seemed genuinely afraid for his life. And now, in response to her demands, he began to describe a murky story involving an Italian intelligence officer and a woman working at the Embassy of Niger in Rome.

more...


http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/006908.php

[Mabus]

1. Josh will be on Franken's show today

This should be interesting. Thank FSM for Josh.

[SoFlaJet]

2. Rocco Martino?????????

now if that don't sound like a fake name nothin' does.I'm Italian and to me,that sounds like a name some white guy from Virginia might come up with if he had to make up an Italian nom de plum

[burythehatchet]

3. I've been keeping up and most of it confirmation of prior tin-foil

theories, or what used to be tinfoil theories. Finally, Joe WIlson looked straight into the camera and told the audience on Larry King to read Josh Marshall an Left Coaster. Since he is probably the person who knows more than anyone except Valerie, I'm prone to listen to his advice on the matter.

[RSchewe]

4. I noticed that on Larry King too. The plot is so movie-like that it is...

fascinating. Even if just part of it is proven true it would be a blockbuster.

Anyway, conspiracies have been ridiculed to the point that those who are likely participating in them have demonized the concept to where no one looks at these issues with an open mind anymore. If you say it is fake, prove it, if you say it is real, prove it, but don't act like these things aren't possible. That is a disservice to the public.

[RSchewe]

5. Wilson will be on Countdown tonight, I wonder if he will mention this. n/t