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JAMES WOOLSEY & OPERATION DARK WINTER
Before I move forward with my thread on the career of James Woolsey, I want to go back to 2001 when an extraordinary war game occurred that most people have never heard of.
JAMES WOOLSEY & OPERATION DARK WINTER
Before I move forward with my thread on the career of James Woolsey, I want to go back to 2001 when an extraordinary war game occurred that most people have never heard of.
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On June 22-23, 2001, a group of former and current senior officials in the US government, along with several journalists, conducted an attack simulation at Andrew Air Force Base called Dark Winter.
On June 22-23, 2001, a group of former and current senior officials in the US government, along with several journalists, conducted an attack simulation at Andrew Air Force Base called Dark Winter.
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The fictional scenario of Dark Winter was a smallpox attack that plunges the US into chaos.
The fictional scenario of Dark Winter was a smallpox attack that plunges the US into chaos.
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Some notable participants included Former US Senator Sam Nunn, who played the president; former White House official David Gergen, who played the national security advisor; and Jeff Sessions, who played the FBI Director.
Some notable participants included Former US Senator Sam Nunn, who played the president; former White House official David Gergen, who played the national security advisor; and Jeff Sessions, who played the FBI Director.
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The CIA Director was played by James Woolsey. A position Woolsey held from 1993-1995.
The CIA Director was played by James Woolsey. A position Woolsey held from 1993-1995.
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Judith Miller played a reporter for the New York Times, which was her actual position at the time.
Judith Miller played a reporter for the New York Times, which was her actual position at the time.
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Each participant was briefed on the scenario. The Russian government had arrested a known al-Qaeda operative, Yusuuf Abdul Aziz, a trusted lieutenant of Osama Bin Laden.
Each participant was briefed on the scenario. The Russian government had arrested a known al-Qaeda operative, Yusuuf Abdul Aziz, a trusted lieutenant of Osama Bin Laden.
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The script reads:“Yusuff was caught in a sting operation that had been developing during the last year. He was attempting to acquire 50 kilograms of plutonium & was also attempting to arrange the purchase of several biological pathogens that had been weaponized by the USSR."
The script reads:“Yusuff was caught in a sting operation that had been developing during the last year. He was attempting to acquire 50 kilograms of plutonium & was also attempting to arrange the purchase of several biological pathogens that had been weaponized by the USSR."
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The scenario also involved the massing of Iraqi troops on the Kuwaiti border.
The scenario also involved the massing of Iraqi troops on the Kuwaiti border.
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More from the script: “Polls show a slim majority of Americans oppose a major deployment of US troops to the Persian Gulf. Most Americans agree that Saddam’s Iraqi regime represents a real threat to stability in the region and to American interests.”
More from the script: “Polls show a slim majority of Americans oppose a major deployment of US troops to the Persian Gulf. Most Americans agree that Saddam’s Iraqi regime represents a real threat to stability in the region and to American interests.”
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The game kicked off when the governor of Oklahoma notifies the National Security Council that the state has been hit by a biological attack (Oklahoma is Woolsey’s home state)
The game kicked off when the governor of Oklahoma notifies the National Security Council that the state has been hit by a biological attack (Oklahoma is Woolsey’s home state)
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Chaos ensues as the virus spreads. Massive casualties are reported. Federal, state and local governments prove incapable of effectively managing the outbreak.
Chaos ensues as the virus spreads. Massive casualties are reported. Federal, state and local governments prove incapable of effectively managing the outbreak.
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Several fake news program were created for the simulation. In this particular video, the audience is told that Iraq “may have” been behind the attack.
Several fake news program were created for the simulation. In this particular video, the audience is told that Iraq “may have” been behind the attack.
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It is eventually revealed that a “prominent Iraqi defector claim[ed] that Iraq arranged the bioweapons attack on the US through intermediaries.”
It is eventually revealed that a “prominent Iraqi defector claim[ed] that Iraq arranged the bioweapons attack on the US through intermediaries.”
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Over 3 million Americans died of smallpox in the Dark Winter simulation.
Over 3 million Americans died of smallpox in the Dark Winter simulation.
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On Sept 4, 2001, an article by one of the participants in the war game, Judith Miller, appears in the New York Times.
The story is about Pentagon plans for research on weaponized anthrax.
nytimes.com/2001/09/04/wor…
On Sept 4, 2001, an article by one of the participants in the war game, Judith Miller, appears in the New York Times.
The story is about Pentagon plans for research on weaponized anthrax.
nytimes.com/2001/09/04/wor…
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Of course, as everyone knows, the 9/11 attacks took place just a few months after the Dark Winter exercise.
Of course, as everyone knows, the 9/11 attacks took place just a few months after the Dark Winter exercise.
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The day after 9/11, James Woolsey appears on on ABC News blaming Iraq for the attacks.
Notice that Peter Jennings pushes back on the claim of Iraq's involvement.
The day after 9/11, James Woolsey appears on on ABC News blaming Iraq for the attacks.
Notice that Peter Jennings pushes back on the claim of Iraq's involvement.
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On Oct 2, 2001, Judith Miller’s book Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War was released.
On Oct 2, 2001, Judith Miller’s book Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War was released.
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For several weeks after 9/11, letters laced with anthrax were sent to several prominent politicians and news organizations.
For several weeks after 9/11, letters laced with anthrax were sent to several prominent politicians and news organizations.
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Judith Miller received a letter that contained a white powdery substance, but it turned out not to be anthrax.
Judith Miller received a letter that contained a white powdery substance, but it turned out not to be anthrax.
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Eerily, this is almost exactly what occurred in the Dark Winter scenario.
(The PDF of the script can be found here: centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/event…)
Eerily, this is almost exactly what occurred in the Dark Winter scenario.
(The PDF of the script can be found here: centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/event…)
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John McCain appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman (Oct 19, 2001) and suggested that the anthrax “may” have originated from Iraq.
John McCain appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman (Oct 19, 2001) and suggested that the anthrax “may” have originated from Iraq.
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On Oct 25, the US Senate passed the USA PATRIOT Act.
On Oct 25, the US Senate passed the USA PATRIOT Act.
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On Oct 26, the British newspaper The Telegraph reports: “James Woolsey, a former director of the CIA, ambassador and Pentagon official who now describes himself as a "private citizen",...
On Oct 26, the British newspaper The Telegraph reports: “James Woolsey, a former director of the CIA, ambassador and Pentagon official who now describes himself as a "private citizen",...
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is the man entrusted with investigating Iraqi involvement in the September 11 attacks and anthrax outbreaks.”
telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews…
is the man entrusted with investigating Iraqi involvement in the September 11 attacks and anthrax outbreaks.”
telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews…
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Wooley repeats the Atta in Prague story.
Wooley repeats the Atta in Prague story.
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The rest of the story I cover in this thread.
The rest of the story I cover in this thread.
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I did not say a lot about Judith Miller in my previous thread. She deserves her own thread as she was one of the most important people who advanced the narrative that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
I did not say a lot about Judith Miller in my previous thread. She deserves her own thread as she was one of the most important people who advanced the narrative that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
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She eventually spent 85 days in jail for refusing to reveal that Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, was her source for a story that outed Valerie Plame as a CIA agent.
She eventually spent 85 days in jail for refusing to reveal that Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, was her source for a story that outed Valerie Plame as a CIA agent.
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Plame was the wife of Joe Wilson, who was sent to Niger to investigate claims that Iraq attempted to purchase yellowcake in Niger.
Wilson found no evidence.
Plame was the wife of Joe Wilson, who was sent to Niger to investigate claims that Iraq attempted to purchase yellowcake in Niger.
Wilson found no evidence.
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In the end, we learned there was no connection between Iraq and the anthrax attacks.
The FBI arrested Bruce Ivins, a disgruntled scientist working at the Army's biodefence lab in Fort Detrick, Maryland.
He committed suicide in 2008 before he was to stand trial.
In the end, we learned there was no connection between Iraq and the anthrax attacks.
The FBI arrested Bruce Ivins, a disgruntled scientist working at the Army's biodefence lab in Fort Detrick, Maryland.
He committed suicide in 2008 before he was to stand trial.
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I'm greatly indebted to Annie Jacobsen for my knowledge of Operation Dark Winter.
amazon.com/Pentagons-Brai…
I'm greatly indebted to Annie Jacobsen for my knowledge of Operation Dark Winter.
amazon.com/Pentagons-Brai…
