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In Iraq, Kerik Boasted of Being White House 'Eyes and Ears'
Much remains unclear about Bernard Kerik's three-and-a-half months in Iraq running the Interior Ministry. But he was crystal clear about sending one message to his subordinates: he was the "eyes and ears of the Oval Office on the ground," recalls one of them.
Samuel Juett was one of 13 members of the Department of Justice's "first team" in Iraq following the 2003 invasion. Juett, speaking from his Eau Claire, Wisconsin home, counts himself as an admirer of Kerik's -- "Oh, man, lay off my buddy Bernie," he said, laughing -- because Kerik was someone with little patience for bureaucracy or politics. As soon as Kerik arrived in Baghdad on May 18, 2003, he let it be known just from where his power derived.
"There could only be so many big dogs in the pen," Juett recalls. Kerik would drop hints of his proximity to the White House. "That was intimated in conversations with us," Juett says. For example, Kerik would tell his staff, "You know, when the President's office calls you on the phone at home at night, and tells you to get on the plane..." Or: "Two days ago, I was standing in the Oval Office, talking to the President. This is what he wants, and this is what we're gonna make happen." Juett doesn't know if that was true -- "but it was what he said."
And Kerik used that image of proximity to get access to U.S. viceroy L. Paul Bremer III. "He had the charisma to cut through some of the problems and get through to Bremer when we needed help moving forward with the Ministry of Interior and the police," Juett remembers. "Bernie had that acumen." He missed that acumen when Kerik left Iraq. "We lost a lot of good access when Kerik left," Juett says. "Not only Bremer access, but a conduit to the Oval Office."
Just what Kerik used it for remains something of a mystery. Months after he returned from Iraq, in October 2003, he boasted in a press conference with President Bush, "We brought back more than 40,000 police, 450 cars in Baghdad, stood up 35 police stations in Baghdad." But by the following Spring's dual uprisings of Sunni insurgents and the Shiite Mahdi Army, the police force proved to be either ineffectual or disloyal. Ever since, the Iraqi police have proved to be riddled with problems. That's not something that can fairly be laid at Kerik's feet, as Juett says: "He wasn't there long enough, unfortunately, to have the dubious distinction of making that fail." In 2006, Kerik reflected, "Looking back, I really don't know what their plan was."
Not that Juett knows why Kerik left when he did. Though he says they worked together "fairly closely," Kerik didn't share his reasons for leaving with the staff. Juett assumed that Kerik had wrapped the two tasks he was assigned. "One was to be the eyes on the ground for the Oval Office, for the president, to speak to Rumsfeld and the Oval Office about 'Here's what I see and here's what I was doing.' And two, he had initial things to accomplish -- to stand up the Police Academy and to actually have the police go out and make arrests, make sure they were doing patrols," he says. "In my opinion, those two things were accomplished by him. I can't say if the president said, 'You have to get X, Y and Z done."
Update: This post initially gave the impression that Kerik's time of departure was shady. Further reporting, including interviews with officials who worked at CPA with Kerik, indicates that Kerik served out the commitment he had given to the CPA. I regret sending a misimpression.
Comments (22)
Swoosh wrote on November 9, 2007 3:06 PM:His abrupt departure from Iraq wouldn't have anything to do with his getting his hands on one of those briefcases full of cash the CPA was tossing around in those days, would it???
Steve wrote on November 9, 2007 3:07 PM:Kerik's stint in Iraq was covered at length in Imperial Life in the Emerald City. I don't have the book in front of me, but my recollection is that Kerik saw his job exclusively as a PR function. He had absolutely no interest in the nuts and bolts of making the Iraqi police force work; his self-appointed role was to stand in front of cameras and tell people, in the voice of a 9/11 hero, that the Bush Administration was very committed to making things work in Iraq and that everything was going great.
Utopia wrote on November 9, 2007 3:30 PM:So Kerik was basically a bully. That's what we used to call people who behaved the way he did. Oh, and a name dropper.
Funny thing, he's so close to the Whitehouse and Giuliani, so how'd this prosecution ever come to be?
U
Patrick Allen wrote on November 9, 2007 3:34 PM:Let me get this straight:
The guy running the Ministry of the Interior needed special access to get to Bremer? That explains a lot right there.
TheraP wrote on November 9, 2007 3:36 PM:Following up on Utopia. He was a bully and name dropper to those at his level or below. And he greased the egos of those above him. Can we doubt it was different during his time with Rudy?
Bob Currie wrote on November 9, 2007 3:46 PM:This guy appears to be one who was born to be part of the Shrubs administration.
anon wrote on November 9, 2007 3:57 PM:And of Rudy's should the unthinkable happen.
...so how'd this prosecution ever come to be?...
The short version in two words: Robert Morgenthau.
tom wrote on November 9, 2007 4:01 PM:It is a good thing that Rudy! never lies. Otherwise we might have to be suspicious about his close ties to these corrupt felons.
Utopia wrote on November 9, 2007 4:02 PM:Morgenthau is the Manhattan DA. Kerik was brought up on Federal charges. What's the Morgenthau connection with the Feds?
And why didn't he just bring the charges himself? I mean, it's not like this just happened. Morgenthau's had plenty of time to charge Kerik if he wanted to.
U
Dan wrote on November 9, 2007 4:07 PM:Was this the Bush plan?
Kerik was at 9/11.
Dave Bowman wrote on November 9, 2007 4:25 PM:Kerik went to Iraq.
Kerik heads Homeland Security.
Ergo: Homeland Security = Iraq = 9/11
How did Kerik land such a plum position? Hmmmm....
Bush says Kerik is right man to protect America
NYC's ex-top cop picked for Homeland Security job
MSNBC and NBC News
updated 4:29 p.m. AKT, Fri., Dec. 3, 2004
WASHINGTON - President Bush on Friday nominated Bernard Kerik to run the Homeland Security Department during his second term, calling the former New York police commissioner "one of the most accomplished and effective leaders of law enforcement in America."
“In every position he has demonstrated a deep commitment to justice, a heart for the innocent and a record of great success," Bush said in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, with Kerik at his side. "I'm grateful he's agreed to bring his lifetime of security experience and skill to one of the most important positions in the federal government."
“I know what is at stake,” Kerik said in accepting the nomination.
...
Before the announcement, New York’s Democratic senators, Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer, both indicated they consider the choice of the man who helped rally New York City’s police force and its citizens following the Sept. 11 terror attacks a good one — a positive signal that he will win bipartisan support in his Senate confirmation vote.
...
The 49-year-old Kerik’s path to the top homeland security position was surprising to many observers, but he campaigned arduously for Bush this year and has solid credentials for the post.
Roberta wrote on November 9, 2007 4:29 PM:Dan, your math is flawed.
It's clear! Kerik caused 9/11, not the gays and aborted fetuses!
Okay, seriously now. If employers in the private sector can make sure a potential hire is clean, how the heck can Kerik have passed muster to have an important post with the Federal Government?
Was Giuliani's imprimatur enough? Doesn't the Secret Service have to vet people who have White House access? And couldn't they connect the dots with Interstate's suspected ties to the Gambinos?
I again chide myself for continuing to believe that there's got to be some level of competence in the Administration.
Have all their efforts been put toward advancing the neocon agenda and dismantling the Constitution, so much so that they can't do an effing background check?
Kerik should never have gotten a job outside of NYC, and his appointments there are utterly questionable. When did loyalty and basic common sense become mutually exclusive?
TheraP wrote on November 9, 2007 4:40 PM:Roberta asks: "When did loyalty and basic common sense become mutually exclusive?"
one nation under bush: who needs common sense?
jeffgee wrote on November 9, 2007 5:32 PM:Another kiss-up kick-down guy.
Dee Illuminati wrote on November 9, 2007 6:23 PM:Rudy's albatross.
The forms for a federal security clearance are signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury, with the applicable Federal punishment for perjury stated on the respective forms.
A National Agency Check will confirm you as a liar if you do not fully disclose the truth.
Make no mistake about it, lying to the DHS about your past employment, legal history, or finances is a poor career decision.
The amount of money involved, not a simple exageration of the amount donated to Goodwill but 1/2 million dollars makes what Bernie Kerik did 'unexplainable' or an illustrative example of 'elite deviatism.'
People whom perform these investigations, each day, all day, and have done so for years take it as an afront to not only their intellect but to the institutions involved if you purposefully lie.
Bernie signing that security clearance and making himself available to an investigation, saying: "yes you have the authority to examine any aspect of my background as you feel might be required" and "here is my acknowledgement in writing to authorize that investigation voluntarily" and then LYING after submitting to a NAC and trying to hide 1/2 million in bribes can only be summed up as "elite deviatism."
And in closing that to a salaried investigator (adjudicator) making ends meet in DC or NYC where it is very expensive to live on a government salary and whom has not accepted bribes is galling.
Frankly, Bernie wasn't smart enough for the position if he was dumb enough to underestimate his own personnel.
nrglaw wrote on November 9, 2007 6:54 PM:Dan--So is it just serendipitous that Kerik lands in Bush's lap? Or did they go to NY to find a Kerik?
James wrote on November 10, 2007 12:29 PM:Here's what I don't understand about Kerik. If you look at this article ( http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/22/politics/main662590.shtml ) it says:
"Democrats also were focusing on Kerik's recent windfall from exercising stock options in a stun gun company that does business with the department. He earned $6.2 million from the options received from Taser International."
If he earned 6.2 million dollars, why the hell can't he pay his own legal fees?
miss marple wrote on November 10, 2007 3:07 PM:This guy appears to be one who was born to be part of the Shrubs administration.
And of Rudy's should the unthinkable happen.
Forget about Kerik, but why do you think Mukasey was just confirmed as AG? He and Rudy go back a long way and would no doubt stay on his AG when the unthinkable happens - as I think it will. Why is no one looking at Dodd as a rival for the Presidency. Of the lot -I would pick him as the most likely to adhere to our Consitution.
killeshin wrote on November 10, 2007 10:17 PM:"And he wore a kingly crown;
Roberta wrote on November 10, 2007 11:06 PM:And in his grasp a sceptre shone;
On his brow this mark I saw -
'I AM GOD, AND KING, AND LAW!'"
kishellin,
Here's some more Shelley that is horribly possible as a Bush prophecy:
I met a traveller from an antique land,
mitzi morris wrote on November 11, 2007 12:25 AM:Who said--"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert....Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings,
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."
Something doesn't add up. How can the likes of Kerik with his more than odious background be vetted to go to Iraq as Bush's eyes and ears?
Bragging about getting calls from WH, etc is definitely indiscreet. And if he was issued through Rumsfeld it's even more unbelievable.
Kerik is a serial crook, liar, and womanizer, and everyone in his New Jersey neighborhood knew he was mobbed up.
His leaving Iraq might have been simply unexplained incompetence, and then again with all the missing cash.....remember Bremmer saying there was 'too much money to keep track of'?
Some of this treatment of Kerik by Bush & Co was probably an attempt at propping up Guiliani who was the chosen one to be GOP's next president. And Kerik of course, the chosen one by Guiliani. It's idiotic to believe he didn't "vet him".
The fix seems to have been in right from the WH who knew of Kerik's background to some extent, and felt that with 9/11 and Guiliani's anointment, Kerik would be a given.
But the incompetence and corruption are spellbinding, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.
donviti wrote on November 11, 2007 4:02 PM:I don't know hip hop
but I thought it was 50 cent vs Kanye West?
but since this isn't TMZ I will cut you a break