Wednesday, November 16, 2005 Documents show Cheney Met w/Oil Chiefs in 2001 WashPost: A document, obtained this wk by The WaPo, shows that officials from Exxon Mobil, Conoco, Shell Oil and BP met in the WH w/Cheney aides who were developing a natl energy policy, parts of which became law and parts of which are still being debated. The WH doct shows that execs from big oil companies met with VP Cheney's energy task force in 2001 -something long suspected by environmentalists but denied as recently as last wk by industry officials testifying before Congress. Sen Lautenberg (D-NJ), who questioned about the task force, said he will ask the Justice Dept today to investigate: "The WH went to great lengths to keep these meetings secret, and now oil executives may be lying to Congress about their role in the Cheney task force." Cheney's spokesperson, declined to comment on the document. She said that the courts have upheld "the constitutional right of the pres and vice pres to obtain info in confidentiality." As for the execs who lied-- they were not under oath when they testified b/c Commerce Chrmn Ted Stevens (R-AK) decided not to swear them in (how shockingly fortuitous, no?) Hmm... combine the oil execs lying w/these maps that the Cheney Energy Task force made of Iraq. And by the way, Paul O'Neil, the former Secrty of the Treasury, mentions the maps in his book "The Price of Loyalty." He saw them 3 MONTHS AFTER BUSH WAS INAUGURATED IN 2001! |