Ballots and Blood by Ralph Reed Page B

smoldering.
    â€œI’m not here for the fun of it, Agent Mahoney,” fired back Shapiro. “I’m here to represent my client.”
    â€œIt’s okay, Walter,” said Greenglass. “I’ve got no problem answering.”
    â€œWho else knew about the existence of this language besides you and Senator Miller?”
    â€œThe president, Candace Sanders, Bill Jacobs at CIA, and the ranking Republican on Foreign Relations. That’s it.”
    â€œWere you hoping no one found out about it until you had the votes to pass it?”
    Greenglass leaned back in his chair and sighed. “No. But we didn’t want it out there until we had everyone in the administration on board.”
    â€œAnd did you?”
    â€œFor the most part, some more than others,” said Greenglass with a wry smile.
    Mahoney reached into his satchel and pulled a sheet of Xerox paper containing a newspaper clipping. “Have you seen this article before?”
    Greenglass scanned the page. “Yes.”
    â€œIt’s a report in a German newspaper claiming you told the German ambassador it was too late for sanctions to work and the U.S. was preparing to take military action,” said Mahoney. “It says Senator Miller agreed and that is why he planned to include language authorizing military action in the sanctions bill.”
    â€œObviously we were not happy about this article.”
    â€œAt the time it appeared, Lisa Robinson was asked about it during a White House press briefing. She denied it. But you’re telling me today it was accurate?”
    â€œNot every detail, but yes, it was essentially accurate.”
    â€œThis report ran two weeks before Senator Miller was killed.”
    â€œAre you suggesting someone murdered Miller because he supported military action against Iran?” asked McConnell, incredulous.
    â€œI’m just asking questions,” said Mahoney, his eyes unblinking.
    â€œTo what end?” volleyed back McConnell. “You’re weaving a theory that someone killed Miller to stop the Iran sanctions bill. But the bill is going to pass anyway, so that theory is not supported by the facts. Moreover, the president needs no legislative authority to take military action against Iran. It is inherent in his powers as commander in chief.”
    â€œThanks for the primer,” deadpanned Mahoney.
    â€œAgent Mahoney, I don’t have a problem answering these questions,” said Greenglass, trying to diffuse the situation. “But we knew the authorization would be hotly debated in the Senate. We weren’t trying to hide anything. This is no state secret.”
    â€œThen why did the NSC mislead the president’s press secretary and cause her to lie to the press and the American people?” fired back Mahoney.
    Greenglass averted his eyes. “We never denied I had a conversation with the German ambassador expressing my concern about whether there was enough time left for sanctions. We denied we were readying plans for military strikes. The reason for that is obvious.”
    â€œLet me ask you something else,” said Mahoney, loaded for bear. “Last year’s State Department budget included funds for an initiative to promote democracy in the Middle East. Are you familiar with that budget?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat is involved in that initiative?”
    â€œA variety of things. Conferences with democratic and women’s rights activists, training for human rights advocates, building a network of dissident leaders. Things of that nature.”
    â€œDoes it include aid to the Green Movement in Iran?”
    Greenglass shifted in his chair. “The Green Movement was included in the overall outreach to pro-democracy activists.”
    â€œHow much of this funding went to the Green Movement?”
    â€œThe entire program was four hundred million dollars.”
    â€œAnd the share that went to the Green