Jim Wilkinson

Jim Wilkinson (James R. Wilkinson) served as General Tommy R. Franks' director of strategic communications and chief spokesman for the U.S. Central Command (Tampa), became deputy national security advisor for communications as of December 2003. He is fluent in Arabic, both written and spoken. Wilkinson "will craft long-term messaging strategy for the National Security Council" and reports to Karl Rove, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and White House communications director Dan Bartlett. Mr. Wilkinson grew up in East Texas and gave up plans to become an undertaker to go to work for Republican Congressman Dick Armey in 1992. Mr. Armey soon became House majority leader; his communications director, Mr. Wilkinson's mentor, was Ed Gillespie, now chairman of the R.N.C. Wilkinson first left his mark on the 2000 Presidential race in March 1999, when he helped package and promote the notion that Al Gore claimed to have 'invented the Internet'. Then the Texan popped up in Miami to defend Republican protesters shutting down a recount: 'We find it interesting that when Jesse Jackson has thousands of protesters in the streets, it's O.K., but when a small number of Republicans exercise their First Amendment rights, the Democrats don't seem to like it,' he told the Associated Press. Mr. Wilkinson was made deputy director of communications for planning in the Bush White House, and was among the aides who set up the Sept. 14, 2001, visit to Ground Zero that redefined George W. Bush's Presidency. During the Afghan war, he managed 'Coalition Information Centers' in Washington, D.C., and London, as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Qatar, he became the point man on the rescue of Pvt. Jessica Lynch and delivered the most memorable and sellable quote of Gulf War II: 'America doesn't leave its heroes behind,' he told reporters at a late-night briefing.

Centcom 'Uber-civilian'

Wilkinson was accused of denying jhournalists information and deceiving them about the 'rescue' of Pte Jessica Lynch. Here Michael Wolff of Vanity Fair give his account, followed by Wilkinsons response:

Michael Wolff: I was approached by this guy, Wilkinson. He was sort of the uber-civilian. Also he was wearing a uniform. I said, you know, which was odd, and I said, aren't you a civilian, and he said, yes, but I'm in the reserves. I said, but you're not here in the reserves. Right, he said, right, right. So I said, actually I said, so you're a kind of a paramilitary. So we got immediately off to the wrong the wrong foot. If we were, if we had not already been on completely on the wrong foot now we were.

Jim Wilkinson: I'm a big boy. As they say in Texas this ain't my first rodeo. And when reporters start signing my cheques then great. But you know what General Franks signs my cheque and I make news based on his terms.

Michael Wolff: He said, this is war, (bleep) hole. He said, don't (bleep) around with things you don't understand. And then finally it was; no more questions for you, why don't you just go home?