CIA picked the WRONG Senator to mess with. Kerry reacts to NYT CIA/Karzai brother report:

[beachmom]

As many of you may have read, an NYT article out last night reports that Karzai's brother is on the payroll of the CIA:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/asia/28intel.html?hp

This after Kerry's whirlwind trip where he convinced President Karzai to agree with a runoff. At the Council of Foreign Relations on Monday, Kerry was asked about Karzai's brother about allegations that he was involved with spurious things like the drug trade. Kerry answered that he had specifically asked intelligence agencies if there was a "smoking gun" on this, and there wasn't. But now that this NYT article is out, it seems Sen. Kerry is none too pleased to be blindsided:

http://washingtonindependent.com/65561/john-kerry-does-not-like-being-misled

Here is John Kerry's statement:

Senior American officials have told me repeatedly that there is no hard evidence linking Ahmed Wali Karzai to drug trafficking. However, after reading press accounts which allege that Mr. Karzai has been on the payroll of the CIA, one of the agencies gathering intelligence about narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan, I have serious questions about the information that Congress is receiving. On questions this serious, it is imperative that we receive reliable, current and accurate information.

“Reducing corruption and stopping the bribes from drug traffickers are absolutely essential to developing an effective Afghan government. Just this week, three DEA agents gave their lives in the fight against drug trafficking, a chilling reminder of the sacrifices American civilians and troops make in Afghanistan.

“We should not condemn Ahmed Wali Karzai or damage our critical relations with his brother, President Karzai, on the basis of newspaper articles or rumors. But the appropriate congressional committees must be immediately provided with the most comprehensive and untainted information about his alleged entanglements.”

Spencer Ackerman aptly adds the following:

History teaches it doesn’t pay to mislead Kerry about drug-related issues.

And he links to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Committee_report

Kerry is a bit of an expert on the CIA getting involved with the drug trade. Did they really think they could pull a fast one on him now?

[blm]

1. START THE HEARINGS. Any Dem tries to cover up for BFEE's drugrunning this time around

will pay the price in REAL time.

[AntiFascist]

2. K&R, this wouldn't be the first time CIA failed to produce a smoking gun...

when there is evidence otherwise.

[DrToast]

3. Would they say it's a 'slam dunk'?

[wisteria]

4. Let the hearings begin. We need accountability and our Congress people need to know that

have the most complete, honest and accurate information in order to protect our country.

[blm]

42. With Pelosi as speaker we may get a congress willing to act, and not be part of the

dog and pony show BushInc depended on over the years to provide cover for them (Lee Hamilton).

[karynnj]

Great statement

This is what I wanted to hear. The sentence you highlighted in the first paragraph sounds like a very angry Senator. I am glad he is as willing to use this language with Obama as President, that he would have used had it been Bush.

I also think that this is important as well:

"We should not condemn Ahmed Wali Karzai or damage our critical relations with his brother, President Karzai, on the basis of newspaper articles or rumors."

[Bitwit1234]

5. How many times have

the republicans said that Nancy Pelosi lied,,and that the CIA did not mislead anybody....all this stuff now coming out that they did lie...They did cover up..Have you heard one of the so called irate republicans who called for Nancy Pelosi to resign apologize to her...heck no...But I think the MSM are not doing their job when, they interview boehner and the rest of the common crew to ask them that question....what they won't...They are never on the side of the country. The MSM is always on the republican side after all they don't want to loose that tag of '''LIBERAL'''..

[karynnj]

6. Kerry was one of the people who defended her

and spoke of the CIA having been proven to have lied on Iran/Contra - to him.

[vaberella]

20. You don't hear about that in the news.

I only knew of one person who really supported her and he had left congress. I believe his meticulous filings of all events was kept at a university and he even said he was not aware since he sat in those meetings.

[karynnj]

23. It was posted in a few threads here

Kerry wrote a Huffington Post and I think a Daily Kos post. He reached out to the blogosphere when it got little coverage. Note the huge interest at DU. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5700232

[vaberella]

24. Hah. My point proven.

Thanks for giving me the link. Man, one sad soul posted and everyone else was MIA.

[karynnj]

27. That's why I posted it

There were a few longer threads which I couldn't find with search, but they weren't long. I entirely missed that thread likely because it sunk so fast. My point was Kerry issued a statement that the media ignored, and he spoke out a few times. The link had the HP article. The point being that, Kerry more than most had the backup of when the CIA lied - and they later admitted it. You would think he would deserve at least the coverage given to Liz Cheney's comments - wouldn't you?

My point was that neither the MSM or the blogospere did much to push this.

[blm]

36. Newsmedia RARELY mentions a word about IranContra, BCCI and NEVER anything re CIA drugrunning

And when they do it is usually in reference to a peripheral matter that would not come close to the real issues involved with those illegal operations.

[vaberella]

19. Please...Most on DU and Jonathan Turley was ready to believe Pelosi lied.

I always stood by her and she came out to be telling the truth. Now shit is flying like mad. When they want to push shit, they will push everything they got even if it's a lie.

[eridani]

7. One of our best committee heads, for sure. n/t

[blm]

8. and Narco-Terrorism is HIS issue. He was obstructed before by the last 3 presidents - I think

Obama will co-operate with Kerry and maybe we'll even get BCCI books re-opened at last.

[beachmom]

12. But would it start in the Intelligence Committee?

That is not so great. How can it go to the SFRC?

[blm]

13. Kerry is the lead senator on policy for that region. Intel might go apeshit, but, narco-terrorism

is Kerry's baby.

[annabanana]

15. That is a very deep hole Kerry is peering into.

A very old deep hole.

[TayTay]

21. The Memory Hole has the Kerry Report on file

http://thememoryhole.org/kerry/

Very big deal, along with the news about AQ Khan, who was part of the talks in Pakistan recently, btw.

[blm]

34. Funny how important pieces of history, esp regarding global terrorism, managed to 'fall' into holes

so difficult to find that so-called 'news' journalists couldn't even find them the last twenty years.

[BrklynLiberal]

37. nowhere near as important to the country as finding out if Edwards is the father

of his mistresses' baby...:sarcasm:

[karynnj]

40. You would think that by the fact that there still are stories on that and

Whether the Edwards will hold things together. That likely as nearly ended, as what more could be said? (For the sake of all who loved/respected/admired either of them, I hope the media becomes bored soon. It likely has to still be painful seeing the occasional story.)

But, there will likely be some sensational crime that will be given more coverage that Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan rolled together. I always wondered how they all choose the one that they cover endlessly. At least the Edwards are people who actually had some newsworthiness at one time.

[ProSense]

9. Fascinating. n/t

[emulatorloo]

10. very interesting. n/t

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

11. K&R. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. Who exactly is CIA working for

don't we pay them out of our taxes?

[beachmom]

16. You would think. Look at this post:

http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama/2009/10/most-important-article-afghanistan-youll-read-week.html

The Most Important Article on Afghanistan You'll Read This Week

Why, you ask? Because if this is true, and if the CIA is empowering Ahmed Wali Karzai at the same time in which NATO/ISAF is saying abusive local power-brokers are a threat to mission success, then this is yet another example of NATO/ISAF carrying out one campaign in Afghanistan while the CIA carries out another -- with both campaigns operating at cross purposes to one another. I should say here that I am in no position to confirm or deny this report. I can, however, say that numerous military officials in southern Afghanistan with whom I have spoken identify AWK and his activities as the biggest problem they face -- bigger than the lack of government services or even the Taliban. And so if AWK is "the agency's guy", that leads to a huge point of friction between NATO/ISAF and the CIA. Again, I am not currently serving as an advisor to ISAF and cannot speak for Gen. McChrystal's command.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. If we pay people we expect them to work for us

not against us? Taxpayers' money.

What exactly is going on here? We can't have agencies acting autonomically?

[Sebastian Doyle]

25. The Bush Crime Family and the Wall Street Criminal Banking Cartel

Same as it ever was.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. when is it going to change

[blm]

43. Not much chance till public DEMANDS their right to Open Government.

Open the books on BCCI and you'll see a nation transformed and united in its loathing for the Bushes, their fascist cronies, their Dem protectors, and the global fascist agenda.

Should have happened in 1993.

[Sebastian Doyle]

18. Stay away from small planes for a while, John.

Your wife already lost one husband that way :evilfrown:

[Hutzpa]

22. Here is the problem

the information that goes to Congress is completely and totally flawed to represent an
opinion that benefits the war mongers and war hawks. As the Speaker of the House said
few months ago and got berated by the right, she was misled and this is a perfect example
of how THE INTELLIGENCE community have become extremely powerful. You never know who is
associated with what...this is the toughest fight Mr President, I believe is also the
reason behind Dick pops his head every now and again.

[beachmom]

26. CIA responds. LAME:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/world/asia/29intel.html?_r=1&src=twr

George Little, a C.I.A. spokesman, said agency officials “engage regularly with Congress, providing objective information on a wide range of national security topics.”

McCain was mad, too, apparently. And Gibbs refused to comment on it.

[karynnj]

28. McCain's was pretty lame too

I know he's not a lawyer, but an "if proven to be true" would have been nice there.

[ProSense]

29. Did they forget about this

Intel Panel: CIA Misled Lawmakers On Torture, Other Issues

[beachmom]

30. Yes.

Hypocrites always forget these sorts of things.

[ellie]

31. Hahahahahahaha!

Those CIA fuckers, always over-reaching. It's way past time to put a stop to their bullshit. GO KERRY!

[beachmom]

32. But wait a minute: according to the Morning Joe crowd the CIA NEVER lies to Congress. nt

[ellie]

35. I don't know

how you guys can watch that crap.

[beachmom]

41. Well, I don't anymore because of the pro-torture slant. nt

[blm]

38. Congrats on getting Kerry Report on Wikipedia - DC powerboys have made it difficult to access the

last 20 years. National Security Archives squirreled away a copy before it was HEAVILY EDITED, but, very few citizens know enough to go there to get the truth.

[1776Forever]

39. There are so many damn smoking guns now DC looks like a war zone! When will it be ENOUGH!

ENOUGH!