The real news that the media is ignoring is the new "Family Jewels". By Larry C Johnson-

[kpete]

Revisiting the Family Jewels
by
Larry C Johnson

.......

The records are historically important but there is no significant "news" in these documents in the sense of reporting something we did not previously know. These events were fully reported thirty years ago and the CIA's shame exposed. I make no apologies nor excuses for the past CIA abuses. The records do help explode some myths, e.g. that the CIA successfully assassinated foreign leaders. They were authorized to do so and tried in several cases but never succeeded. Castro, in case you have been living in a cave, is still alive and giving the United States the finger.

The real news that the media is ignoring is the new "Family Jewels". I am certain the CIA has a report somewhere detailing who was involved with extraordinary renditions and torture. I would not be surprised if we find CIA officers like Michael Scheuer, Cofer Black, Hank Crumpton, John McLaughlin, and George Tenet facing war crimes charges in the International Court at the Hague within the next four years. I am making no claims about the guilt of these individuals, but their role in extraordinary renditions almost certainly will be investigated by foreign governments (Italy, for example, is currently prosecuting other CIA officers and contractors for their role in kidnapping a muslim cleric) and charges could very well be filed. At a minimum these gents probably will not be traveling outside the United States for the foreseeable future.

But torture in the war on terror shares a pedigree with the misdeeds of the past. The CIA was not a rogue elephant acting on its own. It was an obedient dog carrying out the order of political masters. As the Washington Post has detailed in a series of excellent reports this week, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld were leading the charge in authorizing the use of torture proscribed under international law. It is the responsibility of intelligence officers to maintain their integrity when ordered to do illegal and immoral acts. The lessons of the Nuremburg trials of the Nazis is that the claim of, "I was only following orders", is not a valid nor acceptable defense. Government officials, regardless of their place in a government bureaucracy, are expected to follow the law and do the right thing.

more at:
http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/06/revisiting-the-.html

[frogcycle]

1. Larry Johnson is a voice of reason n/t

[papau]

2. If Patrice Lumumba's (Pres of Congo) murder while in our control is not noted the

report is a whitewash - no matter how much it reveals.

Likewise our setting up the murder of the Pres of VietNam and Chile and a host of other folks in other countries - and the killings to protect United Fruits holdings and all the other "protect America's economic interest killings" do not seem to be in the report.

I doubt Ike's letter to his brother expressing how proud he was of the CIA's killing democracy in Iran and installing the Shah, and all that was required to make that happen, is in the 700 pages.

My conclusion until someone in the media says they read the report and that I am wrong, is that the report is a whitewash.

[Canuckistanian]

3. It's front-page news here in Canada

It's been the first item in radio news shows for two days now. I think the CBC has even interviewed James Bamford about it for an upcoming show.

And here's a podcast of As It Happens, featuring an interview with Thomas Blanton, Director of the National Security Archives at George Washington University:

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/asithappens_20070622_2661.mp3

[leftchick]

4. where is Cofer Black today?

oh yeah, he has a cushy job with Blackwater! How appropriate. I also read where he will be one of Romney's campaign advisors.

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/press/cofer.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 4, 2005

Ambassador Cofer Black Becomes Vice-Chairman at Blackwater USA

Blackwater USA proudly announces that Ambassador Cofer Black, former Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U. S. State Department, and former Director of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center has joined our team as Vice Chairman.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Erik Prince stated, "Ambassador Black brings with him 30 years of experience in combating terrorism around the globe and absolute devotion to freedom and democracy and the United States of America. We are honored to have him as part of our great team"

As the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Ambassador Black's office, S/CT, had primary responsibility for developing, coordinating and implementing U.S. counterterrorism policy. On behalf of the Secretary of State, Ambassador Black represented the Department on the Counterterrorism Security Group. His office played a leading role on the Department of State's counterterrorism task forces organized to coordinate responses to international terrorist incidents. Ambassador Black's responsibilities included coordinating U.S. Government efforts to improve counterterrorism cooperation with foreign governments, including the policy and planning of the Department's Antiterrorism Training Assistance Program.

Ambassador Black has had a distinguished 28-year career in the Directorate of Operations at the Central Intelligence Agency. Prior to joining the State Department, Ambassador Black was the Director of the CIA Counterterrorism Center. In this capacity, he served as the CIA Director's Special Assistant for Counterterrorism as well as the National Intelligence Officer for Counterterrorism.



http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/05/23/1541229


Leading GOP Candidate Romney Taps Blackwater's Cofer Black as Campaign Adviser

Leading Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has tapped Blackwater executive Cofer Black as a senior campaign advisor. Romney has called for a doubling of the US prison camp at Guantanamo. Black - who has been vice chairman at Blackwater for two years - was director of the CIA Counterterrorism Center during 9/11 and led the agency's hunt for Osama bin Laden