Admiral Dennis Blair Aided Perpetrators of 1999 Church Killings In East Timor

[EFerrari]

New Trouble For An Obama Nominee: Admiral Dennis Blair Aided Perpetrators of 1999 Church Killings In East Timor

Investigative journalist Allan Nairn reveals Admiral Dennis Blair played a critical role in backing the Indonesian occupation of East Timor during the 1990s. At the height of a wave of ruthless attacks on Timorese that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands, Blair personally informed top Indonesian general Wiranto of unwavering U.S. support. He continued to support the Indonesian military until international outcry forced the Clinton administration to withdraw its military and diplomatic backing.

President-elect Barack Obama has made his final cabinet selections, filling both top intelligence posts. Democratic officials have confirmed Obama has chosen Leon Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency. A former Congressmember, Panetta also served as White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton. Many observers call him a surprise pick because of limited intelligence experience and his public opposition to the Bush administration’s policies on torture.

snip

It’s interesting to compare that to the reaction to Obama’s other top intelligence pick. While lawmakers from Obama’s own party are vowing oppositon to a torture opponent, they’ve expressed no complaints about another nominee accused of backing torture and murder abroad.

The former commander of US military forces in the Pacific, Admiral Dennis Blair, has been tapped to become the Director of National Intelligence. It’s the nation”s top intelligence job, overseeing sixteen agencies.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/6/dennis_blair_obamas_nominee_for_director

(This must not be an easy story for Amy to report. She almost got killed covering East Timor.)

[Jane Austin]

1. Isn't the problem there

the Clinton policy rather than an admiral carrying out his Commander in Chief's policy?

[EFerrari]

2. Not according to the classified docs that Allan found.

Watch the report. There's video at the link. :hi:

[Jane Austin]

4. When I have a moment

I sure will.

Thanks.

[EFerrari]

5. In a nutshell, while the Clinton policy was part of the problem,

the General was told to stop supporting the massacre and he did not.

[EFerrari]

3. For people who don't know this story, here's Amy recounting how she

and Allan (barely) survived the massacre. They were both almost executed.

Amy Goodman Recounts the East Timor Massacre 15 Years Ago


This weekend marked the 15th anniversary of the massacre at the Santa Cruz cemetery in East Timor. On November 12th, 1991, Indonesian troops opened fire on a crowd of several thousand unarmed Timorese civilians gathered in Dili. At least 271 people were killed. Journalists Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn witnessed and survived the massacre. We play an excerpt of their award-winning documentary, “Massacre: The Story of East Timor.”

http://www.democracynow.org/2006/11/13/amy_goodman_recounts_the_east_timor

Video, audio at link

[bananas]

7. k&r - thanks for posting this. nt

[mod mom]

10. SF Expat, I heard Amy talk of this @ a Freepress Lecture but are there 2 different events?

The massacre was in Nov 1991 and the Church killings say 1999?

I think the blame goes on Clinton because Dennis Blair was just implementing Clinton policy. I personally believe one should resign before carrying out a reprehensible policy, but it sounds like the buck lies with the decision maker not the messenger. I say one more strike against Bill Clinton and the terrible policies he implemented.

[EFerrari]

11. There were many "events". That's right. n/t

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[EFerrari]

8. Obama seems to be trying to send a signal with his Panetta choice

that he wants a clean break from BushCo torture.

I hope someone has briefed him or his people on this story. :(

[Solly Mack]

9. I don't have a good answer

[formercia]

12. Who promoted Blair for the job?

I'm pretty sure Mr. Obama delegates some authority in finding and vetting people for these positions. More than the decision to appoint Admiral Blair for the job is the decision process in selecting these controversial people and if there is any connection within the social network of the process.

[EFerrari]

13. I don't even know where to begin to look for something like that.

Maybe this would be a start:

"His membership on the board of directors of EDO Corporation, a subcontractor for the F-22 Raptor fighter program, and ownership of its stock was raised as a potential conflict of interest after the IDA issued a study that endorsed a three-year contract for the program. Blair told the Washington Post, "My review was not affected at all by my association with EDO Corp., and the report was a good one." He originally chose not to recuse himself because he claimed his link to EDO was not of sufficient "scale" to require it, but subsequently resigned from the EDO board to avoid any misperceptions."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_C._Blair

[formercia]

14. A 'Player.'

He obviously has more interests than just 'serving his country.'

[EFerrari]

15. PBS interview with Blair in 12/2001:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/terrorism/july-dec01/blair_12-19.html