Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)156. Really?
"Really? When were they opposed to torture?"
...he was "opposed to torture"? Why did he wait until 2007 to reveal this information?
Why didn't he make this known prior to 2004 election? Could he have prevented more people from being tortured?
Why didn't he release this information when people were fighting the torture amendment in 2006?
What I see is a person who was out for personal gain.
<...>
Whistleblowing on Torture
In December 2007 Kiriakou gave an interview to ABC News[10] where he was described as participating in the capture and questioning of Abu Zubaydah, who is accused of having been an aide to Osama Bin Laden. According to Kiriakou, based on what he had been told by the CIA, it had taken only a single brief instance of waterboarding to extract answers to an interrogator's questions from Abu Zubaydah.
Eventually it became known that Abu Zubaydah had in fact been waterboarded at least 83 times,[12] and that little or no useful extra information may have been gained by "harsh methods".[13][14] However, even when Kiriakou was under the mistaken belief from the CIA that Zubayda was waterboarded only once, he acknowledge that even the relatively mild single instance of waterboarding he described constituted a form of torture and expressed reservations about whether the value of the information was worth the damage done to the United States' reputation.
Kiriakou's accounts of Abu Zubaydah's waterboarding, and the relatively mild nature of it, were widely repeated, and paraphrased,[15][16] and he became a regular guest expert on news and public affairs shows, on the topics of interrogation, and counter-terrorism.
On the second to last page of his 2010 memoir entitled The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA's War on Terror[2] Kiriakou acknowledged that he was not present during Abu Zubaydah's interrogations, and had no first-hand knowledge of Abu Zubaydah's waterboardings:
Charged
On Monday, January 23, 2012, Kiriakou was charged with repeatedly disclosing classified information to journalists, including the name of a covert CIA officer and information revealing the role of another CIA employee, Deuce Martinez, in classified activities. [19][20][21] In addition to leaking the names and roles of CIA officers, Kiriakou was alleged to have lied to the CIA to get his book published. [22]
On 5 April, he was indicted. The indictment charges Kiriakou with 1 count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, 3 counts of violating the Espionage Act, and 1 count of making false statements for allegedly lying to the Publications Review Board of the CIA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kiriakou#Whistleblowing_on_Torture
Whistleblowing on Torture
In December 2007 Kiriakou gave an interview to ABC News[10] where he was described as participating in the capture and questioning of Abu Zubaydah, who is accused of having been an aide to Osama Bin Laden. According to Kiriakou, based on what he had been told by the CIA, it had taken only a single brief instance of waterboarding to extract answers to an interrogator's questions from Abu Zubaydah.
...He was able to withstand the waterboarding for quite some time. And by that I mean probably 30, 35 seconds... and a short time afterwards, in the next day or so, he told his interrogator that Allah had visit him in his cell during the night and told him to cooperate.[11]
Eventually it became known that Abu Zubaydah had in fact been waterboarded at least 83 times,[12] and that little or no useful extra information may have been gained by "harsh methods".[13][14] However, even when Kiriakou was under the mistaken belief from the CIA that Zubayda was waterboarded only once, he acknowledge that even the relatively mild single instance of waterboarding he described constituted a form of torture and expressed reservations about whether the value of the information was worth the damage done to the United States' reputation.
Kiriakou's accounts of Abu Zubaydah's waterboarding, and the relatively mild nature of it, were widely repeated, and paraphrased,[15][16] and he became a regular guest expert on news and public affairs shows, on the topics of interrogation, and counter-terrorism.
On the second to last page of his 2010 memoir entitled The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA's War on Terror[2] Kiriakou acknowledged that he was not present during Abu Zubaydah's interrogations, and had no first-hand knowledge of Abu Zubaydah's waterboardings:
I wasn't there when the interrogation took place; instead, I relied on what I'd heard and read inside the agency at the time. [17][18]
Charged
On Monday, January 23, 2012, Kiriakou was charged with repeatedly disclosing classified information to journalists, including the name of a covert CIA officer and information revealing the role of another CIA employee, Deuce Martinez, in classified activities. [19][20][21] In addition to leaking the names and roles of CIA officers, Kiriakou was alleged to have lied to the CIA to get his book published. [22]
On 5 April, he was indicted. The indictment charges Kiriakou with 1 count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, 3 counts of violating the Espionage Act, and 1 count of making false statements for allegedly lying to the Publications Review Board of the CIA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kiriakou#Whistleblowing_on_Torture
Even his limited knowledge would have had a much bigger impact in 2004 and during the 2006 debate on the torture bill.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
223 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
OP
If we knew all of the dirty "war" secrets we'd be inclined to oppose military adventures abroad.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#5
They classify millions of documents that have nothing to do with the security of the nation.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#19
You're giving a perfect example of "whistleblowers" who are wrong about what they're leaking.
jeff47
Apr 2012
#113
No, it doesn't. We're talking about a situation where a whistleblower wants to leak. (nt)
jeff47
Apr 2012
#116
I don't think that information about possible crimes by members of our government
JDPriestly
Apr 2012
#32
When "Enhanced interrogation techniques" were approved, and no successful challenge has been brought
jeff47
Apr 2012
#201
Unfortunately, "enhanced interrogation" was rule legal, and nobody's successfully challenged that.
jeff47
Apr 2012
#122
How was torture ruled legal? Are we still part of the civilized world which signed
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#162
so when international crimes are committed, one should be quiet and "obey the law"?
robinlynne
Apr 2012
#83
But prosecuting whistleblowers under the Espionage IS unprecedented ...
markpkessinger
Apr 2012
#147
I think for two reasons. 1. They leaked classified information. And 2., the MIC
RKP5637
Apr 2012
#12
Title of thread refers to Obama's actions, not Bush. Held for political effect. Indicted now for
freshwest
Apr 2012
#55
President Obama can direct the DOJ to not prosecute whistleblowers .... unless he's a weak and
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#43
I want the Obama administration to not charge whistleblowers with espionage!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#61
Are you the Amazing Kreskin? You know that is what he wants? Really? How do you explain
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#76
That's how I remember it, Dragonfli. All of a sudden we're not supposed to care
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#160
So you can use english, just in a very limited way it would appear. At least it's a start.
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#104
So do you favor charging whistleblowers with espionage? Please try to stay on topic. Thanks.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#108
He seems to be pretty good at ignoring torture and the prosecution of torturers.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#80
So you think Obama should concentrate DOJ resources on medical pot dispensaries and whistleblowers.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#134
I don't want him to and I really wish he wouldn't when it comes to civil liberties.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#109
But, when done by the CIA murdererers and torturers, it's protected by our government.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#151
I certainly would prefer to vote for someone more progressive than Obama, but I am
teddy51
Apr 2012
#17
Somehow this story will end up in the bullshit half truth folder like many other Obama
uponit7771
Apr 2012
#27
expect a mighty and angry populace to arise this summer who is sick of wars, corruption
xiamiam
Apr 2012
#52
so sick of that ridiculous remark..on iggy for anyone who chooses that as their defense fyi..nt
xiamiam
Apr 2012
#53
You are a partisan? To what party do you belong, what state do you vote primary in? /nt
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#77
Right. Obama knows nothing about these prosecutions. If he did, he'd stop them!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#62
So, you are suggesting that the President should interfere with Justice Dept. prosecutions?
Freddie Stubbs
Apr 2012
#91
YES! EXACTLY! ALL Presidents indicate their priorities to the Justice Department.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#94
The Justice Department can reset its priorities and decide it doesn't have a firm "espionage" case
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#95
It's just a few, actually, the same few all the time. I am grateful to them because
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#191
Exposing torture is a crime..torturing or enabling torture isn't. Especially in campaign season.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#66
Exposing torture is a crime..torturing or enabling torture isn't. Especially in campaign season.
druidity33
Apr 2012
#128
...this, plus the continued war on Legalized Marijuana Dispensaries are some of the more infuriating
truebrit71
Apr 2012
#75
ACLU: In 2009 the Obama administration made 54 million decisions to classify government documents!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#86
maybe the real story should be: the high crimes they didn't bother to even investigate
G_j
Apr 2012
#101
There is a series of articles published daily by paid operatives trying to suppress the vote.
NYC_SKP
Apr 2012
#133
What's strange is some of those same paid operatives used to post anti-Bush articles..
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#136
Of course anyone who isn't deliriously happy with Obama is a right wing agitator.
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#161
Well, it's possible these posters are left wing agitators like that person...
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#167
Sort by replies. A lot of us post uncontroversial stuff that drops thanks to derision.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#181
The ones I see doing the most damage to DU are those who constantly try to put a positive spin..
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#182
And yet you see a reason for attacking good DUers who don't march in lockstep
brentspeak
Apr 2012
#175
So you are claiming that my posted article is written by a paid Republican operative
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#145
Expect a silent chorus of crickets..but more accusations of disloyalty for not toeing the party line
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#150
I strongly disagree with your assertion that critics of the Administration are paid disruptors.
Leopolds Ghost
Apr 2012
#203
For opposing it and helping to expose it with super secret documents! Throw the key away!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#166
How much hard labor time do you think this lefty liberal should get?
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#171
John Kiriakou lied about how many times Zubaydah was waterboarded. He's no lefty.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#173
So you believe he engaged in espionage on behalf of what nation or terrorist group?
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#196