Sibel Edmonds: National Security Employees form Whistleblower's Coalition

[shance]

National security employees form whistleblower's coalition
By Chris Strohm

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0405/042705c1.htm

More than 50 former and current government officials from more than a dozen agencies have formed a new coalition to protect and support national security whistleblowers.

The group, called the National Security Whistleblower's Coalition, is planning a series of meetings with House and Senate lawmakers and a press conference on Thursday to put forward its proposals. The coalition was spearheaded by FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds, who was fired after alleging security breaches, mismanagement and possible espionage within the FBI's translation service in late 2001 and early 2002.


"We believe that the biggest and the most important thing is individual accountability," Edmonds said Wednesday. "As long as a few bad apples are allowed to hide behind the wall of the agencies, you can't pass any law, any regulations. It's not going to do any good. Laws are meaningless without accountability."


Government Executive first reported on the emergence of a national security whistleblower's movement last year after the 9/11 Commission released its final report on intelligence failures.


Whistleblowers associated with the coalition come from agencies such as the FBI, CIA, National Security Agency, Defense Department, Energy Department, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and former U.S. Customs Service.


"I call them left-wing, right-wing, no-wing, I don't care. We all have a common cause," Edmonds said. "Tomorrow we are going to be coming in the hundreds. And then we are going to come in the thousands. How long are they going to ignore us?"


(snip)


The Justice Department's inspector general issued a summary report in January concluding that the FBI failed to properly investigate charges made by Edmonds. The report also concluded that the FBI fired Edmonds mainly for bringing forth the accusations. Edmonds has said that her information, if aggressively pursued, would lead to criminal prosecutions.


Edmonds said the new coalition will seek legislation that empowers national security whistleblowers to sue individual agency managers who retaliate against them or block investigations.


(snip)


If Congress does not take action, Edmonds said, the coalition is prepared to run newspaper ads publicizing the names and salaries of individual managers who are alleged to have committed wrongdoing.


"Without individual accountability, we will not bring about any reform," Edmonds said.

[Mojambo]

1. This is an incredibly exciting and important development n/t

[shance]

2. It really is. These individuals are taking steps that are so important

right now in pursuing some much needed accountability.

Kudos to them.

[truth2power]

3. Re: Sibel Edmonds...

Ok, I lurk over in the astrology forum a lot. And someone posted about a psychic saying that "a woman" would take Bush down. This was awhile ago, and I don't think I could find the thread....

But do I dare to hope Edmonds might be the one? Please, oh please.... :evilgrin:

[shance]

4. There's a thought. Seems to me there have been many great individuals

seeking accountability from the Administration and have sought answers that have yet to be received.

I tend to think it will be those who have been arrogant and have continued to push harmful agendas on almost all Americans that will bring themselves 'down'.

[shance]

5. kick*

n/t