4um: FBI, Congress: Sibel Edmonds case 'unclassified'

Former FBI translator and whistleblower Sibel Edmonds is the most gagged woman in US history. Attorney General John Ashcroft twice invoked the rarely used States Secrets Privilege in her case under the guise of classified secrets and protecting national security.

In a recent speech, Sibel again emphasized that the reason that she has been gagged is not for reasons of national security, but rather to cover-up criminality, treason, by high level US officials.

As evidence for this claim, Sibel explained that for the three months prior to Ashcroft blanket-gagging her case, the FBI was conducting unclassified briefings for Congress on the case.

In other words, from the beginning, neither Congress, nor the FBI, even considered that this information might be classified, let alone a 'national security' issue.

As Michael Ostrolenk, National Director of the Liberty Coalition, said: "The excuse of protecting national security is fallacious."

Sibel-Edmunds_MINE
(grfx love to One Pissed Off Liberal )

During the Q&A session after the speech, Sibel was asked where we should draw the line between disclosure and national security. Sibel responded thusly (mp3 - 3 mins)"

I can tell you, just from my case (and from other whistleblower cases that I've represented) it almost doesn't deal with any classified information at all. That's why they went and retroactively classified the information.

Even with Congress, one important thing that I have tried to emphasize - and unfortunately the mainstream media is not there really as far as these real issues are concerned... When I went to Congress, I didn't know which Congressmen, Congresswomen, Senators to go to! Because part of my case dealt with our representatives, (and this was based on some counter-intelligence operations) were getting cash bribery from foreign governments. And when I internally started reporting this, and it was not getting anywhere, this great agent that I worked with... said:

"Well, let's say you go to Congress. How are you going to determine who is clean to go to?"

And to me that was really sobering, because he told me:

Just based on Turkish counter-intelligence operations, you know of FOUR corrupt congressional people. Take a look at this room (of translators), we have the Chinese Department, we have, you know, the Arabic, including Saudi Arabia and everything. How many (other corrupt Congressfolk) do you think they have come across?

[snip]
When the two Senators, Senator Leahy and Senator Grassley, one Democrat and one Republican, they heard this information, the FBI discussed the entire case with them during an unclassified meeting - meaning the staff members present during that meeting, none - or most - of them didn't have clearances. So the FBI had decided in the beginning that this was not classified. What happened later? 3 months later? when the Attorney General says 'Oops, this is really going to hurt us' - meaning those who were guilty - 'so we're going to decide to classify it'

I'm a bit of a dunce, and I'd never fully appreciated this. Sibel has repeatedly mentioned that she often had to suggest that certain hearings be held inside SCIFs (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities) but I had presumed that was simply because the Senate Judiciary Committee staffers didn't really know what they were doing. But here we have the FBI - presumably Counter-Intelligence agents who likely know a thing or two about classification, secrecy and national security - confirming Sibel's allegations in unclassified sessions with Congress.

As I said, I'm a dunce. The ACLU timeline on Sibel's case reads:

"JUNE 2002: Senators Grassley and Leahy write the Justice Department Inspector General a letter asking specific questions about Edmonds' allegations and write that the FBI has confirmed many of her allegations in unclassified briefings. This letter is later retroactively classified in May 2004."

You'd think that I'd have understood this already. That's the beauty of the Sibel Edmonds case - there's always something 'new' to learn. And this week I learnt that even the FBI didn't think that the information in Sibel's case deserved to be classified, even as a precaution.

(The 75 min video of Sibel's recent ALA speech is available here (500meg) )

Let Sibel Edmonds Speak
Call Waxman. Demand public open hearings:
DC phone: (202) 225-3976
LA phone: 323 651-1040
Capitol switchboard phone: 800-828-0498

(let me know if you want to be added to my email list so that you are alerted whenever i post a new 'sibel' thread)

Hi Robin
Thank you for pinging me to this
I have been a passionate supporter of Sibel Edmonds since I read her first public interview,
back in June 2004
But when Ron Paul decided to run I switched my focus to helping him win the Presidency
I assumed a Ron Paul Presidency would be the solution to all the problems
Sibel has evidence of criminality at State Department, at DOD, at DOJ, and at FBI
The main two being State Dept and DOD
(FBI just does State's Dept's corrupt bidding)
She has evidence of serious criminality and traitorism in our government,
the people implicated span both administrations (Clinton's and Bush's)
her evidence goes back to '97
and members of both parties are implicated

This is all about greed
Stolen US military defense intelligence, smuggled nuclear material, etc are sold on black market
to highest bidder, including terrorists
According to Sibel, some members of our State Dept and some members of our DOD are involved in this

She has taken her evidence to every branch of government
Congress, the Dept of Justice, and the Courts
no one will touch it
she has taken it to both parties in Congress, no one will touch it

She is under gag order and cannot mention names
altho I read somewhere she recognized no more than 10 names in the FBI wiretaps she translated

I used to wonder why the whole of our government would engage in covering up
treason and criminality of just 10 people, no matter how big they are

But I think now it must be because of the depth and breadth of the corruption in the military industrial complex
Foreign policy to serve the greed of the military industrial complex is not new,
and is not actually against the law
What is new is their alliance with gangsters
The corrupt members of the State Dept work closely with this too

I really do think the only solution now is to get Ron Paul in the White House
For one thing it will instantly stop the military industrial complex from running our foreign policy
(to serve their greed)
Ron Paul plans to bring back all the troops in Iraq instantly, and wants to friends with all nations
And he will veto the obscene military budget

The big bonanza of money comes from our Treasury
that is what everyone wants to get their hands on
they get it either from the military budget
or they get it from foreign aid
(foreign aid is a scam, we give the money from our Treasury to foreign governments,
who turn around and use it to buy US armaments)
Ron Paul will veto all foreign aid, so this aspect of the corruption will end on the dime

I wish I could say I believed Ron Paul would put in such a courageous and honest Attorney General
that he would actually prosecute everyone Sibel has evidence on
but nothing about Ron Paul has given me the idea he is interested in going after corruption

I pray I am mistaken about this, as it is extremely dangerous
to allow traitors and criminals to flourish in our government

But it is possible that by reversing our foreign policy, and drastically cutting military budget
our entire government and entire foreign policy will not be corrupted by those
who are after those billions of dollars
they pick up from their nefarious activities

I remember your interest and agree Ron Paul is the best answer. Thank you for the good background info on Sibel.

by lukery

Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 05:20:55 AM PDT