the source for FOX on Bergdahl's captivity

[KT2000]

If the Daily Mail is to be believed, the source for the story about Bergdahl's captivity is a private spy company. They gave FOX the "secret papers." This may be another great example of privatization in action.

"It is a top-secret private firm of former intelligence operatives subcontracted by the Defense Department to obtain ground reports from every corner of the globe.

Using a source within the 200 or so Taliban captors who kept Bergdahl, the former spies compiled reports for the US Central Command, or CENTCOM, which is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, from November 2009, to May 31, 2010.

Eclipse is operated by Duance R. Clarridge, who used to be a senior operations officer for the CIA in the 1980s.

However, he is best remembered for being indicted for lying to Congress about his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. He was pardoned by President George H. Bush in December 1992, during his trial."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2650070/Bergdahl-declared-warrior-Islam-played-soccer-captors-Taliban-wandering-roadside-cursing-America-revealed-psychologists-helping-regain-control-emotions.html

[herding cats]

1. NYT did a write up about Clarridge and his Eclipse Group in 2011

It's a longish article but it lays out his relationship between FOX News and O. North since he's been fired by the US military. He's now a pseudo spy for profit selling iffy material for the right price.

Former Spy With Agenda Operates a Private C.I.A.

His dispatches — an amalgam of fact, rumor, analysis and uncorroborated reports — have been sent to military officials who, until last spring at least, found some credible enough to be used in planning strikes against militants in Afghanistan. They are also fed to conservative commentators, including Oliver L. North, a compatriot from the Iran-contra days and now a Fox News analyst, and Brad Thor, an author of military thrillers and a frequent guest of Glenn Beck.

For all of the can-you-top-this qualities to Mr. Clarridge’s operation, it is a startling demonstration of how private citizens can exploit the chaos of combat zones and rivalries inside the American government to carry out their own agenda.

<>

The private spying operation, which The New York Times disclosed last year, was tapped by a military desperate for information about its enemies and frustrated with the quality of intelligence from the C.I.A., an agency that colleagues say Mr. Clarridge now views largely with contempt. The effort was among a number of secret activities undertaken by the American government in a shadow war around the globe to combat militants and root out terrorists.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/world/23clarridge.html?pagewanted=all

[KT2000]

2. this says it all

"it is a startling demonstration of how private citizens can exploit the chaos of combat zones and rivalries inside the American government to carry out their own agenda."

I guess it can now be said that FOX has their own private spy agency.

[herding cats]

5. I think it's more an extension of their propaganda machine.

After all, their accuracy rate wasn't decent even when they were contracting for he government. I doubt FOX is bothering with any vetting of the information. Why should they? They don't have any obligation to report facts.

[OverseaVisitor]

3. What do you expect from Fox News

Here is a link from 2012 March.

Man 2 years later deal go through and BOOM all the hate just flow.

[KT2000]

7. thanks for this

it deserves an OP!

[pinboy3niner]

4. Raises the question: Why the hell are we contracting privately for intel?

With the widely-touted and generously-funded U.S. government intel capabilities, why would we even turn to a private contractor? Especially one that has its own agenda?

[KT2000]

6. Exactly -

It appears some of the info FOX was presenting came from Eclipse while they were under contract. Certainly their contract would not allow this. I would like to see this private contractor investigated and held to account before Congress.

[GusBob]

8. Bullshit for sale

Selling them the bullshit they want to hear. How can they verify it truth or fiction? Pretty easy sell and no other possible corroborated source