Kerry Was Right: Ex-CIA Agent Says US Missed bin Laden in Afghanistan

[kerrygoddess]

Kerry Was Right: Ex-CIA Agent Says US Missed bin Laden in Afghanistan
January 4th, 2006

During the 2004 presidential campaign, and recently on Imus in the Morning, John Kerry has contended that senior US commanders failed to capture Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora because of an over-reliance on unreliable Afghan warlords and he “accused the Bush administration of allowing the al-Qaeda leader to escape by not sending American troops to the battlefield.”

At the time, retired general Tommy Franks, the former head of US Central Command who ran the Afghan campaign, denied that the military knew of Mr bin Laden’s presence and accused Mr Kerry of relying on “distortions of history.”

“We do not know to this day whether Mr bin Laden was at Tora Bora in December 2001,” Gen Franks wrote in the New York Times during the presidential race. “Tora Bora was teeming with Taliban and Qaeda operatives, many of whom were killed or captured, but Mr bin Laden was never within our grasp.”

One former CIA agent, Gary Berntsen, disputes this account from General Franks in a his new book “Jawbreaker“. He says he “told senior commanders of Mr bin Laden’s presence and arguing that Afghan allies who had militia fighters in the region allowed Mr bin Laden to escape with about 200 Saudi and Yemeni fighters into Pakistan.”

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1547

[RagingInMiami]

1. Bush wouldn't want to put an old family friend on trial, would he?

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Family secrets would come out

[still_one]

2. of course he was right

but when he needed to be tough during the campaign he wasn't

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Yep, defeat from the jaws of victory

I wonder how, or if, history will relegate Mr. Kerry.

[still_one]

5. One thing I am sure of

history will not look kindly on what bush has done, and that alone will exonerate the distortions about Kerry

[karynnj]

13. It will depend on what forces win

If the RW is stopped, Kerry will, at minimum, will be seen as a person who put his future at risk several times in his life to fight against the RW - usually at very low odds of succeeding because it was the right thing to do. Would you have fought Nixon in 1971? (If you weren't of age then it was a time of paranoia and people were scared of the government.) Would you have investigated whether an extremely popular President was condoning bringing drugs into the country? Would you have ignored your entire party and brought done the terrorist's bank - knowing this would clearly not help your career.

Tapes and records will exist of the 2004 election. If scholars opt to look at it they will have at minimum the following primary sources:
- the three debates
- the conventions
- CSPAN coverage of the rallies for both Bush and Kerry
- Kerry's war records, Tour of Duty
- SBVT lies
- Media coverage (places like the Broadcast Museum archieve this stuff and transcripts exist)
- The election controversy will likely never by settled for sure, but more may be known
- Kerry's Senate record including the past year
- the Kerry blog was supposedly saved and archieved as the 1st official blog
- Statements like Ridge's that acknowledge that politics played a role in terror levels being raised.
- Information on Teresa's accomplishments vs media coverage

(conjecture - what if the last week OBL tape is found to have either been fake or say in government possession for months - it mentions Kerry so it couldn't be earlier than March.)

My guess is that this information will lead to showing that the cable and network media and the government improperly backed Bush creating a very unlevel playing field - and that in spite of this Bush had to cheat to win. (even if only through "irregularities"

Kerry is, to the best of my knowlege, one of the most principles, honorable people in government. So, the worst that may be said is that he didn't win. (Consider that McGovern who lost badly is not considered badly.)

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. I generally agree with you.. however

I am concerned about his post-election actions. The lack of follow up and such.

[karynnj]

38. I disagree

Within weeks of losing:
- He was actively doing his job as a Senator.
- He began working with other Democrats to address the question of how to fix the system
- His brother's summary of Ohio reflected their view that there were irregularities and voter suppression in Ohio - but there was no smoking gun they could take to court. Both Kerrys are excellent lawyers and there were other lawyers who likely reviewed the situation too. Just because MCM says it is so, doesn't mean it is.
- He has been extremely active in working for the Democratic party - by reaching out with his email a few weeks after the election when people were pretty depressed urging people to stay involved. He has appeared with many Democratic candidates and raised money for them.

On a personal level, the grace and dignity with which he went back to work and stayed in the public eye as much as he has show the strength of his character.

[MH1]

8. Once again

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x2555

"Kerry did not respond" is a myth.

[karynnj]

10. On this one you are not being fair - On a daily basis, Kerry

did say that at Tora Bora where we knew we had OBL surrounded we outsourced the effort to get him to Afghan warlords who only weeks before were allied with the Taliban.

This is from memory, because he said this so many times - in words very close to this- that I can almost hear the words in my head. When an earlier book claimed the same thing in spring of this year, MTP actually played one clip of Kerry, wearing his barn jacket, saying this and asked the CIA author if Kerry was fight - the answer, "yes".

Kerry was tough - but the MSM both said he couldn't get his message out and gave him little coverage.

[keopeli]

4. Many of us at DU knew this way back when it happened

The truth is that no number of books or articles or essays or speeches are going to quash the desire of most americans to believe we don't make mistakes.

If you're a member of the Reality Based culture, then it was easy to see at the time that failing to capture bin laden was either a deliberate move to perpetuate the war on terror, or a blunder so great that it will survive in history books in perpetuity.

[EVDebs]

9. Kidney dialysis equip/supplies and RFIDs

Using RFIDs, see new book Spychips by Katherine Albrecht

www.motherjones.com/interview/2005/12/albrecht.html

and www.spychips.com

you have to ask yourself, if they can track me and the underware I just bought from Wal-Mart, using high tech methods available to intelligence agencies far before the general public would have exposure to them, WHY can't they pinpoint OBL's location ?

"" March 17, 2000: Bin Laden Reportedly Ill Complete 911 Timeline


Reports suggest bin Laden appears weak and gaunt at an important meeting of supporters. He may be very ill with liver ailments, and is seeking a kidney dialysis machine. It is believed he gets the dialysis machine in early 2001. He is able to talk, walk with a cane, and hold meetings, but little else. The ISI is said to help facilitate his medical treatment.
""

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/entity.jsp?id=1521846767-649 (scroll down)


Seems they have me down pat with RFIDs, credit card and GPS locator in any post 1996 auto, everywhere I go...why couldn't they track OBL ? US citizens are now more easily tracked and monitored than any budding terrorist. In fact, IF terrorists got hold of this tech THEY would be more empowered.

But that, again, seems reserved for US use in stifling dissenters by the deliberate placement of bad data into someone's database (now offshored in the Bahamas with Global Information Group Ltd., a subsidiary of Poindexter's TIA operations).

Who is checking the background checkers ?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1128/p13s02-wmgn.html

Without checks and balances, accountability, or even Congressional oversight with legal recourse--since it's all done offshore, your friendly intel services can screw anyone they see fit. As long as it isn't a real terrorist it now seems apparent !

Unless he really is a case of agent provacateur, 'Third Option'/Ted Shackley, PNAC-'NewPearlHarbor', part-of-the-pretext for war. Then he gets away to keep the ball rolling. Also, you'd think the Saudis would have aided in his capture/death by now, huh ?

The joke was all on us US citizens. We've lost our freedom for the sake of 'security'. What did Ben Franklin say about that ?

[wakeme2008]

6. that is only HALF the story

Just finished Jawbreaker and Tenet pulled Gary Berntsen out as he was pressing Franks for 600 Rangers and replaced him with somebody he "trusted".

This is the SECOND TIME Gary Berntsen was pulled out of Afghanistan as he was closing in on bin Laden, Tenet also pulled him out BEFORE 9-11....

[orleans]

7. so when does mr. "hula jaw" take back his medal of freedom

he gave tenent?

riddle me that one

[blm]

12. I can't believe Berntsen still acts as if Bush isn't part of the whole set

up. Guess he never connected the BCCI dots.

[frogmarch]

11. At every opportunity

Kerry needs to hammer the point home that Bushco allowed bin Laden to escape.

I think Bushco let bin Laden get away so they could continue to use him as an icon in their war on terrrr, just as they're using Zarqawi. Putting a specific face, or faces, on terrrr makes terrrr seem more real. Bushco dangles iconoclastic terrists like bin Laden and Zarqawi in front of our noses to give us someone specific to chase, kind of like the old carrot-in-front-of-the-horse trick.

Keep at it, Kerry! Expose the truth.

[blm]

15. He did it at every campaign appearance since early 2002. Even in debates,

but the media allowed BushInc to throw Tommy Franks and other lying goons up without questioning their facts.

Media KNEW Bin Laden escaped and Kerry was telling the truth, but they gave BushInc every opportunity to lie about it without further questioning by the journalists.

[Dr Fate]

23. The DEM nominee needs to say things like what you are saying in '08.

If the media is going to allow lies to be repeated, then DEMs need to be ready to call them on it to their faces every time. Think Bush Sr. v. Rather and how the public ate that up.

We cant keep blaming the media- the Democratic leaders need to confront them or do somthing about it one way or the other.

[second edition]

16. Thank you for posting this. Kerry's is proven correct once again.n/t

[Dr Fate]

17. he needs to go on TV and say : "I was right, Bush and the media lied."

And use the word "lied."

When questioned about his use of the word "lied", he should say "I'll let you media people split hairs over what we should call all the false information you presented during the election..."

"Putting out false information on purpose, or allowing to be repeated unchallenged is indeed "lying"- what do you call it, Wolf/Chris/Tim?"

I love Kerry, but he is way too "nuanced" to ever frame it in a way that normal people could understand.

[kerrygoddess]

18. Hmmm

I've heard so many in the political realm explain about the implications of using the word lied. It seems it just isn't done. It sucks really - I agree it would be nice to hear it. It's not about just Kerry being nuanced, they all don't use the word.

I also think that normal people understand that misled means lied to...

[Dr Fate]

19. Tell that to Al Gore. He was called a liar every day.

They did not accuse him of misleading, they called him a liar. Clinton too.

I still maintain that Kerry and the others need to be blunt.

"Well Katie, its simple, Bush was lying. Lying is when you repeatedly say things that are not true. Bush repeatedly says things that are not true- does he not? This (insert issue of day here) is no differnet that dozens of time before- you simply cant believe a word he says."

Instead of backing down, challenge them to explain how what they did was not indeed "lying."

[LittleClarkie]

21. I did kinda like it when he called them Nixonian though

that was fun.

[Dr Fate]

22. I dunno if bluntness is the answer or not- but I'd love to see him try it.

I'll bet Democrats would be suprised if they would just try it.

Your averange Swing-voter or Fence-Sitter has no idea what Nixonian means. I'm just saying...

[kerrygoddess]

26. I disagree

They want have worked to dumb voters down, but let's give the populus some credit for having some brains. I think swing voters know darn well what Nixonian means.

[Dr Fate]

32. Well, in any event- Kerry was right and Bush still is wrong.

Sorry to hijack the thread, actually.

I just like it when DEMs really come out swinging.

I mostly like what I have seen from Kerry over the past several months- I'd love for him to bring this up.

[ohtransplant]

20. How many times has Kerry's opinion of events been proved right...

and *'s version of events been pr oven to pure b*llsh*t?

I'd love to see a score card tracking all the times they said Kerry was wrong - dead wrong - and now we know (We knew it then.) how many times he was right on the money.

This country made a horrible mistake reelecting that megalomaniac.

Add this one to my file Agent Mike.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Yep

But hey as long as the gay's can't marry right. :sarcasm:

[politicasista]

27. kick for positive and productive 411

Thanks KG! :kick:

[wisteria]

28. All of the statements, predictions, and truths Kerry spoke of

during the election keep adding up. here appears to be quite a list and it just keeps on growing. Hopefully, some of us are keeping track and can get this information out to the general public.

[kerrygoddess]

29. The Kerry was Right list!

It's going to be a long one !

[sirjohn]

30. Kerry was right about everything

The wealking just couldn't deliver votes.

Coward.

[Dr Fate]

31. The coward and weakling is George Bush.

It is one thing to say the Kerry had some bad strategy in '04- but you are just trying to start trouble.

Kerry gets better & better- he could still improve- but what you said is garbage.

[sirjohn]

33. Er, he lost. n/t

[Dr Fate]

34. I said that George Bush is the coward and weakling.

And that your characterization of Kerry is garbage.

Terra 'lert!

[sirjohn]

35. And I said Kerry was right about everything.

But he caved to the polls.

How ridiculous was it to present himself as an anti-war war hero. Where is the constituency for that position? Er, positions. One foot on the dock, another in the boat.

In case you haven't noticed, he's not the President.

Garbage is as garbage does. Without winning elections, we're the minority. If that's what you want, justify defeat, but it's still defeat.

[Dr Fate]

36. Make up your mind- he is either right about everything or he is not.

ridiculous, coward & weakling are the words you used.

THe Kerry '04 run was flawed, but he is a solid Democratic Senator who has been doing his job well.

[sirjohn]

39. I made up my mind. Kerry couldn't. n/t

[Dr Fate]

40. Kerry was 100% right. You, Bush and the media were and are wrong.

Get over it.

[kerrygoddess]

42. He certainly was...

on many counts.

[sandnsea]

37. Murtha seems to do it just fine

A tough warrior who is against the war. As does Clark. Why not Kerry???

Your comments are the kind of stupidity that cost us the election, I don't think I was ever in a group of Democrats where I didn't hear garbage like that at least once. Costs us credibility, time and again.

[Vektor]

41. Hmmm... you told me right here:

That he won!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2354560&mesg_id=2355544

Which is it? Did he win, or did he lose?