That's him in the middle.
Posted on 07/08/2004 1:21:25 PM PDT by jjm2111
He helped write the Book "The Hunt For Bin Laden" along with the author [I cannot think of his name] of the book "Green Berets".
I remember seeing this Idema character on Imus/MSNBC promoting the book.
That's him in the middle.
There's a lot of controversy about the accuracy of that book.
This too sounds suspicious.
See?? Lots of 40-somethings would love to help in the WOT, "one way or the other."
Looks like they should have accepted the one way. ;-)
I know this guy. He is absolutely, completely a fraud. Even the stuff in Robin Moore's book about him is mostly fiction -- HE was Robin's researcher's sole source for it. In fact, wanted posters of him were posted in Bagram for months, directing the MPs and USAF SPs to grab him, before the Afghans finally bagged him.
He's a felon. Go to www.bop.gov and search for Jonathan Keith Idema in the inmate locator. He did five years inside, on top of whatever part of his sentence was paroled. (Wire Fraud).
He has represented himself as an Army major, a special forces operator, a former member of the unit known as Delta, and a member of US intelligence agencies. And I can say with 100% certainty that these claims are all untrue. He did serve briefly in the Army special forces - 15-20 years ago. He was caught stealing in Phase I of training. He was barred from re-enlistment as a result of other misconduct. He then showed up in the Reserves, with his bad paper from active duty miraculously missing from his file. He left there under a cloud also.
He is a legend in his own mind who has been in Afghanistan on and off since 2001 and a long list of NGOs, REAL SF operators, and REAL intelligence agencies have been looking for him, on a "not to interfere" basis with other missions. I would bet money that at least one of the phone numbers on his card belongs to a satellite phone that he borrowed from a Knights of Malta sponsored charity three years ago -- they are still looking for it.
Let's let the NDS hang on to him and do their investigation. If it turns out he has committed crimes under Afghan law, well, when he gets out he can write a book on comparative penology: from the inmate viewpoint.
The USG does not generally post wanted posters (complete with a mis-spelling, so you know a GI made it!) of its agents conducting "black ops." If any.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
His full name (as the Bureau of Prisons will cheerfully confirm, not to mention enough legal filings to choke John Edwards) is Jonathan Keith Idema. He has always gone by "Keith" to friends (?) and family and the world at large. Starting with Afghanistan, he went all candle-stein with "Jack."
In Robin Moore's "Hunt for Bin Laden" he is referred to by about three variations on his name.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
To hear a guy use different takes on his name sets off alarm bells for me.
He featured prominently in a top-selling book, "The Hunt for Bin Laden," which says he fought for 10 months alongside the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
Yeah. These are the kinds of shoe-scrape we'd have all over the Middle East if that idiot Ron Paul's plan of chasing bin Laden with Letters of Marque and Reprisal hadn't been laughed out of Congress.
Kindly note Criminal Number 18F's report on Mr. Idema. It seems that he's done hard time in the States.
Yeah, I read it when it first came out.
Great blow by blow of the initial stages of the War in Afghanistan, especially the destruction of Taliban forces trying to retake a town just north of Khandahar that had driven the small Taliban controllers out. But it taipers off into my service's Johnson is longer than yours and the A-typical Caucasian, Male, Dramaqueen [sorry but it's true] chest thumping/excuse making once it becomes clear that Bin Laden wont be snagged right away.
Started out great...but I never finished it.
Thanks for the information.
"As always, should you, or any of your IM Force, be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of the matter."
Well, mostly he's been Keith. But I suppose if I had done hard time I might have an alias or two also!
He'll be back on the talk shows I'm sure. But it might be a few years. I don't think the Afghans would behead him (although if he is responsible for the disappearance of Abdul Latif, and Latif is dead, all bets are off).
I do notice that these mercenaries and soldier of fortune types very often had less than sterling service records. Some are deserters; I think Costas Georghiou ("Col. Callan" of Angola -- now I am dating myself) was a dishonourable discharge after court-martial from the British Army. At the rank of Corporal, IIRC.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Investigation/phony_sergeant_040707-1.html
At least Keith did go to Special Forces school, and ultimately graduated, even if he never worked out on a team afterward...
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
I love FR.
I guess my original assesment was WAY wrong. I hate phony baloney military types; with a passion. A guy who drives a truck is more my brother that some wannabe SEAL. Bah! Thanks for the info
Thanks.
Very interesting and useful.
What was the bounty on bin Laden?
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