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Pentagon Firing Link To Able Danger
Tampa Tribune ^ | Nov 10, 2005 | By RICHARD LARDNER

Posted on 11/10/2005 8:35:56 PM PST by zzen01

Edited on 11/10/2005 8:40:10 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

The Army Reserve officer who went public with details about a secret military unit called Able Danger is being fired from his post at the Defense Intelligence Agency, a move that also could end his military career.

Attorney Mark Zaid, representing Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, was informed last week that the agency rejected an Oct. 19 appeal of its decision to revoke his client's top-secret security clearance.

The rejection came nearly two years after Shaffer said he first told the Sept. 11 commission that Able Danger identified four of the Sept. 11 hijackers, including ringleader Mohamed Atta, as terrorists more than a year before the attacks.

Zaid said he cannot prove the action was based on Shaffer's conversations with the commission, but he said the speed of the agency's decision "denotes selective attention."

Without the clearance, Shaffer cannot perform his duties as a senior intelligence officer.

"I expect that Tony will receive a notice of termination also in record-breaking speed," Zaid said in an e-mail.

Shaffer, a 43-year-old native of Kansas City, Mo., began speaking to the media in August after the Sept. 11 commission said Atta had not been identified before the attacks. He has been on paid administrative leave since March 2004, when the Defense Intelligence Agency began looking into allegations he had broken rules.

The allegations against Shaffer ranged from making false statements and circumventing his chain of command to obtaining a medal under false pretenses.

An agency spokesman declined to comment on Shaffer's status, citing privacy concerns.

On Tuesday, Shaffer called the allegations "bogus," noting that the Army promoted him to lieutenant colonel in October 2004.

That promotion would not have occurred, he said, if the Army had concerns with his job performance or personal integrity.

But now, due to the finality of the agency's action, the Army might have little choice but to follow suit, thereby undercutting his uniformed career, Shaffer said.

Shaffer, however, is not without supporters in high places.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, last month asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to put any further action against Shaffer on hold until the Pentagon inspector general could review the agency's handling of the case.

Two of Shaffer's former supervisors have backed Shaffer. In separate statements, retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Harding and retired Army Col. Gerry York called Shaffer a model employee and an "outstanding" officer.

Figure Exposed

Ever wonder how much the United States spends every year on intelligence operations?

It's a closely guarded secret, but at a recent conference in San Antonio, a senior government employee told the audience the figure was $44 billion.

The comments made by Mary Margaret Graham, deputy director of national intelligence for collection, were first reported by U.S. News & World Report, which had sent a correspondent to cover the conference.

Details about intelligence spending are classified. Intelligence officials have argued that releasing the figures could damage national security.

But Steve Aftergood, a research analyst at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, has said there is no harm in disclosing the aggregate amount.

"Anyone who pretends that national security is jeopardized by the release of this figure is a fool," Aftergood said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: abledanger; aftergood; anthonyshaffer; atta; coverup; dod; fas; markzaid; pentagon; shaffer; steveaftergood; tonyshaffer; whitewash; zaid
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To: Mo1

Obviously the Pentagon also believes the Clinton adminstration should be protected at all costs.


21 posted on 11/11/2005 3:55:19 AM PST by prairiebreeze (Take the high road. You'll never have to meet a Democrat.)
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To: Mo1

I would think he still cannot talk about confidential information that he was privy to while employed, but am not certain.

This is beyond outrageous. And it's disappointing that no one from the administration has stepped forward to discuss this situation or to make sure that we can actually talk with the people involved who can clear up the questions.

If Clinton's administration had done this, we'd be furious and I'm trying not to be furious with Rumsfeld because I've always like him.


22 posted on 11/11/2005 4:11:12 AM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: ncountylee

The stench is really strong. Here's the time line from the article:

-Nov. '03: Shaffer tells the 9/11 Commission about Able Danger.

-March '04: Shaffer is placed on paid administrative leave by the DIA because it's investigating allegations that he broke some rules.

-Oct. '04: Shaffer is promoted to Lt. Col. despite the fact that the DIA is still investigating the allegations.

If there were really anything to the allegations, it's incomprehensible that he'd have been promoted in '04. Somebody has to be out to get him. It's really shocking that neither Bush nor Rumsfield has done anything about this.


23 posted on 11/11/2005 5:09:33 AM PST by libstripper
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To: zzen01

bttt


24 posted on 11/12/2005 12:18:19 AM PST by nopardons
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To: libstripper; Peach
How can this get go far when Rummy could have stopped it dead in it's tracks. I am furious with both Rummy and Bush for this travesty.

They can still stop it, but obviously they don't want to do so.
Shame on them both!

25 posted on 11/13/2005 6:24:31 AM PST by meema (I am a Conservative Traditional Republican, NOT an elitist, sexist , cynic or right wing extremist!)
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To: zzen01

This video will turn your stomach.

http://www.abledangerblog.com/2005/11/weldon-press-conference-video-online.html


26 posted on 11/13/2005 8:22:18 PM PST by CHICAGOFARMER (concealed carry)
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To: libstripper

Note that the CIA can't or won't say what Valerie Plame's status was (covert or not covert) all these years later, but the Lt. Col. is having his career terminated with breathtaking speed! Who is running the shop here?


27 posted on 12/19/2005 12:35:59 PM PST by Tallguy (When it's a bet between reality and delusion, bet on reality -- Mark Steyn)
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