Baker's ISG: Shilling for the Saudis [Long, good review of the ISG contributors]

American Thinker ^ | 12-19-06 | Ed Lasky

[pinz-n-needlez]

That's exactly the conclusion I was coming to when I read the report.

I always have thought you were pretty smart and very insightful. ;-)

Bush was playing Texas Hold-em and called Baker's bluff...

[Wuli]

"Raymond Close: Listed as a "Freelance Analyst and Commentator on Middle East Politics." One might expect a bit more of a reputable-sounding title and background for such a high-level Commission, no? In reality, Close is a former CIA official who served in Saudi Arabia. Upon his retirement almost 30 years ago, he went to work for the Saudi security agency, one of the most ruthless such groups in the world. He reportedly earned millions from the Saudis. Many of his colleagues looked askance at this behavior."

This is not the first notice of these facts that I have read. But, my strong question on those facts remains - how in the hell is such an action permitted by our idiots in the WH at the time and since. If our CIA station chief in Russia retired and went to work in Russia for their intelligence agency, I'd revoke his citizenship and I'd be forced to get fire, reassign, or have 24/7/365 monitoring of every US employee he knew. I find what close was permitted to do as simply insane.

[SJackson]

This is not the first notice of these facts that I have read. But, my strong question on those facts remains - how in the hell is such an action permitted by our idiots in the WH at the time and since.

It's the way our government does business. I don't remember the details, but Clinton signed an executive order soon after taking office barring appointees from taking a assortment of jobs for countries/companies they dealt with on the job, then rescinded it before leaving office.

[SJackson]

And who's going to complain? The media moves in an out of government as well.

[Wuli]

Close was the CIA station chief in Saudi Arabia on the day he retired and became a "consultant" for Saudi Arabia's intelligence services. The security access he had was not the same as someone in "the media". Was your comment meant as a joke.

[Wuli]

"It's the way our government does business."

That a United States CIA Station Chief for a country resigns while in that country and the same day becomes a private-citizen "consultant" for the intelligence service of that country??

[SJackson]

Close was the CIA station chief in Saudi Arabia on the day he retired and became a "consultant" for Saudi Arabia's intelligence services. The security access he had was not the same as someone in "the media". Was your comment meant as a joke.

I think the practice is disgusting, and should be illegal. I mention the media because they're among the ones who should be blowing the whistle, but they do the same thing.