Posted on 09/21/2001 7:50:33 PM PDT by kattracks
U.S. reporters familiar with the whereabouts of terrorist ringleader Osama bin Laden, who killed at least 6,700 Americans in attacks on New York and Washington last week, are refusing to tell what they know to U.S. intelligence agencies, a former Reagan administration national security official charged Friday night.
"We know that there are American correspondents, people who work for news bureaus, both print and broadcast, who have interviewed Osama bin Laden," said former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, now a Fox News Channel consultant, in an interview on the network's "Hannity & Colmes."
"I asked one of them today, 'Have you talked to the CIA to tell them exactly where you were?'" North said. "And his answer was, 'No, I'm a journalist.'"
"I find that to be reprehensible," the former Reagan official added. "He's enjoying the blessings of this country but he won't tell the CIA where he interviewed Osama bin Laden."
North offered the troubling revelation after "H & C" co-host Sean Hannity asked him about the controversy over Cablevision's News 12 in New York, where station management currently prohibits newscasters from wearing patriotic symbols on-air.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Yes, silly you. After the Church Commission in 1975, the CIA was explicitly forbidden (in law) to use journalist cover.
Now the journalists jump on the CIA for "dropping the ball".
Do you really think that cruel foreign despots and evil warlords give our journalists a "pass" because of this stupid law?
Did you not consider that there is no such law preventing the Russians, French, Israelis, British, Dutch, Bolivians, Chinese etc etc etc from using journalist cover? That the despots still consider all journalists to be spies?
Sometimes seemingly intelligent folks say such laughable things.
Yeah right and where's Hoffa?
Prior to 1975 CIA field operatives were permitted to pretend to be journalists for obscure magazines. It was useful, it got access, it was a tool. Like pretending to be a salesman or field engineer. This is an SOP of EVERY other iintelligence service in the WORLD, except for our "pure as the snow by law" CIA.
Now, our talking heads condemn the CIA, which must spy with a hand tied. For pete's sake, they are not allowed to associate with nasty people any more! Then the media says "why didn't the CIA know what was going on in the terrorist groups?"
And they see no irony.
As far as the journalists who may have info on OBL but will not pass it on to the CIA, can you imagine a reporter stiffing the FBI about Japanese troop movements in 1942?
"IT'S A WAR!! GET USED TO IT!!"
And if im not mistaken, the CIA never breaks the rules. But what would Ollie North know about that?
Ollie North. On "Hannity & Colmes". Last night.
As far as the journalists who may have info on OBL but will not pass it on to the CIA, can you imagine a reporter stiffing the FBI about Japanese troop movements in 1942?
No I can't. I also can't imagine a friendly reporter in 1942 either in Japanese territory or expecting to be under Japanese jurisdiction any time soon. Our 1942 man was in a position to help both himself and his country without putting himself or any friendlies -- military or civilian -- at risk.
I understand and applaud your focus on victory, but surely you can appreciate the ethic that strives to protect legitimately non-combattant civilians as much as possible -- including by executing out-of-uniform guerillas and spies. On a per capita basis, Vietnam was surely a far dirtier war than WWII, largely because the Viet Cong were hiding among the peasants. I'm told American soldiers sometimes found themselves doing some mighty unpleasant things, convinced that they had no choice. Do we really want to encourage more of the same now?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.