Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pentagon Firing Link To Able Danger
The Tampa Tribune ^ | November 10, 2005 | RICHARD LARDNER

Posted on 11/10/2005 1:37:14 PM PST by libstripper

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

(Excerpt) Read more at tampatrib.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abledanger
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: libstripper

Why is the mere existence of a unit made top secret?

The answer is, that classification, which once had a real utility, is now a political tool and something that bungling Pentagon bureaucrats can use to avoid accountability to the taxpaying public.


41 posted on 11/10/2005 2:56:45 PM PST by henderson field
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: middie
While that may be your subjective evaluation, objectively, it is not a correct assessment.

Well, Steel told us why he thought that was the case, how about filling us in on why this isn't so?

I know of at least one officer that was promoted to general that I wouldn't let manage a Dairy Queen under the Clinton reign. And yet, there she was...

42 posted on 11/10/2005 2:59:24 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: libstripper
This whole thing stinks where are our elected reps in time of need?
43 posted on 11/10/2005 3:07:14 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support Able Danger and Lt.Col Shaffer,Condi Rice/VP in 08--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: YOUGOTIT
The concept alone of Able Danger never ever was top secret!! Shaffer used "data mining" a technique using high speed computers to detect al qaida members by using phone numbers,airline tickets etc. electric bills phone,water bills non-secrret stuff.
No top secret stuff here.
44 posted on 11/10/2005 3:10:26 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support Able Danger and Lt.Col Shaffer,Condi Rice/VP in 08--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Alia

Thanks


45 posted on 11/10/2005 3:10:26 PM PST by middie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: middie
With a single glowing exception, your recitation of the Pentagon game played by upwardly mobile, ambitious young and mid-level officers. The sole exception is the comment on ''Left of center'' officers receiving better assignments because of what you perceived as their political orientation. While that may be your subjective evaluation, objectively, it is not a correct assessment.

=================================================================

Respect your assessment, sir, but also respectfully disagree.

I'm not talking about promotion boards. Promotability depends on the billets you're appointed to, as well as your execution in those billets (obviously). If you don't get the billets, you'll be behind your peers.

In my case, I was promoted ahead of my peers because I had picked billets no one else wanted, which were considered the "kiss of death" for promotion when I was an 03 & 04. A sea-change in priorities within the Navy occurred as well as a brief demographic dip, which put me on the fast track. I just happened to fit the profile the boards were looking for when I was promoted. Other than that, I was an "average" officer.

From conversations I had with a few guys I knew at the Pentagon) as well as some more personal things I can't reveal, I held the firm conclusion in 1995 that CO, XO, and certain department head billets had new "political" criteria attached to them after '94. I was never passed over or failed to be selected to the billets I pursued, but I'm sure that the entire process - from the composition of promotion boards to billet detailing - changed radically.

Let me put it another way, using Tailhook as but one example: A lot of very good officer's where cashiered. Would you rather have had 4-5 FITREP's signed by one of these guys, or some politically correct bum in the Pentagon who attended all the correct parties, conferences, and social events. Would a guy who had the "wink-wink" correct political attitude be a better asset during your next promotion board than a warrior who was just cashiered for "Tailhook" occurring on his watch?

The honest answer is that promotion depends upon more than just competence. You have to be selected to the right billets, and the board must be inclined to recognize that your demonstrated competence is of value to the service. That changed in my favor between 1989-1994, and it killed a lot of guys when it changed in the leftist-favor between 1994-2000.

SFS

46 posted on 11/10/2005 3:11:04 PM PST by Steel and Fire and Stone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: libstripper

"How low can we go, Mr. Speaker? How low can we go??"


47 posted on 11/10/2005 3:11:26 PM PST by HitmanLV (Listen to my demos for Savage Nation contest: http://www.geocities.com/mr_vinnie_vegas/index.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy
Exactly!!! That is the question to ask!! Where are our top leaders and why aren't they responding to a call for justice!!!
48 posted on 11/10/2005 3:11:50 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support Able Danger and Lt.Col Shaffer,Condi Rice/VP in 08--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici

All I can say is that the many years I spent there and through first-hand observation of the scene, left-of-center or right-of-center made absolutely no difference in either promotions or assignments. Now, that's not the same as saying some dunder-heads advanced beyond their capabilities. Simply put, one's politics was totally irrelevant......


49 posted on 11/10/2005 3:14:23 PM PST by middie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: TomGuy
"a full and complete investigation will implicate many, from both parties"
Too bad!!! You don't throw away a man like Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, a hero, because some political hacks might get burned. That is their tough sh!t!!
50 posted on 11/10/2005 3:14:27 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support Able Danger and Lt.Col Shaffer,Condi Rice/VP in 08--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy
I am beginning to DESPISE the Republicans as much as Democrats!!

How cute, you still think there are two different parties. ;-)

51 posted on 11/10/2005 3:17:13 PM PST by Wormwood (Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: truth_seeker
The military leadership are historically non-political.

Two Words for you....(Ashley Wilkes) General Clark.</sarcasm>

52 posted on 11/10/2005 3:18:22 PM PST by itsahoot (Any country that does not control its borders, is not a country. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: All
Who cares where AD goes.Let the chips fall.
All this is gonna take to get some traction is for enough 911 victim relatives to start raising hell with the press and their elected reps and this thing could hit the fan. Why it isn't happening I don't know.
53 posted on 11/10/2005 3:23:40 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support Able Danger and Lt.Col Shaffer,Condi Rice/VP in 08--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Alia
I hate to say it, but it looks like Able Danger is going to get swept right under the rug.

Ummm.. I think it is now going to get even MORE attention.

From your mouth to God's ear! This is one of the worst scandals in the history of the Republic. I'm just worried too many powerful people have lined up against it, and as usual, not enough Republicans have the stones to dig in and go after it.

54 posted on 11/10/2005 3:26:51 PM PST by Uncle Vlad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy
"I am beginning to despise the Republicans as much as Democrats".

So are we. My husband just said "What the hell is wrong with Republican politicians". I said "Who the hell knows. We voted the bums in and look what they do".

55 posted on 11/10/2005 3:49:59 PM PST by maxwellp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: oceanview; briansb; MAK1179
"...the orders to suppress this are coming from high up

BINGO!

Now ask yourself what the possible reasons for this might be and who has the stroke to make this happen....

It's a rather upsetting thing to consider...

56 posted on 11/10/2005 4:01:32 PM PST by Lloyd227
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Vlad
I do not think it will be swept under the rug. What will happen, IMHO, it will be transformed into a crazy conspiracy theory like OK City. Level minded folks (like myself) will eventually consider the posibility only amusingly, like UFO's.
57 posted on 11/10/2005 4:24:55 PM PST by TheHound (You would be paranoid too - if everyone was out to get you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Steel and Fire and Stone

"Let me put it another way, using Tailhook as but one example"

Right on. I am personally acquainted with several good Navy officers who were picked for promotion to 1 star positions and whose promotions were held up for quite a while as a result of Tailhook even though they had no part in the shenanigans. I'm happy to say that in the end they all made it. One ended up as a 3 star. Yes, the DOD is full of politicos--some in uniform, some not in uniform.


58 posted on 11/10/2005 4:25:07 PM PST by Cautor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: libstripper

Because there are Clinton leftovers still in the Pentagon who don't want the truth to come out and point the finger at Clinton .. especially with Hillary wanting to be president.


59 posted on 11/10/2005 4:34:37 PM PST by CyberAnt ( I believe in Congressman Curt Weldon re Able Danger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libstripper

"What, IN THE NAME OF GOD, is wrong with the Pentagon when Able Danger could rip the entire lid off the DemonRat party??"

Maybe you just ansered your own question. Since when is the DOD on the side of the republicans?


60 posted on 11/10/2005 4:38:02 PM PST by street_lawyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson