More on the Sibel Edmonds Case
By Larry Johnson on January 23, 2008 at 10:56 AM in Current Affairs
Phil Giraldi has a great article in the American Spectator Conservative (my bad), Found in Translation, on the Sibel Edmonds affair. Giraldi writes:
Most Americans have never heard of Sibel Edmonds, and if the U.S. government has its way, they never will. The former FBI translator turned whistleblower tells a chilling story of corruption at Washington’s highest levels—sale of nuclear secrets, shielding of terrorist suspects, illegal arms transfers, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, espionage. She may be a first-rate fabulist, but Edmonds’s account is full of dates, places, and names. And if she is to be believed, a treasonous plot to embed moles in American military and nuclear installations and pass sensitive intelligence to Israeli, Pakistani, and Turkish sources was facilitated by figures in the upper echelons of the State and Defense Departments. Her charges could be easily confirmed or dismissed if classified government documents were made available to investigators. (read the rest)
I do not believe that Marc Grossman played a role in outing Valerie Plame Wilson. I cannot go into the details publicly, but whatever mention of Brewster Jennings was made on the intercepts Sibel translated had nothing to do with Val.
I think there is some definite smoke with respect to the efforts of Israel and Turkey to collect intelligence in the United States. Like Phil, I believe that needs to be aggressively investigated. I am troubled by Sibel’s attacks on folks like Larisa Alexandrovna. I know both ladies. I like both ladies. I do not believe that Larisa was trying to spread bad information about Sibel nor was she trying to insert herself into the story. Sibel’s vicious attacks on Larisa do bother me. You don’t win victories by attacking your supporters.
UPDATE: Well, if you missed the earlier fireworks, Sibel Edmonds showed up here and launched a new attack on Larisa Alexandrovna after denying she had ever attacked Larisa by name. Unfortunately, our move to a new server coincided with this exchange and it has gone up in smoke.
Let me set the record straight. Sibel has not called out Larisa by name in any of her own posts. However, Sibel most certainly is associated with websites–Lukery’s, Let Sibel Edmonds Speak in particular–that have attacked Larisa by name. Here. Read for yourself:
The reason we have had this much success in the past year is by sticking with the facts in the pursuit of the truth and accountability, and not having the story colored in any way by ideology or partisanship. Sibel repeatedly suggests that the reason the case doesn’t get anywhere in Congress is because of the bipartisan nature of the guilty. The same is apparently true for the online media and blogs. We continue to encourage people to write about this story but it is important to keep to the facts, truthfully and fairly. The case is complicated as it is; exaggerations, distortions and mischaracterizations only cloud the matter.
Unfortunately, we are already seeing this happen. Thanks to Mizgin one such case was caught in time and addressed. It’s frustrating that we’ve come so far, and are so close to finally getting proper exposure to this story, only to see this type of thing break out.
For the record, this blog does not endorse or support Alexandrovna or her views. I ceased association and communication with her in mid-2007.
And Sibel has personally thanked these folks for their work. Lastly, Sibel has not disavowed any of the comments directed at Larisa, particularly on the Democratic Underground. I have invited Sibel to provide me just one quote where she disavowed these attacks. I’m still waiting. The events today underscore Phil Giraldi’s point:
Passionate in her convictions, she has sometimes alienated her own supporters and ridden roughshod over critics who questioned her assumptions. But despite her shortcomings in making her case and the legitimate criticism that she may be overreaching in some of her conclusions, Edmonds comes across as credible. Her claims are specific, fact-based, and can be documented in detail.
I agree with Phil that Sibel’s claims need a thorough investigation. And I also agree that, at times, she is her own worst enemy. Instead of building bridges, she spends too much energy blowing them up and threatening folks, like me, who genuinely wish her well.
by Ronald Scott
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