Ex-CIA agent alleges Bush admin tried to get the CIA to spy on Iraq war critic

[Kuya]

WASHINGTON — A former senior C.I.A. official says that officials in the Bush White House sought damaging personal information on a prominent American critic of the Iraq war in order to discredit him.

Glenn L. Carle, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer who was a top counterterrorism official during the administration of President George W. Bush, said the White House at least twice asked intelligence officials to gather sensitive information on Juan Cole, a University of Michigan professor who writes an influential blog that criticized the war.

In an interview, Mr. Carle said his supervisor at the National Intelligence Council told him in 2005 that White House officials wanted “to get” Professor Cole, and made clear that he wanted Mr. Carle to collect information about him, an effort Mr. Carle rebuffed. Months later, Mr. Carle said, he confronted a C.I.A. official after learning of another attempt to collect information about Professor Cole. Mr. Carle said he contended at the time that such actions would have been unlawful.

It's illegal for the CIA to spy on americans, such a thing might also be unconstitutional. A senate investigation into the allegations might be underway, but a house intelligence committee has said that there will be no investigation by the House:

Washington— The chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said today she'll review allegations President George W. Bush's administration sought intelligence on a University of Michigan professor and critic of the Iraq war in effort to smear him.

"The committee is looking into this," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, said in a statement. "Depending on what we find, we may take further action."
Juan Cole, the U-M professor and prominent Middle East expert, called Thursday for Congressional investigations following allegations from an ex-CIA official the Bush White House wanted "to get" Cole and sought damaging information about him in 2005, according to a report published this week in the New York Times.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, did not announce a similar investigation.

"Congressman Rogers is aware of the news report, but the Department of Justice is the most appropriate venue to respond to any criminal allegations," Rogers' spokesman, Dave Yonkman, said in a statement.
The Justice Department wouldn't comment on whether it will or will not open an investigation.

Right wingers have been attacking Juan Cole with accusations of being anti-american and anti-semitic for years, particularly during the Bush administration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/us...e.html?_r=2&hp

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...428/1409/metro

[kyod]

He has a book coming out next month and he just happened to reveal this information now. Why reveal it now when you have a split Congress and not when Congress had a democrat majority in both chambers? Color me very skeptical.

[Kuya]

Yes skepticism is abound, so hopefully investigations will find something. Though it's not like this sort of thing is beyond the Bush administration. What would surprise me is if they left a "paper trail" of sorts that leads straight back to Bush himself. That would be so good.

[Stumblingdrunk]

If an investigation finds Bush guilty of doing something illegal will he get a stern talking to?

[Brill Weave]

I don't believe it. GWB has always stood up for our civil liberties and political freedoms. This is a reverse smear job by someone else trying to smear GWB's good name. That man is a national treasure to be cherished for all eternity.

[Kuya]

If an investigation finds Bush guilty of doing something illegal will he get a stern talking to?

If Bush were ever to be charged with anything, i'd cum buckets.

[bechyni]

If Bush were ever to be charged with anything, i'd cum buckets.

One can only hope then!

[Odesseiron]

Kuya why don't you just run for president!?

[jmc]

I'm just curious.....

Why is he a ex-CIA official?

[Kuya]

Kuya why don't you just run for president!?

i'd rather be rich and swimming in bitches.

[Khamsin]

Bush probably just mixed things up, he intended to have the FBI spy on him, but asked the CIA by mistake. Cut him some slack.

[Olo401]

i'd rather be rich and swimming in bitches.

Like that ever stopped anyone from becoming president.. or doing it while in office.

[ronin sparthos]

What are the odds Obama would use the presidential pardon if the stars aligned and Bush was charged with wrongdoing?

[Pirian]

CIA does shady shit? STOP. THE. PRESSES.

[Kuya]

What are the odds Obama would use the presidential pardon if the stars aligned and Bush was charged with wrongdoing?

Likely.

[Acturus]

I'm just curious.....

Why is he a ex-CIA official?

Because he wanted to write a book.