CIA, Former Officer Battle Over Book

[hist2004]

CIA, Former Officer Battle Over Book

Thursday, July 28, 2005

WASHINGTON — The CIA is squelching publication of a new book detailing events leading up to Usama bin Laden's escape from his Tora Bora mountain stronghold during the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, says a former CIA officer who led much of the fighting.

In a story he says he resigned from the agency to tell, Gary Berntsen recounts the attacks he coordinated at the peak of the fighting in eastern Afghanistan in late 2001, including how U.S. commanders knew bin Laden was in the rugged mountains near the Pakistani border and the Al Qaeda leader's much-discussed getaway.

Berntsen claims in a federal court lawsuit that the CIA is over-classifying his manuscript and has repeatedly missed deadlines written into its own regulations to review his book. His attorney, Roy Krieger, said he delivered papers to the U.S. District Court in Washington after hours Wednesday.

The CIA declined to comment because the suit had not yet been filed officially.

During the 2004 election, President Bush and other senior administration officials repeatedly said that commanders did not know whether bin Laden was at Tora Bora when U.S. and allied Afghan forces attacked there in 2001.

They rejected allegations by Sen. John Kerry, then the Democratic presidential nominee, that the United States had missed an opportunity to capture or kill bin Laden because they had "outsourced" the fighting to Afghan warlords.

"When I watched the presidential debates, it was clear to me ... the debate and discussions on Tora Bora were — from both sides — completely incorrect," said Berntsen, who won't provide details until the agency finishes declassifying his book. "It did not represent the reality of what happened on the ground."

A Republican and avid Bush supporter, Berntsen, 48, retired in June and hasn't spoken publicly before.

His book chronicles chapters of his 23 years with the agency. Berntsen spent most of his career as a case officer in the Middle East, serving as the top U.S. intelligence official in three countries.

It covers his role handling the agency's response to Al Qaeda's 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa. And the book continues through late 2001 when he was assigned to command a CIA team inserted into Afghanistan, code-named "Jawbreaker" — the title of his book, tentatively due out in October.

Berntsen said the story highlights the actions of four brave Muslim American men who went with him.

It's also about decision-making: "Who stepped up, who didn't in all of this," said Berntsen, the recipient of two of the CIA's three highest medals, one for preventing Islamic extremists from assassinating the Indian prime minister in 1996.

He said he felt compelled to write his story. But he also acknowledges he retired two years early because he ruffled senior management feathers. It was clear he wouldn't get further promotions.

Krieger said his client's First Amendment rights are being violated. He's also suing under the Administrative Procedures Act, arguing that the agency has taken more than twice the 30 days allowed by regulation to review the 330-page book.

Berntsen's book is one of a handful written recently by former CIA officers who have wrestled with the agency over what could be published.

Regards,
Hist2004

[HR24]

CIA, Former Officer Battle Over Book

Thursday, July 28, 2005

WASHINGTON — The CIA is squelching publication of a new book detailing events leading up to Usama bin Laden's escape from his Tora Bora mountain stronghold during the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, says a former CIA officer who led much of the fighting.

In a story he says he resigned from the agency to tell, Gary Berntsen recounts the attacks he coordinated at the peak of the fighting in eastern Afghanistan in late 2001, including how U.S. commanders knew bin Laden was in the rugged mountains near the Pakistani border and the Al Qaeda leader's much-discussed getaway.

Berntsen claims in a federal court lawsuit that the CIA is over-classifying his manuscript and has repeatedly missed deadlines written into its own regulations to review his book. His attorney, Roy Krieger, said he delivered papers to the U.S. District Court in Washington after hours Wednesday.

The CIA declined to comment because the suit had not yet been filed officially.

During the 2004 election, President Bush and other senior administration officials repeatedly said that commanders did not know whether bin Laden was at Tora Bora when U.S. and allied Afghan forces attacked there in 2001.

They rejected allegations by Sen. John Kerry, then the Democratic presidential nominee, that the United States had missed an opportunity to capture or kill bin Laden because they had "outsourced" the fighting to Afghan warlords.

"When I watched the presidential debates, it was clear to me ... the debate and discussions on Tora Bora were — from both sides — completely incorrect," said Berntsen, who won't provide details until the agency finishes declassifying his book. "It did not represent the reality of what happened on the ground."

A Republican and avid Bush supporter, Berntsen, 48, retired in June and hasn't spoken publicly before.

His book chronicles chapters of his 23 years with the agency. Berntsen spent most of his career as a case officer in the Middle East, serving as the top U.S. intelligence official in three countries.

It covers his role handling the agency's response to Al Qaeda's 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa. And the book continues through late 2001 when he was assigned to command a CIA team inserted into Afghanistan, code-named "Jawbreaker" — the title of his book, tentatively due out in October.

Berntsen said the story highlights the actions of four brave Muslim American men who went with him.

It's also about decision-making: "Who stepped up, who didn't in all of this," said Berntsen, the recipient of two of the CIA's three highest medals, one for preventing Islamic extremists from assassinating the Indian prime minister in 1996.

He said he felt compelled to write his story. But he also acknowledges he retired two years early because he ruffled senior management feathers. It was clear he wouldn't get further promotions.

Krieger said his client's First Amendment rights are being violated. He's also suing under the Administrative Procedures Act, arguing that the agency has taken more than twice the 30 days allowed by regulation to review the 330-page book.

Berntsen's book is one of a handful written recently by former CIA officers who have wrestled with the agency over what could be published.

Regards,
Hist2004

I'd have to say, this guy will probably put out the most imformative book on OEF yet. Hopefully the CIA won't redact it too much.

[pathfinder82]

very interesting.

[Meph]

I'm looking forward to this book.

"Al-Qaeda's Great Escape" by Philip Smucker is another good read on this topic.

[hist2004]

When I watched the presidential debates, it was clear to me ... the debate and discussions on Tora Bora were — from both sides — completely incorrect," said Berntsen, who won't provide details until the agency finishes declassifying his book. "It did not represent the reality of what happened on the ground."

I would like to see what conclusion’s Berntsen draw's as he say's "both" sides were completely incorrect.

Regards,
Hist2004

[ElHombre]

I would like to see what conclusion’s Berntsen draw's as he say's "both" sides were completely incorrect.

ditto.

[DPGLAW]

Edit: Question answered & post removed to avoid any confusion

[hist2004]

Is this agent, Gary, the one whom I have seen portrayed as a coward because when Mike Spann was attacked he ran off as fast as hell w/o even trying to help his "partner"...His account stated he returned fire at the terrorists but there was a video filmed by one of the journalists there and in it he was running away holding the gun by it's barrel, therefore making firing it AT ALL impossible. Is this the same guy, or no? I am jsut not sure if this Gary is the one I am referring to above, or if he is the one who was pretty much the first agent in, brought out of retirement as he had previously been the COS in Islamabad, Pak. and experience in Afghanistan. So he was sent in with like 5 million US dollars or something....Not sure which one this guy is, if someone knows can you clarify that for me. Thanks

Dan

Dan-

No, this had to do with the Battle of Tora Bora, not the uprising at Mazar-i-Sharif
in which CIA operative Mike Spann was killed. The other CIA operative that was with
Spann was named Dave Tyson, referred to as "Dave" on the film that was shot during the
uprising.

Regards,
Hist2004

[Zarathustra]

CIA, Former Officer Battle Over Book

Thursday, July 28, 2005

WASHINGTON — The CIA is squelching publication of a new book detailing events leading up to Usama bin Laden's escape from his Tora Bora mountain stronghold during the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, says a former CIA officer who led much of the fighting.

In a story he says he resigned from the agency to tell, Gary Berntsen recounts the attacks he coordinated at the peak of the fighting in eastern Afghanistan in late 2001, including how U.S. commanders knew bin Laden was in the rugged mountains near the Pakistani border and the Al Qaeda leader's much-discussed getaway.

Berntsen claims in a federal court lawsuit that the CIA is over-classifying his manuscript and has repeatedly missed deadlines written into its own regulations to review his book. His attorney, Roy Krieger, said he delivered papers to the U.S. District Court in Washington after hours Wednesday.

The CIA declined to comment because the suit had not yet been filed officially.

During the 2004 election, President Bush and other senior administration officials repeatedly said that commanders did not know whether bin Laden was at Tora Bora when U.S. and allied Afghan forces attacked there in 2001.

They rejected allegations by Sen. John Kerry, then the Democratic presidential nominee, that the United States had missed an opportunity to capture or kill bin Laden because they had "outsourced" the fighting to Afghan warlords.

"When I watched the presidential debates, it was clear to me ... the debate and discussions on Tora Bora were — from both sides — completely incorrect," said Berntsen, who won't provide details until the agency finishes declassifying his book. "It did not represent the reality of what happened on the ground."

A Republican and avid Bush supporter, Berntsen, 48, retired in June and hasn't spoken publicly before.

His book chronicles chapters of his 23 years with the agency. Berntsen spent most of his career as a case officer in the Middle East, serving as the top U.S. intelligence official in three countries.

It covers his role handling the agency's response to Al Qaeda's 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa. And the book continues through late 2001 when he was assigned to command a CIA team inserted into Afghanistan, code-named "Jawbreaker" — the title of his book, tentatively due out in October.

Berntsen said the story highlights the actions of four brave Muslim American men who went with him.

It's also about decision-making: "Who stepped up, who didn't in all of this," said Berntsen, the recipient of two of the CIA's three highest medals, one for preventing Islamic extremists from assassinating the Indian prime minister in 1996.

He said he felt compelled to write his story. But he also acknowledges he retired two years early because he ruffled senior management feathers. It was clear he wouldn't get further promotions.

Krieger said his client's First Amendment rights are being violated. He's also suing under the Administrative Procedures Act, arguing that the agency has taken more than twice the 30 days allowed by regulation to review the 330-page book.

Berntsen's book is one of a handful written recently by former CIA officers who have wrestled with the agency over what could be published.

Regards,
Hist2004

I'd have to say, this guy will probably put out the most imformative book on OEF yet. Hopefully the CIA won't redact it too much.

To answer directly after his post and on one line, you really don't need to quote his post.

[fatsack]

also see....

"first in" by gary schroen (i'm about twenty pages into it)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0891418725/qid=1122598848/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-7912891-2592948?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[ASSASSIN]

Im confused...

Im currently 16 chapters into Gary SCHROEN's book "FIRST IN"

In the book he is the team leader of the first CIA team into afghanistan after 9/11 the team is called JAWBREAKER....

Are these 2 Garys the same person, but 1 name is an alias??

If so then this information about the book is very outdated because the book has been out for a while. In the epilogue he mentions how hard it was to get most of his book uncensored...

someone needs to clear this up.

[hist2004]

Im confused...

Im currently 16 chapters into Gary SCHROEN's book "FIRST IN"

In the book he is the team leader of the first CIA team into afghanistan after 9/11 the team is called JAWBREAKER....

Are these 2 Garys the same person, but 1 name is an alias??

If so then this information about the book is very outdated because the book has been out for a while. In the epilogue he mentions how hard it was to get most of his book uncensored...

someone needs to clear this up.

Two different individuals. Schroen was near retirement when he was tapped to lead the first team (CIA) into
Afghanistan after 9/11. He spent nearly 35 years at the Agency. As a former Station Chief and Senior Management
Official, he wouldn't be humping a "rucksack" coordinating combat in Tora Bora (which has elevations as high as
13,000ft). This other individual had just retired in June (at age 48). Schroen was 59 in 2001. The article about
Berntsen states that he took command of the team in late 2001, Schroen was in charge of it in Sept. 2001.

Regards,
Hist2004

[ASSASSIN]

thanks for clearing that up man.

got any other books about the CIA you can reccomend??

[hist2004]

thanks for clearing that up man.

got any other books about the CIA you can reccomend??

Ghost Wars: The Secret History of The CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, From the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001

by Steve Coll

Regards,
Hist2004

[DPGLAW]

Is this agent, Gary, the one whom I have seen portrayed as a coward because when Mike Spann was attacked he ran off as fast as hell w/o even trying to help his "partner"...His account stated he returned fire at the terrorists but there was a video filmed by one of the journalists there and in it he was running away holding the gun by it's barrel, therefore making firing it AT ALL impossible. Is this the same guy, or no? I am jsut not sure if this Gary is the one I am referring to above, or if he is the one who was pretty much the first agent in, brought out of retirement as he had previously been the COS in Islamabad, Pak. and experience in Afghanistan. So he was sent in with like 5 million US dollars or something....Not sure which one this guy is, if someone knows can you clarify that for me. Thanks

Dan

Dan-

No, this had to do with the Battle of Tora Bora, not the uprising at Mazar-i-Sharif
in which CIA operative Mike Spann was killed. The other CIA operative that was with
Spann was named Dave Tyson, referred to as "Dave" on the film that was shot during the
uprising.

Regards,
Hist2004

HIST...thanks for clearing that up for me. I was unsure as to if this wasthat guy, but oviously not so I sppreciate you letting me know that. Ill delete my previous post as to to confuse anyone w/ my question.

regards,
Daniel