Able Damnation

I should have more to say on the Able Danger story soon. As a National Review writer recently put it, the odd thing about this story is that each day we learn facts which encourage both skeptics and believers. I would add that this story also intrgues both lefties and righties -- though for different reasons.

The main "skeptical" factoid made available today is the Pentagon's denial that this secret team had, in fact, identified Atta.

You may also want to read NewsHound, which offers a transcript of an O'Reilly Factor exchange on the subject with Republican Senator Slade Gorton (the so-called "Senator from Microsoft"). Gorton makes a point I've been trying to emphasize: "...nothing Jamie Gorelick wrote had the slightest impact on the Department of Defense or its willingness or ability to share intelligence information with intelligence agencies."

Damn straight! Will the Republican pundits finally retire this propaganda line? Probably not...

I'll have much more to say on all this. Suffice it to say that right now, my skeptical side predominates. As you may kow, I've toyed with the notion that the Able Danger "revelations" may be a set-up for a forthcoming disinformation barrage. After all, data-miners will probably determine responsibility for the next terror attack -- and as you know, this administration has already decided to blame Iran, no matter who is really responsible.

Perhaps we should view Tony Shaffer's claims in the light of the great disinformation "scandals" of the 1990s. Am I the only one who recalls the "Three Rs" -- Terry Reed, Gunther Russbacher, and Michael Riconosciuto?

All three were low-level operatives within (or associates of) the intelligence community. All three got into legal difficulties. All three suddenly started spouting the most extraordinary stories to anyone foolish enough to heed them.

Did Tony Shaffer ever get himself into similar troubles? Not that I know of. In fact, everyone says the man has an excellent record. That's the primary reason why I'm still of two minds on the Able Danger story.

On the other hand, I'm told that Shaffer has, at times, been opinionated to the point of insubordination. Such men often find themselves in hot water. And a man in sufficiently hot water may search for any means to clamber out of the cauldron.