Ray McGovern

Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. In the Sixties he served as an infantry/intelligence officer and then became a CIA analyst for the next 27 years. He is on the Steering Group of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Oh, No! Al-Qaeda Out of Cave on 9/12!

The current discussion on the planned withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan centers on a benighted belief that my former CIA analyst-colleague Paul Pillar exposed 12 years ago. Paul called it the "key tenet that Afghanistan must not be allowed to again become a haven for terrorist groups, especially al-Qaeda". With Sunday’s Washington … Continue reading “Oh, No! Al-Qaeda Out of Cave on 9/12!”

Biden and Blinken Blink on Ukraine

President Joe Biden has now taken a waiver on the "unwavering", full-throated support that he, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had been giving to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The recurring "unwavering" meme was played right up until late Tuesday after Biden’s telephone talk with Putin Tuesday. Zelensky’ earlier profession … Continue reading “Biden and Blinken Blink on Ukraine”

Stephanopoulos, Blinken Score Win for MICIMATT

Interviewed Wednesday on The Critical Hour, I took issue with the prevailing conventional view that George Stephanopoulos’s mousetrapping President Biden into calling Putin a "killer" and Secretary of State Blinken’s boorish attempt to get China to kowtow in Alaska were "disastrous". One must always ask cui bono? Who profits from those two "disasters". Were they … Continue reading “Stephanopoulos, Blinken Score Win for MICIMATT”

Will Lloyd Austin Speak Truth on Afghanistan?

Afghanistan: Stay or Go? The final decision will depend largely on whether Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin can face down white White House armchair warriors allergic to "losing" wars already long lost, as well as arms makers profiteering on the ones that drag on for decades. Austin has had up-close experience with both of these … Continue reading “Will Lloyd Austin Speak Truth on Afghanistan?”

Will Comey’s Words Come Back To Haunt Him?

On Jan. 12, 2017, former FBI Director James Comey attested to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that the now-discredited information from former British spy Christopher Steele regarding Russian collusion had been "verified". Thanks to an FOIA request, we now have documentary evidence showing Comey pressing ahead to validate Steele amid a distinct lack of enthusiasm … Continue reading “Will Comey’s Words Come Back To Haunt Him?”

Round Up the Usual Suspects; Don’t Forget Putin

Interviewed by Mrs. Clinton Monday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi eagerly rose to the bait when Clinton spoke of "her concerns that the outgoing commander-in-chief was compromised by the Kremlin". Setting the stage, Clinton expressed the hope that "we’ll find out who he [Trump] is beholden to, "who pulls his strings". Clinton added ominously: "I would love … Continue reading “Round Up the Usual Suspects; Don’t Forget Putin”

Can William Burns Change the CIA?

From Consortium News: In nominating former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns to be CIA director, President-elect Joe Biden has chosen a highly experienced diplomat to lead a hydra-headed agency. But, if past is precedent, the highest hydras who head calcified fiefdoms at CIA can be expected to resist any real control from the top. … Continue reading “Can William Burns Change the CIA?”

New York Times Still Stoking Alarm At ‘Russian Hacking’

Forget what Vice President Pence has suggested he might do this week regarding counting the votes for president and forget President Trump’s ominous military buildup near Iran, the Sunday New York Times two-column, above-the-fold lede tells us what we should really be worried about: "Scope of Russian Hacking Far Exceeds Initial Fears." The on-line title … Continue reading “New York Times Still Stoking Alarm At ‘Russian Hacking’”

A Pandemic of ‘Russian Hacking’

From Consortium News: The hyperbolic, evidence-free media reports on the “fresh outbreak” of the Russian-hacking disease seems an obvious attempt by intelligence to handcuff President-elect Joe Biden into a strong anti-Russian posture as he prepares to enter the White House. Biden might well need to be inoculated against the Russophobe fever. There are obvious Biden … Continue reading “A Pandemic of ‘Russian Hacking’”

Why Michael Morell Cannot Be CIA Director

As President-elect Joe Biden names his cabinet and other chief advisers, what has escaped wide attention is the fact that none of his hawkish national security advisers – except for his nominee for defense secretary, Gen. Lloyd Austin – has served in the military. Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who is reportedly on Biden’s … Continue reading “Why Michael Morell Cannot Be CIA Director”