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).

Afghan War Leaks Expose Costly, Deceitful March of Folly

The brutality and fecklessness of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan have been laid bare in an indisputable way just days before the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on whether to throw $33.5 billion more into the Afghan quagmire, when that money is badly needed at home. On Sunday, the Web site WikiLeaks posted … Continue reading “Afghan War Leaks Expose Costly, Deceitful March of Folly”

Terror’s Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone

A recent exposé in the Washington Post shows that if you have a security clearance and are comfortable being part of a lucrative "self-licking ice cream cone" — a process that offers few if any benefits while perpetuating its own existence — then the "war on terror" is definitely for you! The conclusion that the Long War … Continue reading “Terror’s Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone”

Iranian Scientist Would Not Play ‘Curveball’

Useful insights often must be seen through a glass darkly. But some can be pulled through the smoke and mirrors shrouding the wanderings of Iranian scientist Shahram Amiri, who is now back home in Iran after 14 months in the U.S. as guest of the CIA. The confusing/amusing spin applied by both countries to L’ … Continue reading “Iranian Scientist Would Not Play ‘Curveball’”

Obama’s Timidity and Deaths at Sea

A chief lesson to learn from President Barack Obama’s recent unwillingness to stand up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Lobby is that such timidity can get people killed. Casualty figures are still arriving in the wake of Israel’s Sunday night-Monday morning commando attack on an unarmed flotilla trying to bring relief … Continue reading “Obama’s Timidity and Deaths at Sea”

Memo to Congressman David Obey

MEMORANDUM FOR: Congressman David Obey  FROM:    A Former Admirer  SUBJECT:    Ducking the Challenge  "We can sit, frozen in our own indifference, as President Roosevelt once said…" That’s what you said yesterday in connection with saving teachers’ jobs. Sadly, it also applies — in spades — to saving lives in an unnecessary war.  It is amazing how … Continue reading “Memo to Congressman David Obey”

Dirty Linen Gets Intel Chief Fired

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation of how 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab soiled his underpants with a makeshift bomb over Detroit last Christmas hung out so much dirty linen on the crowded clothes line of the U.S. intelligence community that it was an easy call to get rid of Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair. … Continue reading “Dirty Linen Gets Intel Chief Fired”

Iran a Threat? I Mean, Really?

With all the current hype about the "threat" from Iran, it is time to review the record – and especially the significant bits and pieces that find neither ink nor air in our Israel-friendly Fawning Corporate Media (FCM). First, on the chance you missed it, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said publicly that Iran … Continue reading “Iran a Threat? I Mean, Really?”