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).

Break the CIA in Two

After the CIA-led fiasco at the Bay of Pigs in April 1961, President John Kennedy was quoted as saying he wanted to "splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it into the winds." I can understand his anger, but a thousand is probably too many. Better is a Solomon solution; divide the CIA … Continue reading “Break the CIA in Two”

Shining a Light on the Roots of Terrorism

Media commentary on the upcoming 9/11 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has raised concerns that state secrets may be divulged, including details about how the Bush administration used torture to extract evidence about al-Qaeda. "I think that we’re going to shine a light on something that a lot of people don’t want to look at" … Continue reading “Shining a Light on the Roots of Terrorism”

Heeding George Kennan’s Sage Advice

I can’t remember how many times I have said that the U.S. military adventure in Afghanistan is a fool’s errand. The reaction I frequently encounter includes some variant of "How can you blithely acquiesce in the chaos that will inevitably ensue if we and our NATO allies withdraw our troops?" While the central premise of … Continue reading “Heeding George Kennan’s Sage Advice”

Intelligence Veterans Demand Accountability for Torture

MEMORANDUM FOR: The President FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) SUBJECT: Accountability for Torture We write you, Mr. President, as former intelligence professionals to voice strong support for Attorney General Eric Holder’s authorization of a wider investigation into CIA interrogation. We respectfully disagree with the direct appeal to you by seven former CIA directors … Continue reading “Intelligence Veterans Demand Accountability for Torture”

CIA Torturers Running Scared

For the CIA supervisors and operatives responsible for torture, the chickens are coming home to roost; that is, if President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder mean it when they say no one is above the law – and if they don’t fall victim to brazen intimidation. Unable to prevent Holder from starting an … Continue reading “CIA Torturers Running Scared”

Torture: The Fault Is Not in Our Stars

Unlike many of my progressive friends, for me the current administration’s behavior on torture is a glass half full. In my view, the real scandal is how very few have taken a sip. Sure, President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have adopted some of the secrecy habits of the previous administration. But, for … Continue reading “Torture: The Fault Is Not in Our Stars”