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).

Torture? Rudman to the Rescue

The announcement in mid-March that CIA Director Leon Panetta had picked former Sen. Warren Rudman to act as CIA "liaison" with the Senate Intelligence Committee during its "review" of interrogation and detention practices has drawn virtually no criticism from the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM). Yet, it is a dead give-away as to how congressional leaders … Continue reading “Torture? Rudman to the Rescue”

The Anatomy of Bush’s Torture ‘Paradigm’

The prose of the recently leaked report of the International Committee of the Red Cross [.pdf] on torture seems colorless. It is at the same time obscene – almost pornographic. The 41-page ICRC report depicts scenes of prisoners forced to remain naked for long periods, sometimes in the presence of women, often with their hands … Continue reading “The Anatomy of Bush’s Torture ‘Paradigm’”

Obama Caves to Israel Lobby

On Tuesday morning Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair, employed the indicative mood in describing the high value that Chas Freeman, his appointee to head the National Intelligence Council (NIC), will bring to the job – "his long experience and inventive mind," for example.  By five o’clock in the afternoon, Freeman announced that he … Continue reading “Obama Caves to Israel Lobby”

Panetta Too Deferential to Congress

"I am a creature of Congress," said Leon Panetta with a broad smile, which was returned by equally wide smiles from members of the Senate intelligence committee meeting yesterday to consider his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I really wish he hadn’t said that.  For that sobriquet fits the worst of … Continue reading “Panetta Too Deferential to Congress”

Frank Grevil: A Hero for Our Time

Editor’s note: On Jan. 26, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark, former Danish military intelligence officer Frank Grevil was given the Sam Adams Award for integrity in intelligence. The following is an extended version of the introductory remarks by former CIA intelligence analyst Ray McGovern. Thank you, one and all, for coming this evening at such short … Continue reading “Frank Grevil: A Hero for Our Time”