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).

Once We Were Allies; Then Came MICIMATT

Announcing Germany’s surrender and the end of war in Europe 75 years ago on May 8, 1945, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was quick to acknowledge the vital role played by the Soviet Union in the Allied victory over Germany: “Today, perhaps, we shall think mostly of ourselves. Tomorrow we shall pay a particular tribute … Continue reading “Once We Were Allies; Then Came MICIMATT”

What if Ignored Covid-19 Warnings Had Been Leaked to WikiLeaks?

The British court system continues to mock the Magna Carta. Bowing vassal-like to U.S. pressure it persists with Star Chamber proceedings against WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange until he is either extradited to the US or winds up dead. The judicial pantomime under way in London, under the guise of an extradition hearing, would make the … Continue reading “What if Ignored Covid-19 Warnings Had Been Leaked to WikiLeaks?”

Queen’s Counsel Charges vs. Assange ‘Significantly Overwrought’

We are about to see how malleable the British Court system is to diktat from Washington. Will the British embrace the flimsiest of circumstantial “evidence” from U.S. security services that have axes to grind? Will British officials turn their back on 800 years of progress on the human rights wrested from King John at Runnymede? … Continue reading “Queen’s Counsel Charges vs. Assange ‘Significantly Overwrought’”

German TV Exposes the Lies That Entrapped Julian Assange

Truth has broken through for those confused about how a publisher ended up in a maximum security prison in London with a one-way extradition ticket to court in the U.S. and the rest of his life behind bars. One of the main German TV channels (ZDF) ran two prime-time segments on Wednesday night exposing authorities … Continue reading “German TV Exposes the Lies That Entrapped Julian Assange”

Barr Blasts Inspector General for Whitewashing FBI

Attorney General William Barr on Monday disparaged the long-awaited findings of the Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz into FBI conduct in the investigation of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. Barr, in effect, accused Horowitz of whitewashing a litany of proven misfeasance and malfeasance that created the “predicate,” or legal justification, for … Continue reading “Barr Blasts Inspector General for Whitewashing FBI”

The Pitfalls of a Pit Bull Russophobe

Fiona Hill’s “Russian-expert” testimony Thursday and her deposition on Oct. 14 to the impeachment inquiry showed that her antennae are acutely tuned to what Russian intelligence services may be up to but, sadly, also displayed a striking naiveté about the machinations of U.S. intelligence. Hill’s education on Russia came at the knee of the late … Continue reading “The Pitfalls of a Pit Bull Russophobe”

Ukraine for Dummies

At Wednesday’s debut of the impeachment hearings there was one issue upon which both sides of the aisle seemed to agree, and it was a comic-book caricature of reality. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff led off the proceedings with this: “In 2014, Russia invaded a United States ally, Ukraine, to reverse that nation’s embrace … Continue reading “Ukraine for Dummies”

Thanks to a Soviet Navy Captain – We Survived 1962

Oct. 27, 1962, is the date on which we humans were spared extinction thanks to Soviet Navy submarine Captain Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov. Arkhipov insisted on following the book on using nuclear weapons. He overruled his colleagues on Soviet submarine B-59, who were readying a 10-kiloton nuclear torpedo to fire at the USS Randolph task force … Continue reading “Thanks to a Soviet Navy Captain – We Survived 1962”

Seth Rich’s Ghost Haunts the Courts

As if it weren’t enough of a downer for Russiagate true believers that no Trump-Russia collusion was found, federal judges are now demanding proof that Russia hacked into the DNC in the first place. It is shaping up to be a significant challenge to the main premise of the shaky syllogism that ends with “Russia … Continue reading “Seth Rich’s Ghost Haunts the Courts”

DNI Nominee Intent on Getting to Bottom of Russiagate

Shortly before President Donald Trump announced he had nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to replace Dan Coats as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe made it clear he intends to hit the deck running on the “crimes” behind Russiagate. “What I do know as a former federal prosecutor is it does appear that there were crimes … Continue reading “DNI Nominee Intent on Getting to Bottom of Russiagate”