Ex-CIA official urges silence after spy 'sting'

WashTimes ^ | 27 FEB 2007 | Bill Gertz

[radar101]

A former high-ranking CIA official refused FBI appeals for help in tracking Chinese spies and urged others via e-mail not to cooperate because of the recent prosecution of former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ron Montaperto.
Robert G. Sutter, a former national intelligence officer for East Asia and holder of a security clearance, told a mailing list of current and former government officials that a 2003 FBI "sting" operation against Montaperto, who was convicted in June of mishandling classified documents, raised fears that he and other officials could be damaged for discussing their contacts with Chinese officials.
The FBI and other U.S. counterintelligence agencies are stepping up efforts, including outreach to academics, to counter Chinese intelligence efforts after a string of damaging spy cases over the past five years, U.S. officials said.
Mr. Sutter, a Georgetown University professor, stated in the e-mail sent two weeks ago that he had met then with two "relatively young" FBI agents who asked for his help "regarding activities of Chinese officials that I judged might be deemed matters of espionage."
"They also seemed to want and need some educating on policies and priorities of the Chinese administration, and the state of play in U.S.-Chinese relations," he stated.

[darkwing104]

"What I did talk about was the credibility of the FBI " Mr. Sutter said. "I referred at some length to the Ron Montaperto 'sting.' I told the agents that while they seemed like nice people, and I tried to be cooperative with the U.S. government, I could not trust them or have any assurance that they would not use any information I provided in some way that would hurt me or others."

Can't really blame him, it's a matter of CYOA.

[TheKidster]

It's high time we cut China off. They have been stealing our intelligence and patents for years, taking them back to China to flood the market with cheap knock-offs and putting american entrepeneurs out of business.
They have been probing our defenses, physical and electronic for years as well and we just smile and apologize for reacting. Remember the spy plane, remember the submarine incident, remember the satellite neutralizer?
These all happened in the last few years.
They (China/Russian/NeoCommunists will destroy us by throwing the islamofascists at us first and then coming in after we've been softened up and spent out. We don't even manufacture the components for our weapons systems anymore, they do so what happens when the inevitable conflict occurs? We ask them nicely to keep manufacturing the microprocessors and components for our weapons systems so that we can keep fighting them?

[thegreatbeast]

Mr. Sutter provides us with yet another reason why we should smash the CIA into thousands of little pieces.

[expatguy]

I still can't figure out what exactly they do.

[ClaireSolt]

Every time one of these know-it-all former CIA paranoics speaks out, I am encouraged though reform is very difficult and painful.

[3AngelaD]

I thought it was interesting that, "Mr. Sutter has specialized in Asian affairs for 33 years at CIA, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress and State Department intelligence bureau." He has certainly had many jobs, and many opprtunties to give away secrets to China. I think the FBI might have made a mistake in assuming this guy is on our side and wants to help. It sounds to me like he could easily be part of the problem. China now has missiles that can shoot down our satellites in space. They didn't develop that technology in their own, they stole it from us with the help of paid spies, witless American "experts" and the Clinton administration. And I think it is reasonable to fear that the theft continues.

Another key statement in this POS's email says, " "They also seemed to want and need some educating on policies and priorities of the Chinese administration, and the state of play in U.S.-Chinese relations." Very ambivalent statement. Sounds like he is more interested in what his Chinese masters' policies and priorities are than in the security of his own country. This guy's smoke is indicative of a very damaging fire.

[leadpenny]

If you could figure out what they do, they'd have to . . . well, you know.

What's the motto,

"Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter accusations."

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Montaperto in 2003 disclosed to the FBI and Navy counterintelligence agents during a sting operation that he provided both "secret" and "top secret" intelligence to two Chinese intelligence officers during more than 60 meetings, according to court documents in the case. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges of illegally retaining classified documents, but he admitted as part of a plea bargain to passing the secrets to Chinese intelligence.

The prosecution was a setback for a network of pro-China specialists in government and academia who have sought to play down China's growing military capabilities and intelligence operations in a coordinated effort they claim is aimed at improving U.S. ties to China.

Mr. Sutter said he wrote the e-mail as a warning to other China specialists, implying that they too should refuse to help the FBI.

[End quotes]

I'm not exactly speechless.

If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!

[3AngelaD]

That story got posted on FR when it was first reported, even more interesting than it appears here. I think they let him plea bargain down from more serious charges. Wish I had bookmarked it.