Flashtraffic: Gore asked CIA to keep information from Congress

World Magazine ^ | January 11, 2003 | Joel C. Rosenberg

[Timesink]

THE BUZZ

Flashtraffic: Gore asked CIA to keep information from Congress

Gregory Vistica's new book sheds new light on Al Gore's activity in the White House.

By Joel C. Rosenberg

During the heat of the 1996 presidential campaign, Vice President Al Gore asked the Central Intelligence Agency to provide his daughter a false passport, a false driver's license, training in classified covert operations, and special security protection in Europe—and then keep it from Congress. The startling story—reported in a forthcoming book by Gregory L. Vistica, a 60 Minutes II producer and former Newsweek correspondent—comes out on the heels of Mr. Gore's surprising announcement that he would not run for president in 2004.

Mr. Vistica writes in The Education of Lieutenant Kerrey (Thomas Dunne Books, January 2003) that Bob Kerrey—then vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee—learned that the then - vice president had instructed CIA director John Deutch not to notify Congress that the agency was covertly helping to protect Mr. Gore's daughter while she lived in Spain and worked as a reporter for a Madrid newspaper. Federal law requires the agency to provide congressional notification on all covert operations, but at Mr. Gore's insistence refused for months to tell key ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees.

"Jeff Smith, then the CIA's general counsel, advised Deutch that the agency had the legal authority to carry out the assignment," writes Mr. Vistica, "but said it was 'exceedingly ill-advised.' Despite Deutch's approval of the operation, the CIA's top management recommended against helping the Gores. If something went wrong, if the girls were hurt or abducted, the agency would take the blame for doing too little or not doing enough. But Gore balked at the recommendation."

[Fred Mertz]

However, if it was indeed to just protect his daughter, I can't argue with it at all.

I agree, if that was the only reason.

[aristeides]

Did "60 Minutes" hold back on information they had years ago?

Maybe this has something to do with Gore's decision not to run again?

[aristeides]

How would training in covert operations serve to protect the daughter?

[aristeides]

#23.

[Fred Mertz]

...the Central Intelligence Agency to provide his daughter a false passport, a false driver's license, training in classified covert operations, and special security protection in Europe—and then keep it from Congress.

I see your point, but if they are classified and covert then isn't that redundant? What would the training involve?

[Tallguy]

How would training in covert operations serve to protect the daughter?

I have no "inside" information, but I know an individual who is an Engineer with the NSA. He is not a spook. Nevertheless, he was considered a possible kidnapping target due to the sensitive nature of his work. Basically, he had to learn some simple fieldcraft, like learning to spot a "tail".

[Liz]

Let's not give him a pass just yet til we know for sure what she was doing with a fake passport. I mean she's not that recognizable. Very few people here in America would know who she was even if they tripped over her.

[kitkat]

I keep re-reading this article, and it STILL doesn't make sense. Or do I need another cup of coffee?

Did Gore's daughter use a fake name to get the job in Spain? If she used her real name, then people at the paper knew who she was. In that case, the word would spread, and a fake passport and driver's license would hardly help keep her identity secret.

MOre importantly, if she used a fake name to get the job, that would put the U.S. in an exceedingly bad light and cause all sorts of repercussions with the European community.

Maybe if I shake my head a few thousand times some facts might fall into place.

[onedoug]

...or China.

[gonzo]

"...Did Gore's daughter use a fake name to get the job in Spain? If she used her real name, then people at the paper knew who she was. In that case, the word would spread, and a fake passport and driver's license would hardly help keep her identity secret..."

You get the big-brain award, kat!

The fake passport story doesn't wash. Her travelling itinerary is what counts............FRegards

[js1138]

Doing too little or not doing enough??? What kind of writing is this?

Journalism?

[justshutupandtakeit]

Spotting tails or surveillance is not the same as covert operations. It is often necessary to avoid compromising the covert mission but is not the same thing.

[Tallguy]

Spotting tails or surveillance is not the same as covert operations.

I never said that it was. Given that journalists frequently get the story wrong, blowing things out of proportion, I'm guessing that this is the kind of training (spotting tails, evasive driving, etc.) that the Gore's might have been seeking. As dimwitted as I think that Algore is, I don't think that he was seeking "spy training" for his daughter.

[Liz]

There's more to this than meets the eye. We have yet to fill in the blanks.

I can't believe anybody over there would even know who this chick is. There are US citizens who still don't know Al Gore was VP. And his daughter is so "famous" in an obscure foreign place that she's a target? Not many US citizens could even describe her.

The whole thing defies reason.

[Nita Nuprez]

Amazing.

[jws3sticks]

[Grampa Dave]

You have a freep mail from me on this.

[ml/nj]

if it was indeed to just protect his daughter, I can't argue with it at all.

Oh, please!

We have laws, and ways to change the laws. Gore and his ilk are above the laws, even the ones written specifically for them. For them there truly is no controlling legal authority. And there wasn't for the Ceaucescus either.

ML/NJ

[Caesar Soze]

This is actually a good idea. Bush should've tried it. "Alright, girls, you can have fake IDs, but only if you graduate from the Farm!"

"But Daaaaaad!"

"No buts! If you insist on drinking underage, you'll learn to do it covertly!"

[DakotaGator]

I can't believe some of the comments I'm seeing on this thread! They go something like this; "If it was done to protect his daughter, that's alright."

Utter bullsh*t! This is a clear abuse of authority. If she needed protection, where was the legitimate Secret Service detail? Additionally, if she needed training for her personal safety, Gore is a wealthy man. There is no end of very professional private concerns that could train her for a fee.

People, get a grip on reality. Once again Gore was diverting vital U.S. assets for his personal use.