Former Intelligence Operative Says Author of Phoenix Memo Endangered His Life

AP ^ | May 23, 20002 | Jacques Billeaud

[TomGuy]

Now comes the second level of strategy:

Discrediting the messenger.

Looks like the beginning round to destroy Kenneth Williams has begun. Will the media pick up on this and attempt to destroy Williams' credibility with inuendos and allegations?

[noexcuses]

said he alerted the FBI in late 1996 or early 1997 that one or more Middle Eastern pilots were training or working in Arizona.

Why didn't clinton let us know?

[dheretic]

Or it could be that Williams was used to destroy the true messenger and the plan failed. If this is true, it was Ellen and not Williams, that first alerted the FBI. If that be the case, we should be lauding Ellen, not Williams.

[r9etb]

Looks like the beginning round to destroy Kenneth Williams has begun. Will the media pick up on this and attempt to destroy Williams' credibility with inuendos and allegations?

I don't think so. From the looks of it, this Ellen guy was involved with quite a few unsavory characters: Chinese spies and Palestinian bad guys. That's getting around!

Sounds like it's just a convenient coincidence to me: Williams is a counter-intel guy in the same town as Ellen the FBI informant -- of course they'd be in contact.

[Dog]

This is right out of the DNC playbook....discredit the messenger...

Up next the nuts and sluts charge...

[Harrison Bergeron]

"Will the media pick up on this and attempt to destroy Williams' credibility with inuendos and allegations?"

As sure as the source of this story is the AP.

[Howlin]

I need a flowchart. I cannot keep up.

[KSCITYBOY]

You have an interesting name considering your posted views. I guess by go you mean leave. Whatever gets you off.

[Dog]

I heard a news report today that said Williams is quoted as saying that the memo WOULD NOT have HELPED NAB the hijackers before 9/11...not enough info in it.

Also it seems when a memo is written it takes 60 days for the memo to be acted upon by higher ups in the FBI.

William's has stated that if his memo was acted upon as is procedure in the FBI...... it would have been on ....SEPTEMBER 10th!

[Mulder]

Aldrich predicted that Agent Williams would be discredited.

[michigander]

Government officials who spoke only on condition of anonymity said ...

As long as you keep my name out of it, I'll tell you whatever you want to hear.

[Grampa Dave]

This guy complaining sounds like the drug dealers when they get caught, they start hollering< "But hey I was working for the Narcs and they used me, forgot me and served me up for toast! Honest, I was one of the good guys, they made me do bad things!"

Yeah sure when pigs fly!

[goody2shooz]

... this Ellen guy was involved with quite a few unsavory characters...

Hello? What do you imagine covert operatives do? Lurk in sidewalk cafes, furtively peeking out from behind newspapers as they try to glean information suitable for intelligence reports?

Don't be naive. They have to have contacts with persons who indirectly or directly have that valuable information which will make up the intelligence we need to stay safe.

[r9etb]

Don't be naive. They have to have contacts with persons who indirectly or directly have that valuable information which will make up the intelligence we need to stay safe.

I'm not being naive. Ellen's an unsavory character, which he'd have to be to have those contacts. My poorly-made point was that the Williams connection is merely a coincidence, and that his shady contacts would certainly know about him regardless of the FBI.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yep, the Dem/libs need to depose all their potential sources before the party decides to run with their destroy-Bush-missions.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Interesting post. A few parallels with Notra Trulock's situation are striking: a Chinese suspected-spy denying all; a southwest locale; even the timeframe of '96-97... not to mention the timing of the allegations against Williams, which clearly serve (and are probably intended) to discredit him and thereby his message.

Wonder who the string-pullers are this time.

[Howlin]

My guess would be that now that the Democrats and their leakers have seen the actual memo and have been briefed by Williams, they realize there is nothing there; hence, this tactic.

[TN Republican]

Personally, I wouldn't tend to trust someone who has had business dealings with Palestinians and Chinese spies.-