CIA & Intelligence - The American Spark

- CIA & Intelligence
Congressional Oversight Of Covert Actions
By Cliff Montgomery – June 30th, 2018Covert actions and clandestine activities remain some of the greatest threats to a functional democracy.Just consider that the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms defines ‘covert operation’ as “an operation that is so planned and executed as to conceal the identity of or permit plausible denial by the sponsor,” and adds that “a covert operation differs from a clandestine operation in that emphasis is placed on concealment of identity of [the] sponsor rather than on concealment of the operation. [Italics added]”Such actions ensure that the American people cannot possibly know all…
- CIA & Intelligence
CIA Mistake ‘Prompted Korean Nuclear Race’
A veteran intelligence official tells senators that info on North Korea’s nuke program is questionable at best. CIA Mistake ‘Prompted Korean Nuclear Race’By Cliff Montgomery – Mar. 28th, 2007The U.S.…
- CIA & Intelligence
Justice Department Report Shows Data Collection May Be Illegal
Justice report reveals that the FBI may have often collected data on U.S. citizens illegally.Justice Department Report Shows Data Collection May Be IllegalBy Cliff Montgomery – Mar. 23rd, 2007From about…
- CIA & Intelligence
Bush Administration Hides ‘Black Budget’
What abuses canoccur under Bush’ssecret ‘robustfunding of theintelligencecommunity’?Bush Administration Hides ‘Black Budget’By Cliff Montgomery – Mar. 22nd, 2007The Bush Administration’s proposed 2008 defense budget reads as expected…until you get to…
- CIA & Intelligence
Congressional Committee Looks Into Saudi Ties To Al Qaeda, Terrorism
Senators boldly point out Saudi ties to al-Qaeda and other Islamist terror groups. Congressional Committee Looks Into Saudi Ties To Al-Qaeda, TerrorismBy Cliff Montgomery – Mar. 8th, 2007Buried in the…
- CIA & Intelligence
CIA Operatives Indicted By Milan Court
CIA renditions areabout to go on trialin Italy.CIA Operatives Indicted By Milan CourtBy Cliff Montgomery – Mar. 1st, 2007On Feb. 16th, an Italian judge gave approval for what will be…
- CIA & Intelligence
U.S. Intel Chief Beats ‘Fear Drum’ On Iran
Even as he admits Iraq has slid into ‘civil war’. U.S. Intel Chief Beats ‘Fear Drum’ On IranBy Cliff Montgomery – Feb. 28th, 2007Giving statements that sound suspiciously like those…
- CIA & Intelligence
Advisers Say Homeland Security Lacks Intel Community Support
Why doesland Securityseem to be ignoringthe very intelligencecommunity it needsmost?Advisers Say land Security Lacks Intel Community SupportBy Cliff Montgomery – Feb. 6th, 2007The Department of land Security (DHS) should push…
- CIA & Intelligence
Intel Officials Say U.S. Inclusiveness Dampens Terrorism
But are top U.S.intelligence officialsdenying the truthabout other matters?Intel Officials Say U.S. Inclusiveness Dampens TerrorismBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 31st, 2007Though the U.S. is hardly immune to the grass-roots religious…
- CIA & Intelligence
Study Says Pentagon Should Not Conduct Covert Operations
A congressionalreport tells us whythe DefenseDepartment shouldnot be involved inthe spy game.Study Says Pentagon Should Not Conduct Covert OperationsBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 26th, 2007Why shouldn’t the Defense Department take…
- CIA & Intelligence
Military Spying On U.S. Citizens
The DefenseDepartment hasbegun looking intothe lives of ordinaryAmericans.Military Spying On U.S. CitizensBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 18th, 2007The Defense Department has been exploiting a little-known power to obtain banking and…
- CIA & Intelligence
Lawmakers Ordered Probe Of Data Mining Project
Just what privacy protections does the U.S. government’s ‘data mining’ efforts provide?Lawmakers Ordered Probe Of Data-Mining ProjectBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 17th, 2007Congressional appropriators ordered the inspector general of the…
- CIA & Intelligence
Privacy Watchdogs Demand Probe Of Spying Program
Many experts saythe ‘Civil LibertiesOversight Board’ isfailing its fellowAmericans.Privacy Watchdogs Demand Probe Of Spying ProgramBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 11th, 2007On Dec. 5th, civil liberties groups urged a federal advisory…
- CIA & Intelligence
Can We Still Trust National Intelligence Estimates?
Why our NationalIntelligenceEstimates may notbe as reliable asmany think.Can We Still Trust National Intelligence Estimates?By Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 2nd, 2007How important are National Intelligence Estimates, those “white papers” produced…
- CIA & Intelligence
Is The Defense Department Conducting Its Own Covert Actions?
The DefenseDepartment may begetting dangerouslyclose to becominganother CIA.Is The Defense Department Conducting Its Own Covert Actions?By Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 1st, 2007Is the Defense Department creating something of a covert…
- CIA & Intelligence
Is America ‘Drowning In A Sea Of Faux Secrets’?
The current veil ofWashington secrecyis hurting us, athome and abroad.Is America ‘Drowning In A Sea Of Faux Secrets’?By Cliff MontgomeryA March 14th, 2006 hearing before the Subcommittee on National Security,…
- CIA & Intelligence
Army Outsources Interrogator Duties
Should privatecompanies whichanswer to no oneinterrogateAmerica’sdetainees?Army Outsources Interrogator DutiesBy Cliff MontgomerySince the start of the second Iraq war, the U.S. Army has quadrupled its yearly output of soldiers trained to…
- CIA & Intelligence
Agency Using Flawed Program To Connect Intelligence Dots
The BushAdministration won’tgive up on trying tospy on us at everyturn.Agency Using Flawed Program To Connect Intelligence DotsBy Cliff MontgomeryThe government’s top intelligence agency apparently is building a computerized system…
- CIA & Intelligence
Aurora, Colorado: Home To Privatized Spy Game?
Is America about tobe filled with ‘RockyMountain Spies’?Aurora, Colorado: To Privatized Spy Game?By Cliff MontgomeryAccording to articles in The Denver Post and Government Executive magazine, the growing Denver suburb of…
- CIA & Intelligence
Revealed: De Classified Clinton Anti Terror Strategy Condoleeza Rice Says Didn’T Exist
News Flash: Amember of the BushAdministrationcaught in a lie…Revealed: De-Classified Clinton Anti-Terror Strategy Condoleezza Rice Claims Never ExistedBy Cliff MontgomeryIn a series of recent public statements, Secretary of State Condoleezza…
- CIA & Intelligence
Secrecy Watchdog Group Gives Poor Marks To Bush Administration
Is the irrationalsecrecy of the BushAdministrationdestroyingdemocracy?Secrecy Watchdog Group Gives Poor Marks To Bush AdministrationBy Cliff MontgomeryA highly-regarded, non-partisan secrecy watchdog group has released its “Secrecy Report Card” for 2006, and…
- CIA & Intelligence
New Book Exposes Flaws In ‘State Secrets Privilege’
Why no groupshould haveunchecked power ina free society.New Book Exposes Flaws In “State Secret Privilege”By Cliff MontgomeryComing into the final stretch of the election on Nov. 7th, it may help…
- CIA & Intelligence
Bush Administration Working To Silence Terror Suspect
Should careerpoliticians decidewho gets a trial andwho doesn’t?Bush Administration Working To Silence Terror SuspectBy Cliff MontgomeryThe Bush Administration is attempting to keep a terrorist suspect who has spent years in…
- CIA & Intelligence
Intelligence Info Kept From First Responders
Experts sayimportant terrorintelligence is beingkept from those whoneed it most.Intelligence Info Kept From First RespondersBy Cliff MontgomeryFive years after September 11th, the Bush Administration’s willingness to share needed intelligence and…