Former CIA Official Scolds Intel Chief Blair
A former senior CIA officer is criticizing the office of National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair for publicly denouncing a British court's decision to release long-censored information about alleged U.S. mistreatment of a suspected terrorist.
Joseph Wippl, a 30-year veteran of the CIA's undercover operations division, says Blair’s office had no business criticizing the Brits.
"It's inappropriate to comment on judicial proceedings in other countries," said Wippl, who now directs the Center for International Relations at Boston University. "Politically it's a mistake and it causes a lot of resentment," he told Declassified. "We don't like it when they comment on our [court rulings]." For example, Wippl noted, when foreign governments have criticized court rulings related to the U.S. terrorist detention camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, the reaction of American agencies has been: mind your own business. (Blair’s office could not be immediately reached for comment.)
On Wednesday, Britain's Court of Appeals ordered the U.K. government to make public information describing how British resident Binyam Mohamed was allegedly mistreated while in custody, under U.S. control, in Pakistan in 2002. The newly released information alleged that Mohamed was subjected to extended sleep deprivation. Both the U.S. and British governments argued against releasing the information.
"We respect the administration's position and understand that the court's judgment presents challenges that both countries need to work with," said Martin Longden, a British spokesman. He added that the U.K. government agreed with Washington’s argument that allies should not divulge classified information shared in confidence.
Brown's government clearly appears to sympathize with Blair's criticism of the court ruling. Wippl said he could understand their position, but says it was still unwise for a U.S. intelligence agency to go around dumping on decisions by foreign judges.
Comments