Wash.Post: Counterintelligence Officials Resign

[cascadiance]

Looks like this story just got published on the Washington Post website in the last hour or so. Haven't seen it elsewhere. Sounds like two of the counterintelligence officials that were involved with the DOD's newest intelligence agency, The Counterintelligence Field Activity, (director David A. Burtt II, director and deputy director Joseph Hefferon, just resigned for "personal reasons". This agency was being investigated for "earmarked" funding as well as a raw database of information on anti-war protestors. Also being looked at with the Duke Cunningham and MZM messes too:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/09/AR2006080901700.html

Counterintelligence Officials Resign

By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 10, 2006; Page A04

David A. Burtt II, director of the Counterintelligence Field Activity, the Defense Department's newest intelligence agency whose contracts based on congressional earmarks are under investigation by the Pentagon and federal prosecutors, told his staff yesterday that he and his deputy director will resign at the end of the month.

In an internal message, Burtt said, "I do not make this decision without trepidation, but the time is right to move on to the next phase of my career." He said he had been privileged to serve as CIFA director and was "especially proud of all of you and what you have accomplished for the CI community and for the overall CI mission."

Joseph Hefferon "has also decided to retire, after over 31 years of federal service," according to Burtt's message. A Pentagon spokesman yesterday confirmed they were leaving and said it was "a personal decision that they both made together."

Burtt, who was a deputy assistant secretary of defense for counterintelligence at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, developed the concept for CIFA. It was established in September 2002, originally to coordinate policy and oversee the counterintelligence activities of units within the armed services and Pentagon agencies.
...

[elehhhhna]

1. k&r the plot thickens.

[joemurphy]

2. Let's put this one on our closely watched list. It smells. n/t

[rodeodance]

10. bringing in new people will delay the Duke investigation.

In late 2002, Cunningham, who received campaign contributions from Wade and other MZM officials, made contracts for Wade's company one of "his top priorities," according to prosecutors' documents. One result, according to prosecutors' documents, was $6 million spent for a data storage system, supposedly for CIFA, that included almost $5.4 million in profit for MZM and a subcontractor.

Following disclosures in Cunningham's case, Undersecretary of Defense Stephen A. Cambone last March ordered an internal study of how funding earmarked in defense bills led to CIFA contracts for MZM. The Defense Information Systems Agency, which has been given responsibility for the inquiry, said in a statement yesterday that "the investigation is still ongoing."

[cascadiance]

3. Another article on Burtt from the post...

This from William Arkin's column... Hmmm!...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2006/04/the_f_bomb.html

William M. Arkin on National and Homeland Security

The F Bomb

My post "Free Speech and Patriotism" provoked many responses that took me to task for using the F word and being rude and childish in responding to a Marine Corps general who asked me whether I considered myself a journalist or an American.

...

Before I go, I also want to comment on the long posting in response to my latest installment on Pentagon domestic spying defending David Burtt, Director of the Pentagon's Counterintelligence Field Activity.

AngryVietVet68 wrote:

"I know Dave Burtt personally and I know that he would not do anything maliciously or intentionally to spy on innocent Americans or deprive them of their civil or Constitutional rights... I suspect pressure from Wolfowitz and other senior DoD officials put pressure on the military counterintelligence and antiterrorism offices ... The one thing that I know for certain is that Dave Burtt is an honorable person who has the best interest of the American people and the US military at heart.... I am sure that when he says his office is doing its best to correct the errors of judgment and purge the data base of improper information that he will do it. ... Dave Burtt is an American patriot. ... He is kind and honorable person trying to do a very difficult job."

Okay Mom, enough.

David Burtt is a high level government official responsible Department of Defense operating in violation of policy and the law. But in the ways of Washington, he is just doing his best -- patriot, honorable, good -- and it's someone else's fault if mistakes were made.

It's enough to make you f**king furious.

[dave29]

4. awww how cute

resigning together

[Dr.Phool]

5. Must need to spend more time with their lawyers.

[Marie26]

6. Counter-intelligence?

What exactly is counter-intelligence? The definition says: "The activity of preventing the enemy from obtaining secret information, such as careful classification and control of sensitive information and spreading disinformation."

So, these guys aren't exactly spies, like the CIA, right? So they're not trying to collect information, they're trying to keep information secret. And the Bush Administration has created a new entire agency for this? It sounds like the "Counterintelligence Field Activity" agency might be at the center of a lot of Bushco.'s shadiest activities.

ETA - This is interesting:

"Pentagon Expanding Its Domestic Surveillance Activity"

The Defense Department has expanded its programs aimed at gathering and analyzing intelligence within the United States, creating new agencies, adding personnel and seeking additional legal authority for domestic security activities in the post-9/11 world.

The moves have taken place on several fronts. The White House is considering expanding the power of a little-known Pentagon agency called the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, which was created three years ago. The proposal, made by a presidential commission, would transform CIFA from an office that coordinates Pentagon security efforts -- including protecting military facilities from attack -- to one that also has authority to investigate crimes within the United States such as treason, foreign or terrorist sabotage or even economic espionage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/26/AR2005112600857.html

So this new agency is basically becoming the new domestic spying organization. Great. I guess Rumsfeld & Cheney figured, if the CIA won't spy on Americans, why not just create a new Defense agency that will?

[cascadiance]

7. Or, like Jack Bauer at CTU on 24, torture to prevent WWIII...

when we presumably have situations that give us no other options. 24 is really realistic in that regard. I think Chloe tells Rush Limbaugh that most probably...

Of course this administration will try to equivalence the jobs of those agencies, even though Bush definitely has one but not the other of these two qualities (intelligence, terrorist). I'll let you all come to a consensus which quality that is! :)

[Just Me]

8. Hmmm, I wonder. "Career" service, eh? Escape, yes?

Ending service under this regime would be the best self-serving action, even it fails to help the nation. Too bad the citizens don't have their own "interrogation facilities" to drag out the truth about their so-called democratic government, huh?

I am no longer amazed at what this country has become: just sickened by it.

[NorthernSun]

9. Next phase, hacking Diebold machines?

Protecting America from those Left-Wing Democrats.

[ShockediSay]

11. database information on war protestors ... hear that Arlen?

so why does this administration want to duck the judicial check for a warrant???

[Robb]

12. Write a book now. Write a book now.

Write a book now. Write a book now. Write a book now. Write a book now.
:bounce:

[woodsprite]

13. Does anybody know if any of these people who are

resigning have homes out of this country? Just wondering.

[xchrom]

14. so is this the info the terror alerts are supposed to cover up?

[donkeyotay]

15. I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

Well, how long is this investigation going to go on? Until y'all forget.

Following disclosures in Cunningham's case, Undersecretary of Defense Stephen A. Cambone last March ordered an internal study of how funding earmarked in defense bills led to CIFA contracts for MZM. The Defense Information Systems Agency, which has been given responsibility for the inquiry, said in a statement yesterday that "the investigation is still ongoing."

[cascadiance]

16. L.A. Times has a story out now that says a new report will be "wider"...

in scope, and it sounds like it's damning of other Republicans blocking subpoenas, etc. More stuff coming out on Foggo too. I'm guessing that these two events might be linked. Perhaps these two are cutting and running much like Porter Goss did earlier.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2449123&mesg_id=2449123

[Wiley50]

17. OK. So Burtt and Trepidation just quit

Who is the third guy?

In an internal message, Burtt said, "I do not make this decision without trepidation,