I’ve been a fan of Glenn Beck’s for about two years – before he moved to Fox News. I liked his over-the-top fusillades against liberals and their arrogance and duplicity. Most impressive to me was his research. The depth and accuracy of his exploration into law, history and culture was something this former intelligence analyst really appreciated.
No more.
On his February 2nd show, in making a point about America’s growing dependency on China, Beck said something that infuriated me. Being challenged on philosophy is one thing, but using a lie to stoke that challenge is something I can’t tolerate.
In his monologue, Beck contended that “a source in the CIA” told him that the intelligence community is not pursuing China’s “daily” cyber attacks on U.S. information systems because “you don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
Folks – that is a lie.
I’ve written several posts about the critical national security issue that is cyber security. I’m well aware of the efforts the intelligence community has undertaken to combat the tens of thousands of cyber attacks every day. I don’t know who Glenn Beck’s “source in the CIA” is, or if there even IS such a source, but what he charged is a smear of a group of patriots that cannot defend themselves.
The intelligence community’s cyber defense activities are thorough and relentless and are driven by facts, not philosophy. The only shortfall is that the Obama administration has negligently delayed the initiation of the new U.S.Cyber Command, but even that is more a product of internal politics and not in deference to China.
Further, had this or any administration instructed any part of the intelligence community to “back off” an adversary for political purposes, the resignations would have been so swift, voluminous and loud, the defections would not be secret nor could they be ignored.
That is particularly true of the National Security Agency – the center of the community’s cyber operations and the intended home of Cyber Command. NSA’s Director, Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander is an unabashed patriot, but had this order come from the Commander-in-Chief, his resignation would have been instant. And Alexander’s would have plenty of company.
Beck’s false contention is an irresponsible, self serving defamation that belittles a dedicated – and successful – intelligence effort. What Beck’s charge suggests is a criminal conspiracy. If what he said were true, those responsible for giving China a “free pass” on cyber attacks would be guilty of nothing short of treason.
If any crime has been committed, it has been the crime of slander by Glenn Beck.
I appreciate his passion and I agree with his politics, but Beck told a lie. I don’t know if it was his lie or that of his “source,” but it was a lie.
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Garnet Spy:
I certainly defer to your expertise and information on these matters so I would not even begin to argue the facts of the case with you.
I’ve been listening to Beck since 9/12/2001 when he was NOTHING like me in much of his politics. Since that time he as come around tremendously and is willing to learn and has always, that I’ve been able to detect, admitted his mistakes once they were pointed out to him. I’m impressed that he has even admitted HUGE mistakes in his own outlook and even fundamental political philosophy (or lack thereof in the past) over the years.
I would go further and give the benefit of a doubt and, since a lie usually indicates an intent to deceive, would say that Beck did not intentionally lie but has apparently received poor information.
From what I know about you, I implicitly trust that your information is correct on this matter over his. Therefore I’d recommend that you make an attempt to contact him (as I also will) on the matter and perhaps others in the intelligence community and otherwise will attempt to get into contact with him on the matter.
His show is one of the biggest such political talk shows ever and his audience is huge and should not be misled whether on purpose or not. I’d rather he put out the truth, no matter what that truth is. From what I can gather from the thousands of hours of his program I’ve heard over the last decade, I’d say he’d correct himself on the matter very quickly once it is pointed out to him.
I would not even begin to propose that I know the truth regarding whether Beck intentionally lied or was lied to. I also would not begin to propose that I know the truth about the CIA’s tactics (or lack thereof) regarding Chinese cyber attacks. I would have to defer to you and your contacts/experience on the latter.
What I do think is worth noting, however, is that I do not doubt that all of the great men and women in the CIA are truly patriots and are doing the best that they can to ensure the safety of every man, woman, and child in this formerly great country… BUT I do believe that generally speaking, these great patriots are mis-led by our government into committing crimes against citizens of this country. I’m pointing at the Patriot Act (among other things). You can not fault the men and women in the CIA and/or law enforcement in general for it, however, because their focus is on protecting this country and enforcing the laws on the books. They’ve been told that they can do the things they do, so they do them and our corrupt court system backs them up.
I do feel that there needs to be some sort of awakening about this concept, though. I think that law enforcement agents in all levels of federal, state, and local governments need to start questioning what they are told they can and can’t do and stop doing things and enforcing laws that are obviously unConstitutional. This country is in crisis and tyranny has taken root. Law enforcement is where the “rubber meets the road” when it comes to tyranny. If we are going to right this ship in a peaceful manner as possible, then law enforcement agents at all levels are going to have to become civilly disobedient on a dramatic scale.
Know that I am not attacking law enforcement nor am I blaming them. They’re just as much a victim of the tyranny in DC as the citizenry is. I’m just saying that they are pivotal when it comes to righting this ship and that means that they might have to fore go doing things that could make their job(s) easier if those things are unConstitutional. We’ll still be safe. We’ll still make it. We might even thrive because the citizenry will no longer be able to remain asleep at the wheel knowing that uncle sam is going to take care of them.
If you’re such a righteous dude, why don’t you use your real name?
i mean to Garnet Spy?
Click the “Dossier” link at the top. A little research before “calling someone out” will go a long way.
Never claimed to be “righteous,” DUDE… just right. Besides, how do you know Garnet Spy ISN’T my real name?
Don’t tell me about those idiots at the CIA, or even the NSA. To Hell with them. Hang’em High, each and every one of those lying curds!
You’re a fool. NO… an idiot. NO… an ignorant SOB. You have NO idea what the intelligence community has done for you, but you’ll flap your stupid face to spout some uneducated, mindless drivel that someone else told you to say.
I WON’T tell you about the CIA or NSA. Because you wouldn’t understand. Even if I drew pictures – in crayon – and had it interpreted by Barney.
Dumbass!
You don’t have to explain anything to me. I’ve seen them real close up and seen their stupidity and their arrogance. I’ve seen them get some fine boys killed because of their ‘so called mistakes’. Where were these bastards on 911? On coffee break? Shopping at Wal Mart? Buying more black ties and dark sunglasses? What did they do for America ‘that Day’?
I’ll tell you where; hiding under their desks figuring on who they were going to point the guilty not-my-fault finger to to save their government-tit pay-checks and their own bums.
But, like your kind, you can only accuse and call me names. You never once asked me why I felt the way I do towards these worthless do nothings. No, you just call me a fool, an idiot, a SOB and belittle my intelligence because my free speech and my experiences don’t savvy with yours. I already have lots of Democratic Left Wing Wacko’s that do the very same thing, in fact, a few have given me and my family death threats for my views. You think you scare me?
Clearly you need MUCH explained to you. If you think NSA was “hiding under desks” or at Wal-Mart on 9/11, you ARE a fool. And, by the way, did you know that half of NSA is military – most of which are overseas? Did you know that NSA’s work SAVES troops lives? Do you have any idea what commanders in the field think of the work NSA does?
No. You don’t. I do.
I’m not trying to scare you. You just need an education.
Alright, I do not wish to jump into any pee-pee contests, but I think the distinction needs to be made that the CIA and NSA are concerned primarily with foreign threats and the NSA particularly with threats to the military. 9/11 happened by EVERY hijacker boarding a plane within the domestic US. Were they foreign nationals? Yes. Does that change things even a little? Not that I can tell, because the CIA is not supposed to operate within the boundaries of the USA, so once the foreign nationals enter the USA they are out of their reach. (GarnetSpy correct me if I am wrong on this).
My beef is primarily with other alphabet agencies operating within the borders of this country as they arguably do not have the authority to do so (at least in the manner in which they currently do). The federal government has NO authority to make ANY drugs illegal, so why does the DEA exist? The FBI focuses on counter-terrorism, bank robberies, child porn and crimes that involve the crossing of state lines (I’m sure I’m leaving something out here).
Well, they are concerned with counter-terrorism which is TRULY (I know MANY will disagree with this) just crimes when committed within the borders of this country and up to the state LEAs to deal with. Last I checked, no war has been declared against anyone since we declared war against Germany and Japan, so there are no foreign enemy fighters in existence as there is no actual, Constitutional war.
The FBI deals with bank robberies. Why? Well, because banks are insured by the FDIC. Well, the federal government has no authority to insure banks at all, so the FDIC should not exist and, therefore, the FBI should not be concerned with bank robberies.
How about child porn? They enforce this because there is a federal law against it. Where in the Constitution does the federal government have the authority to make child porn illegal? This is also a function left up to the states. The FBI has no business enforcing this.
How about crimes that cross state lines? Well, this is a tough one. I don’t have the room to put it all here, but I say that unless the individual states request assistance from the federal government, they should stay out of it.
US Marshals? The primary mission of the US Marshals is to ensure the security and integrity of the federal judicial system. Great! The problem is that they have taken this to an extreme that is not allowed under our US Constitution. The US Marshals, for example, spearheaded the action leading up to the first shooting at Ruby Ridge. Did they have the authority to go after Randy Weaver? After all he was considered a fugitive from federal criminal charges, right? Well, that is only true if you think that the federal government has the authority to dictate the length of shot gun barrels one may possess and/or sell. I have yet to find this authority ANYWHERE in the US Constitution. What’s more is that the shotgun was sold from one private individual to another WITHIN the same state and no disproportionate tariffs were placed upon the sale! The purchase did not even involve the crossing of state lines, so the tyrants favorite “interstate commerce clause” can not even begin to apply here! Much less the incorrect bastardization of the word “regulate” not withstanding.
The basic problem is that the federal government has become absolutely tyrannical in MANY ways and their law enforcement divisions are where the rubber meets the road on tyranny. The men and women in those positions may be wonderful and just doing their jobs, but they are either knowingly or unknowingly perpetuating tyranny. I don’t think this should be acceptable solely because they are “doing their job.”
That’s just my $2.00 ($.01 adjusted for inflation)
CNChapin:
You continue to impress me with your legal perspective on the current state of affairs.
I must say that I think that many (not all) of the duties taken on by the CIA and NSA are vital and good.
My only problem is that, from everything I can tell, those duties are not Constitutionally permitted unless there is an amendment or the duties are performed by the military.
I don’t blame those individuals that work for good and vital purposes. I myself have been in the military during wars not properly declared. However, all it takes is the trouble to obey the existing law.
The conversation has shifted dramatically in the last ten years in our direction. I hope to help keep pushing it that way.
Never the N.S.A., the F.B.I., or the C.I.A. knew anything before 911 and during the events those dogs carried out. They were the most clueless bunch of ostriches out there with their heads stuck in the sand, hiding from the public. they had to watch it all pan out in front of their dead pan faces, just like everyone else.
And you want to defend these people and think I need an education?
I had my education, bailing these idiots out in another theater, in another time. What a bunch of bar-hound screw ups. Fubar!
YOU’RE THE GUY? YOU’RE the one who bailed out NSA, the FBI AND the CIA? All in one theater? Whooooooooooooaaaaa!
And to think, though you call them “dogs,” “clueless,” and “ostriches” they STILL work 24/7 to protect your freedoms.
Oh.. and don’t forget these folks:
http://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic_heritage/memorial_wall/index.shtml
Well, you never do face the truth about these mixed up lost self proclaimed ‘ghosts’ who are never there when you really need them and blame everyone else when the shit really does hit the fan. These guys go ‘country’ and my guys bail them out again and again. But…you would never admit it, would you?
Every big time event, these idiots fail, from Beirut to 9-11. Hell, now they spend their bar time wondering about Tea Party folks, Conservative groups, Christians, and others like them.
And you call yourself the ‘garnet spy’? And I have read your claim you have deep sources within these so called ghost shops. If YOU do receive information, then these idiots, they just prove my point, telling you information you should not be included in. Blabber-mouths fits them better.
“I have read your claim you have deep sources within these so called ghost shops.” Show me where I’ve made such a claim.
I can’t believe that I forgot to mention that great and powerful sniper of liberty the BATFE (formerly known as the ATF)! I am slipping!
When you want to talk about the most egregious offender in the government’s fight against our liberty, you can not ignore the in roads that have been made by the BATFE. Their name says it all. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, As far as I can see, the federal government has NO authority to say a damned word about ANY of these items. This is even more evidenced by their use of the Tax Code as a back door to enforce controls on these items. This is the same tactic used to make drugs “illegal.” The BATFE should not even be able to look themselves in the mirror as they are truly one of the greatest at abridging our liberty. The BATFE is the quintessential example of a tyrannical federal government on a power induced drunken bender. These people should be ashamed of themselves and should never be allowed to use the “well, we’re just doing our job” excuse.
Then there is the Department of the Treasury and the armed thugs who work for them under the IRS umbrella. How disgusting is their breech of our liberty! Look at the minuscule amount of additional taxes that were levied on the colonists resulting in revolution and compare that to the amount of taxes we WILLINGLY pay today. I am to be accepting of some jerks from the IRS bounding through my door with guns drawn because I did not fork over the amount of MY money they are extorting out of me?? I don’t think so! The amount they find acceptable is nothing short of an act of war by any thinking man’s logic!
Garnet spy, the comment you made was long ago in one of your blogs. I will say I cannot recall which one, but the comment struck me as silly, and I remembered it because of your claim. That I will admit.
Go ahead, and bleed for these paycheck collectors if you want, that is your right and your choice.
I and many Americans will never trust them again. I have found them wanting and quite out of mind, so to say. 911 just proved all over again to me just how slothful these benders really are.
You see, I served during the Vietnam conflict. A conflict I later learned was called and instigated by the American Intelligence community who was tired of chasing Russians and Cubans. Your so called heroes used the fear of Communist Domination and the Domino theory against three Presidents to start and maintain that 10,000 day conflict.