Government Whistleblower Protection: the Long Ignored Way to Better Connect the Dots
By Tom Devine and Coleen Rowley
(Rowley is a Former FBI Special Agent)
hat tip: Huffington Post
Posted: May 22, 2010
One month before 9/11, instructors at a Minnesota flight school call the FBI. Among other suspicious happenings, the most unusual “student” they have ever encountered just plopped down thousands in cash to learn to fly a 747, claiming his only purpose was “ego-boosting.” Agents in the Minneapolis FBI Office immediately confirm the information and seek permission to search by warning FBI Headquarters in over 60 emails and frantic telephone calls that “this is a guy who could fly into the World Trade Center.” Although the ‘Director of Central Intelligence’ is briefed within days with a presentation titled “Islamic Extremist Learns to Fly“, neither the FBI or CIA staff does anything until after 9/11. Right after the attacks, however, the officials quickly cover-up these pre 9/11 lapses — actions hastened by internal repression.
This wasn’t the first lapse. In the years before 9/11, an FAA “Red Team” warns that it breaches airport security 90 percent of the time, but is censored from writing its findings and banned from retesting. The same Logan Airport gate exploited by the 9/11 hijackers had flunked just months before. After the attacks, the government grounds and reassigns the Red Team leader (a whistleblower) to remedial duties.
Red Cross scam in Haiti? Time to Investigate the Red Cross
The Red Cross raised over $450 million on behalf of victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.
They say they’ve spent $106 million.
A Haitian goes in search of evidence that the money was spent to help Haitians.
What about the other $344 million. The Red Cross says it has “long term” plans for that money.
Long term plans when there are people going without food, water, medical care and basic tent housing.
Isn’t it about time some Red Cross people went to jail for fraud?
Two groups we know and have faith in:
Editor’s note: In my “former life” of fund raising, in the weeks after the Indonesian Tsunami, I organized a fund raiser called “Open Your Hearts”. I gathered a wide range of organizations to support the gala event and raised $50,000.
Out of all the details involved with such an effort, can you guess what was the most difficult?
