It’s been just over one year since we were told by Sec. of State Kerry and President Obama that pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 killing all 298 on board. The evidence to support the claims, as repeatedly cited by Sec. of State John Kerry at the time, was based largely on “social media”. But no hard evidence has been presented by the U.S. since that no time.
On today’s BradCast, we are joined by retired, 27-year CIA analyst turned peace activist Ray McGovern, who personal delivered the CIA’s Presidential Daily Briefings to several Presidents, including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. His organization,Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) — which includes several high-ranking former intelligence professionals and whistleblowers — have called, once again, on the U.S. to release any evidence to support their claims that Russia was behind the downing of MH17.
“We’re investing 90 billion dollars a year in U.S. intelligence and when push comes to shove, we have to rely on social media?,” he asks incredulously. “The evidence is as sketchy as one could imagine.” In fact, he goes on to tell me on today’s program that “there is no good evidence that pro-Russian separatists, so called, or the Russians themselves shot down that plane. I am morally certain were there to be such evidence, it would be [shouted] from the housetops as proof that Kerry was right.””
In support of his disturbing assertions, McGovern cites, for example, the so-called “Government Assessment” that was publicly issued by the Administration just days after the incident, in place of a traditional “Intelligence Assessment”. “What [Kerry] offered was a ‘Government Assessment’, which means it was written in the White House, which means it was a political document written by political hacks, and that the intelligence analysts would not sign on to it,” McGovern tells me. “That is significant. This is a new genre of report not supported by the intelligence analysts, and that speaks volumes.”
“The reason why there could be no intelligence assessment,” he asserts, “is because my former colleagues were honest enough to prevent that. They said, ‘look, we don’t want to sign on, like our former colleagues did, in a fraudulent estimate saying Iraq has weapons of mass destruction’.”
McGovern, who is decidedly non-partisan (see his infamous personal 2006 confrontation with then-SecDef Donald Rumsfeld over lies about WMD, for evidence) offers several cases of similar misinformation offered by the U.S. in the recent past (during his time with the Reagan Administration, for example), and goes on to explain why he believes the U.S. is concealing “available” evidence and/or failing to correct previous assertions during our must-listen conversation on today’s show.
Also on today’s BradCast: Several other breaking news items and updates, as well as our latest Green News Report…
Download MP3 or listen online below…
[audio:http://bradblog.com/audio/BradCast_BradFriedman_RayMcGovernMH17_082015.mp3]
(Snail mail support to “Brad Friedman, 7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594 Los Angeles, CA 90028” always welcome too!)
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McGovern was also DEAD WRONG on Syria and the supposed “false flag” gassing massacre of the rebels’ own families (yeah right).
His assessment is fact free opinion, a smear attack that just happens to feed Putin’s massive propaganda machine. Just search the web for ‘MH17’ and ‘blame’, it is staggering the effort to deny Russia’s guilt.
The Dutch Safety Board finds BuK missile fragments at the crash site, reported 9 days ago.
Irwin –
So what is your evidence that he was “dead wrong” in regard Syria? Because both he and VIPS stand by that assessment to my knowledge, even today.
Sounds like you didn’t actually bother listening to the interview you’re commenting on, so I’ll have to assume examination of actual evidence isn’t your strong suit here.
Finally, Ukraine also had Buk missiles as I understand (though I’m not sure the report of missile fragments is either confirmed or that it confirms that the fragments were actually Buk system missiles or not.)
Even if they were responsible for firing the missile, it isn’t as if they purposefully shot down a commercial airliner.
The pilot turned a routine flight into a suicide mission by leaving the flight corridor and flying over a war zone, presumably to save fuel.
The Western press often referred alleged russian anti-aircraft complex with No. 312. The security service of Ukraine also published photos “BUK” No. 312 and said alleged it Russian “BUK”.
This video with BUK-M1 â„–312 appeared as “proof” of guilt of Russia on CNN. Actually, It was a Ukrainian complex in service with the Ukrainian army. On the Internet there is an interview with the Ukrainian military, who served at this BUK with â„–312. Now he’s wanted by the Ukrainian security service alleged for treason, although he admitted in interview, that this is no he shoot down a flight MH-17.
After this scandalous interview the security service of Ukraine stated that photo with BUK â„–312 was to get on to them on the official site as “proof” of guilt of Russia by mistake, but CNN still has not brought apologies to Russia for this falsification.
Interview with ukrainian military, who served on the BUK â„–312 in YouTube in Russian:
Ðнатолий Шарий: Человек Ñ Ñ‚Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ Ñамого БУКа â„– 312
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTaCbmX4ffQ
Putin knows the case against him is iron clad and the evidence overwhelming. It s why he vetoed the UN tribunal.