In a rather extraordinary unbylined blog item posted on Wednesday, the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has launched what appears to be an all-out assault on FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds and her remarkable, long-awaited under-oath deposition taken over the weekend in the Ohio Election Commission (OEC)’s Schmidt v. Krikorian case.
Called as a witness for David Krikorian (who is Armenian-American), Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH)’s opponent in 2008 and 2010, Edmonds (who is Turkish-American) testified to infiltration, bribery, corruption, and blackmail within the U.S. Government, by current and former members of the U.S. House and other high ranking officials, on behalf of Turkish interests. Schmidt, the co-chair of the Congressional Turkish Caucus has filed a complaint with the OEC alleging “false statements” by Krikorian during their 2008 contest when he had alleged she had taken “blood money” from those opposed to a Congressional declaration of Armenian Genocide by the Turks during WWI. Schmidt is also said to have taken more money from Turkish interests during the 2008 campaign than any other House candidate.
The TCA seems to have “declared war,” according to Edmonds who touched base from out of the country via email on Wednesday. The scathing blog post alleges Edmonds’ testimony was “a full-on assault against the national interests of the United States and the integrity of its justice system by the Armenian lobby”; says “Krikorian and his lobbyist backers are getting desperate”; and otherwise attempts to disparage Edmonds’ character by describing her as “self-aggrandizing,” and a “disgruntled and discredited former federal employee.”
The report offers no evidence to support any of its allegations against Krikorian, Edmonds or “the Armenian Lobby.” Many of the claims, particularly those concerning Edmonds, are directly contradicted by official reports from the FBI Inspector General’s office, as well as senior, bi-partisan members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee…
“[S]he has a self-aggrandizing imagination inflating her position at the FBI to that of an interrogator of terrorists; and…has a book coming out this fall,” the blog post claims about Edmonds. While we’ve interviewed Edmonds for many hours over the years, in depth, and read an extraordinary amount of reportage on her case, we’ve never heard or read any such claims of her having interrogated anybody. As to a book coming out, we know nothing of that either, though it would certainly be welcome!
While alleging in one breath that “Krikorian and his lobbyist backers are getting desperate,” the blog post then goes on to make the rather, um, desperate, charge that: “The irrelevance and insignificance of Ms Edmonds’ deposition can be evidenced by the fact that Mr. Geragos, Mr. Krikorian’s attorney of record, did not bother to show up.”
Huh? Krikorian himself flew in from Ohio for the deposition, and celebrity-attorney Geragos’ firm is, in fact, representing Krikorian, but it’s rather common for other attorneys in any law firm to be present for a deposition. While we don’t have any particular dog in the Turkish Lobby vs. Armenian Lobby hunt, the use of such a silly claim would seem to suggest the author of the Turkish Coalition’s post was fairly desperate him/herself.
The TCA post goes on to ask why Edmonds’ was called to testify in the case at all, since she admittedly had no specific information on Schmidt’s personal involvement with the Turkish lobby or last year’s race between her and Krikorian. Schmidt came to Congress in a 2005 special election, several years after Edmonds had left the FBI where she was a translator of pre-9/11 wiretaps.
We hate to say it, but this passage seems to offer still more desperation. The case concerns whether or not Schmidt has been unduly influenced by Turkish lobbyists and/or the Turkish government. Edmonds testified on just about a half dozen U.S. Congressmembers, current and former, who, she says, had been bribed, blackmailed, and otherwise cajoled or strong-armed into supporting Turkish causes. Offering up a first-hand witness to such behavior by others in Congress seems a perfectly reasonable part of anybody’s defense in such a case.
The TCA continues by then attempting to simply disparage Edmonds’ character, describing her as “a discredited former employee of the FBI (who served the federal government for a total of six months before being fired).”
They do not, however, offer any actual evidence for their claims that Edmonds has been “discredited,” even as the actual on-the-record evidence suggests quite the opposite.
In 2005, for example, portions of the FBI’s own Inspector General’s report on her case were unclassified. They reported her allegations to be “credible,” “serious,” and “warrant[ing] a thorough and careful review by the FBI.”
As far back as 2002, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-NE) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), then the senior members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, co-wrote letters on Edmonds’ behalf to Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and DoJ Inspector General Glenn A. Fine, calling on all of them to take action in respect to the allegations she’s made to Congress and, later, to the 9/11 Commission.
Grassley would discuss Edmonds’ credibility on CBS’ 60 Minutes in a 2002 report when he said “Absolutely, she’s credible…And the reason I feel she’s very credible is because people within the FBI have corroborated a lot of her story.”
To our knowledge, none of her on-the-record allegations about Turkish influence and/or infiltration in the U.S. government have been discredited. Though the TCA seems to have done a fine job of discrediting themselves with such an irresponsible, evidence-free, unbylined attack on an FBI whistleblower.
Here are just a few more snippets from the blog item, which largely speak for and/or discredit themselves:
…
It is astonishing how low ANCA [Armenian National Committee of America] and its officials will sink to impose their view of history on others.
…
Furthermore, it displays the lethal mixture that results from a disgruntled and discredited former federal employee, a single-issue Armenian lobbying organization that serves the interests of a foreign government to the detriment of the security and interests of the United States, and a fringe candidate in a congressional election willing to make unfounded and slanderous accusations against public servants.
Um, speaking of “mak[ing] unfounded and slanderous accusations against public servants”…Hey TCA, Pot is calling on line one, says you’re black.
The top of both the TCA website and blog notes their tagline: “Fostering Understand of Turkish American Issues through Public Education.”
While noted earlier, we don’t have any personal stake in either side of the centuries old Turk vs. Armenian debate, but an outrageous post like that of the TCA’s certainly engenders sympathy for the Armenian side of the question. For us, anyway. If that’s how the Turkish Lobby is willing to behave, if that is their version of “Public Education,” and those are the sorts of scurrilous allegations they’re happy to make — without even putting anybody’s name on them, or offering evidence to back them up — it certainly smells like they’re a helluva lot more “desperate” than the “Armenian Lobby” they claim, without evidence, is behind this entire brouhaha.
I have no dog in this fight either but the Turkish Lobby seem to be able to give the oil,insurance,weapons, and banking lobbies a run for their money. I’ll study the Armenian Genocide issue some more.
Sibel Edmonds made her claims without fear or favor long before David Krikorian surfaced. She identifies a method and a network through which corruption of Schmidt may have occurred; that network was in place in the 1990’s. Denny Hastert was a mentor, if not a conduit.
Over and over again, the Turkish Government and its lobbies here scream when silence would serve them better.
If you would like to see the genocidal rage animating some of the local Turkish talent, google the name of Ergun Kirlikovali, the incoming President Elect of the ATAA. Among other gems, he has written:
1. “I have lived in Southern California long enough to see how incredibly hateful most Diaspora Armenians truly are. These are the people who have never met a Turk in their lives, but [are] quite ready to kill one on sight” Source: ‘history of truth article “Armenia must syop Aggression and Defamation Prior to Any Reconciliation” dated August 1, 2008.
I have plenty more.
By the wway, Mr. K no longer uses his name unless his writings are scrubbed by someone a bit more deft in English, and a bit less crazed. He now uses the nommes de Plume of Robert, Alan, Norman Israel, Haim Weissman, and Dakides.
He has written some silly crap on Turkey Forum – topix under htese names about Sibel, parrotong the TCA screed, and calling her “sibellydancer”.
Boiling Frogs interviewing Philip Giraldi…
sibel is a unsung hero as is another woman,carol lam,the us attorney that was fired after her office served a search warrent on dusty foggo,the number 3 cia guy in san diego
i bring this up because mr cannings brillant cia article mentions another part of the puzzle
….†(An Aug. 13, 2009 New York Times article reveals that three CIA sites, constructed under the direction of Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, “were designed to appear identical, so prisoners would be disoriented and not know where they were if they were shuttled back and forth.”)
after carol was replaced dusty was still prosecuted but only for taking bribes…was her intent to stop this illegal torture/rendition thing?
remember dusty took bribes from wade to construct these prisons and wade recieved his first govt contract from non other than dick cheny for 140 grande worth of office furniture
i have a question about sibels revolations..if i remember correctly she said bin laden was working with the cia right up to 9-11,does this mean the cole attack was carried out by the cia?
thank you brad,earnst,99 for your reporting
Dude their country is called “Turkey”. Considered the stupidest bird on this planet. How appropriate.
Seriously, the Turks have created a whole industry of Armenian Genocide denial which then has become very profitable for many takers. The TCA’s unsubstantiated claims against Ms. Edmunds is on par with their Armenian Genocide denial. Fabrication seems to be part part of their identity. Ms. Edmunds story is credible and unfortunately disturbing.
When are the tapes and transcripts going to be released…that oughta shut ’em up!?!?!
“When are the tapes and transcripts going to be released…that oughta shut ’em up!?!?! ”
When indeed. I’ve damn well had enough of criminals running my country. It’s time for some prosecutions!
We need to get the name, address, telephone and email of the scumbag sitting on her testimony. Then we need to flood these people …. with visits, phonecalls and emails.
Karen,
Maybe, but I don’t think so. Its just not that simple. Lets go back to what she said:
She doesn’t say anything working with, she talks about relationships. She also doesnt say anything about CIA. Its just not as simple bin Laden was working for the CIA or whoever, and that everything he does is done for them.
There is a good chance that the lawyers are telling their client not to release the videotapes for good reasons. Krikorian might be viewed in a dim light by the OEC if they felt he used the process to take a deposition whose primary purpose was beyond the litigation. Which by the way he did not.
The Turkish Lobby corruption, real, intellectual and figurative, took a long time to take hold, and has wound its well-oiled sinews slowly around our government. It won’t be dislodged by a single video, and it won’t happen quickly either.
But at the right time it will happen.
Joe Blow @ 2 said:
FWIW, a “Norman Israel” posted a fairly insane rant against Sibel and the entire affair (the “bogus genocide” as he called it) in comments on one of my recently related items. That comment is right here…
Styve @ 6 asked:
Well, good news and bad. Good news: I’m told there is “no conspiracy” and that the video tape, if not the transcript, will be released soon. The bad news: I am set to go off the grid entirely for a week beginning next Monday (some much needed, long planned camping somewhere in the mountains).
So while I hope the material is released soon, I’ll hope it’s once I’m back the following week, as opposed to when I’m gone!
“Krikorian and his lobbyist backers are getting desperate”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
These guys (the Turks) ALWAYS accuse the other of “desperation” the moment they are backed into a corner! This is absolutely hilarious, especially if you follow statements of politicians or Turkish general staff in Turkish media! The minute something doesn’t go their way or they’ve been caught in some lie or other, you can bet they’ll start accusing everyone else of “DESPERATION!!”
Man, this is really funny and it’s VERY good news for Krikorian!
This brad Blog is the ony coverage this issue of silly translator heard over the line some half truth and made her own story about how she will be the protector of US intrest,,all these millions of dollars our CIA gets to protect the USA knows far less than this stupid silly famous wanna be ignorant person, Yeah right, look at the job she takes which requires the minum effort to make a living, translator.and if she can near all but our FBI or CIA can not,
who belives this non sence, only the party who is interest lies on the deteriation of the relation with US strongest allie Nato Memeber Turkey, Armenian lobby, it5 is the Armenia who host Russian troops in their land, and their closest friend, and who has the strongest military in Nato after USA, Turkey, where is all the US bases in? Turkey, who assists US on war on Teror? Turkey.
and who was selling false documents for $35.000 each to Illigal Armenian criminals and murderes in LA, and denger the lives of Americans right here in US? Armenian diplomats,so you go Figure.
So “mark”, is your point that Armenians are inherently evil, or that Ottomans did the world a favor by killing them, or that they weren’t massacred in their millions but should have been?
Or is your point that US Congress should not recognize the AG because it irks you, even if true?
No. What Mark really means is Turkey, the country that tried to extort 36 billion, but only received 26 billion, US dollars at the start of the Iraq war who then, at the last minute, refused the U.S. 4th infantry causing further American deaths. Turkey, the most anti-American – anti-semitic country on this planet. Turkey, where Hitlers books are the best sellers. Turkey the worst violators of human rights on this planet. Turkey, that was founded upon the mass murder of the Armenians-Pontiff Greeks and Assyrian people. Turkey, to hide it’s past, creates laws banning open discussion of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, that gave the blue print to the Nazi’s on human extermination.
That’s the Turkey Mark is talking about.
i hope miss edmonds knows her life is in danger
she better stay away from private jets well i hope she taking pre cautions because there will kill her to shut her up
Turkey is our enemy. The TCA is our enemy. Is there anyone that can rid the country of this scumbag criminal element?
Sibel Edmonds in my opinion is a hero.
I highly recommend listening to Sibel Edmonds and Peter B Collins interviewing Philip Giraldi:
August 19, 2009
Philip Giraldi, former CIA and DIA officer, on US/Israel relations, AIPAC, wiretapping and Rep. Jane Harman. This is the third installment of Boiling Frogs interviews co-hosted with Sibel Edmonds, and is quite explosive.
Link
Public heroes are mighty scarce these days. It’s a dangerous thing to keep to the courage of your convictions when they run counter to the ruling criminal class. Sibel Edmonds is definitely a hero for our time. “mark” and his ilk are simultaneously laughable and dangerous in their obvious desperation at the truth being revealed. And I found it here on the Brad Blog. Thank you, Brad.
And um, “mark,” try decaf. Regular is not helping you hide those guilty jitters.
It’s great to hear the Turkish lobby start to panic over Sibel’s charges, but I think it’s a little late to smear her. The deposition will be released, and then it will be a matter of public record and further investigation. I wonder if Denny Hastert will make it to the witness chair alive.
have any update about 2.0? when will launch?
wait to update mysite
google “bjerknes armenian genocide”