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Buzzy Krongard: I Told My Brother I Was Joining Blackwater's Advisory Board
Howard "Cookie" Krongard might have just perjured himself before the House Oversight Committee.
Earlier today, the State Department inspector general repeatedly told the panel that he was unaware his brother, A.B. "Buzzy" Krongard, had joined the advisory board of State Department security contractor Blackwater. Krongard said he had a single phone conversation with his brother about the issue, in October, in which Buzzy didn't tell Cookie he was joining the board.
Only Buzzy says that's not true.
In an exclusive interview with TPMmuckraker, Buzzy Krongard says that in that phone conversation, he specifically told Cookie Krongard he had agreed to join Blackwater's advisory board. "I had told my brother I was going on the advisory board," Buzzy Krongard says. "My brother says that is not the case. I stand by what I told my brother."
Buzzy Krongard says the phone conversation was more recent than Cookie Krongard indicated to the committee. Cookie said it took place about five or six weeks ago. Buzzy says it was about two or three weeks ago. Both men say there was just one phone conversation. How to reconcile the two accounts?
"I told him I was going on this board. He claims I didn't tell him," Buzzy Krongard says. "So what can I tell you?"
Buzzy Krongard says he only saw the beginning of the hearing. When asked for a reply to Rep. Chris Shays' (R-CT) comment that Buzzy had done Cookie "tremendous damage," Buzzy Krongard demurred. "Shays is free to have his own opinion," he says. "It's much more complicated than that. I'm not going to go into it, and I think anyone who knew all the facts wouldn't have a problem with anything I've done." He says that he told Blackwater to donate any compensation he'd get from sitting on the advisory board -- which he pegs at between $10,000 and $15,000 annually -- to charity.
The two brothers don't speak regularly, Buzzy explains. "And after this," he says, he expects he'll speak to his brother "less often."
Asked if Blackwater knew who his brother was when Erik Prince offered him a position on the advisory board, Buzzy replies, "You think I had to tell them? That they didn't know?" He says it shouldn't be an issue. "If [Cookie Krongard]'s got integrity, it's not gonna matter one way or other," he says. "If he doesn't have integrity it's not gonna matter."
Buzzy Krongard did echo one line of his brother's from the hearing. "Am I my brother's keeper?" he asks.

What will we tell the children?
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November 14, 2007 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez, what dopes!
November 14, 2007 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cookie & Buzzy sitting in a tree...
L Y I N G. Is there anyone in this administration that isn't a criminal?
November 14, 2007 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bbbbbut, he didn't lie about a blow-job - so it's OK.
November 14, 2007 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perjury?
That characteristic alone nominates you for a Medal Of Freedom Award from the Bush administraton.
What, you thought there'd be some sort of punishment?
Nah.
November 14, 2007 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
What are the odds that Cookie is in a non-extradition country by tomorrow morning?
November 14, 2007 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe this is all an act -it is a little too coincidental that they both have similar nicknames -some might say thats a pretty silly similarity, but it says to me that they were pretty familiar as a pair with some group at one time or other -just because they say they don't speak often dosent make it true, after all there is a lot of money at play here
November 14, 2007 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
We have a more powerful weapon than perjury charges, it's called a "strongly worded letter" with a capitulation chaser.
(sigh)
November 14, 2007 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why all the focus on perjury charges? Congress can impeach officials like Cookie. Who cares if he goes to jail (he'll just plead out before the end of the term and get clemency from Bush anyway)? Congress should flex a little muscle and can the guy!
November 14, 2007 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeap. Look for more hemming and hawing and deep breathing and sighing from the Democratic leaders. And then a Diane Feinstein statement that Cookie has promised on his pinkie and the scout's honor that in the future he will try to remember his conversations with Buzzy about such matters, and that since the State Department needs to go on she will scuttle any measures to punish poor Cookie for his perjury.
November 14, 2007 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, Buzzy is actually being relatively honest. This is a great scoop, TPM Muckraker!
November 14, 2007 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, no blow job.
These two are only helping a private mercenary army rob tax payers of millions if not billions of dollars while unjustly murdering people in foreign countries, and generating even more hatred of Americans.
Oh to be Loyal Bushy. I'm surprised he agreed there was any conflict of interest at all. There must be a special buzz these Loyal Bushies get when acting as traitors and laughing at us all. Just another day at the office. I guess something nasty will go into Cookie's permanent record and all will be forgotten by the next news cycle.
November 14, 2007 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am in complete glee watching Cookie crumble. Or is is Crookie? I'm confused.
November 14, 2007 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do end up with brothers named Cookie and Buzzy? I don't know where they went to school, but my guess is that it wasn't public school. Jeebus, do they call each other Cookie and Buzzy? Do they refer to themselves as Cookie and Buzzy? Did they grow up getting wedgies and swirlies every day?
November 14, 2007 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I get these sense Buzzy's not such a big fan of Cookie...
I'm picturing the Honey Nut Cheerios bee battling it out with Cookie Monster.
November 14, 2007 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buzzy, Cookie, Fredo, Scooter, Turd Blossom... damn, will you kids in the back seat please SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!
November 14, 2007 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh! BOY!! There's gonna be the biggest list of presidential pardons since...well...since the last biggest one!
You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
November 14, 2007 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of them is definitely lying.
November 14, 2007 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a minute...Buzzy? Cookie? Really? That's what they call each other?
November 14, 2007 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a minute...Buzzy? Cookie? Really? That's what they call each other?
You have to be there, trust me.
November 14, 2007 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
so is cookie resigning on Friday at 5 pm or Friday at 6 pm?
November 14, 2007 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
The truthful one is on the advisory board of a bunch of murderous thugs.
Let's get these two kids back together, what say?
November 14, 2007 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
LYING LIARS&TH'LIES THEY TELL
November 14, 2007 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
honestly:
buzzy, cookie, scooter, turdblossom, fredo: our country is being run by a group of emotional 5 year olds.
November 14, 2007 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
LYING LIARS &THE LIES THEY TELL
November 14, 2007 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
LYING LIARS &THE LIES THEY TELL
November 14, 2007 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's going to be an extensive housecleaning on your side of the street.
November 14, 2007 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I get the sense Buzzy's not such a big fan of Cookie..."
Are you kidding? According to the Washington Post, Cookie sued his own son and his daughter-in-law has a restraining order against him. How'd you like to be at THAT Thanksgiving Dinner.
November 14, 2007 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man.... going to be an awkward christmas...
November 14, 2007 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I smell a "Bloggie" award for this scoop.
Good job, guys!
November 14, 2007 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not much of a scandal. Two people have a conversation and they disagree about what was said?
Good lord. Open your eyes, open your ears, and open your mind.
This is a routine and everyday occurrence among human beings everywhere.
November 14, 2007 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you miss the point. It is perfectly okay to lie to Congress because they will do nothing about it. The flimsiest of excuses will be accepted. We can only thank the Lord that Cookie, or Buzzy, or Beaver, or whoever, decided to honor Congress by attending the hearing because they don't have to do that, either.
November 14, 2007 8:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Every time someone uses the line "Am I my brother's keeper?" -- and especially when they use it in all seriousness -- I have to wonder if they know the source of the quote.
Remember, that's what Cain said to God who was asking him where his brother Abel was...
Always amazes me, although it doesn't actually surprise me.
November 14, 2007 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republican spin tomorrow:
"See, there's no conflict! The brothers hate each other!"
November 14, 2007 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
None of you can possibly begin to imagine how little of a flying crap I give about any of this, the most recent incident in a long running chain that started back with Cain and Abel.
One brother is a big deal at State and the other is on the board of a serious American corporation. And what are you? Take a good look in the mirror at what you amounted to.
Get a freakin' life, you byte mongering useless wimps.
November 14, 2007 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cookie and Buzzy? Grown men? WTF is with these names? Musta gone to Yale with Dubya.
Oilwellian - no, no-one is not corrupt, not one.
November 14, 2007 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are right paul a'barge, after all, lying to Congress is A.O.K. I agree. I mean, I don't care if the Inspector General is a proven liar, that is after all just a wimpy thing to expect of an IG.
November 14, 2007 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL--shorter paul a'barge: You losers WISH you were important enough to screw up to this extent!
November 14, 2007 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I want to know is what is A.B. "Buzzy" Krongard's background that got him appointed to Blackwater's advisory board? If he has something going for him other than his brother's position at State then that's one thing.
Also since Cookie is a political hack, the only reason he's a "big deal at State" is because of his affiliation with the administration not his competency or integrity as an IG. Finally, being on an advisory board to Blackwater isn't the same as being on the board of a serious American corporation - and yes I do know the difference, given the corporations I'm involved in and represent.
November 14, 2007 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jaw-dropping implication of Bush administration criminality, corruption and incompetence #5,934,228.
Yawn! What a boring time to be a journalist.
November 14, 2007 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buzzy--Buzzy--Buzzy!!Calling your own Brother a LIAR? I guess it's true RepuGlicans DO EAT THEIR OWN!!!
November 14, 2007 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buzzy--Buzzy--Buzzy!!Calling your own Brother a LIAR? I guess it's true RepuGlicans DO EAT THEIR OWN!!!
November 14, 2007 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
And in the wake of the FBI's determination that Blackwater shot up 14 people without justification in one incident alone, not to mention the countless other cases of reckless use of force, Obama is out in front again asking the right question. God forbid Fox should stop attacking Obama with made up smears and slurs and join him in asking the right questions back here in the real world. (But we all know that's a fantasy because back here in the real world Fox and Murdoch are slime.) Why in the world would we give this contractor more business right now??? Shouldn't Blackwater be on probation at a minimum? Shouldn't its existing contracts be under review? That they are not is totally irresponsible.
It's predictable, if not understandable or justifiable, that the leading Fox Republican candidates are backing their fearless incompetent leaders on this one, but where is Hillary again? Where is she? She's knows better. Where is she? Hillary are you out there? Or are you in your little hole again like when you were voting to empower the President to go to war in Iraq, or voting to empower him to attack "terrorists" in the form of part of the Iranian military?
Man do we need a change. Our Fox Republican politicians and some Democrats have lost their moral compass.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Obama_calls_on_Pentagon_to_reconsider_1114.html
November 14, 2007 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
One thing I'm not entirely clear on--wtf exactly is an 'advisory board'? Does it perform the duties of a board of directors? For that matter, what is Blackwater's corporate structure?
What exactly was Buzzy's role on this board, and again, what does the board do?
In the end, the answer to that question only alters the degree of stinkola from this.
Cookie's a bigshot at State, Buzzy, I thought, used to be a bigshot at the CIA. What are these guys' histories? If they're political guys, when were they appointed and by whom?
November 14, 2007 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
ACERIGGER wrote on November 14, 2007 7:21 PM:
LYING LIARS &THE LIES THEY TELL
*********************************
No,
Lying Liars and the Lies they SELL.
November 15, 2007 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nice work Spencer! Here's hoping they credit you.
November 15, 2007 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
hackistan, your on the right track.... Buzzy the Big shot at the CIA who hasn't picked up his 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR PROFIT from betting against United and American airlines right before 9/11! My god! It's almost too much.
E
November 15, 2007 12:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Advisory Board???
People on real boards do NOT take advice from anyone. Probably especially true with an outfit like Blackwater.
Advisory Boards are just a way to stroke someone and/or pay them off.
It is not that hard to figure out.
November 15, 2007 1:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm eagerly awaiting for the phrase Cliton did it to ya know, oh wait a minuet that was the BJ thingy wasn't it?
Hmmmm what other excuse can formulat for the Brother's? any help out there in Byte world? I've heard them all so some new ones would lighten my burden a little as I roll on the floor laughing.
looks as though someone else besides Gonzo will need a defense fund.
L.M.M.F.A.O.W.T.I.M.E's
November 15, 2007 2:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm eagerly awaiting for the phrase Cliton did it to ya know, oh wait a minuet that was the BJ thingy wasn't it?
Hmmmm what other excuse can formulat for the Brother's? any help out there in Byte world? I've heard them all so some new ones would lighten my burden a little as I roll on the floor laughing.
looks as though someone else besides Gonzo will need a defense fund.
L.M.M.F.A.O.W.T.I.M.E's
November 15, 2007 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't Buzzy's firm the one that had all those put options on 9/11?
November 15, 2007 2:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Proving perjury may prove impossible if the phone call in question had only two listeners. How can a jury decide who is the liar if there is no other evidence. And, since only one brother has actually provided official sworn testimony, there is no conflict in the Official record.
But even without the perjury charge, it's a stinking pile of influence peddling. Hiring the the brother of the IG investigating your company for a bogus no-show 'advisory board'? The Government should not deal with a company that does business like that.
November 15, 2007 2:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
MobiusKlein:
Is there no basis in fact when the police and FBI on TV shows pull your phone records (after getting a warrant, of course) to see whom you've called and who's called you? All it takes is a little compare and contrast for those few weeks in question.
The government's already GOT all the records; send a House page over to look through the phone bills.
November 15, 2007 2:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Roberta,
I was intentionally ignoring the time difference. Seems like "Cookie" could claim "bad memory", and get off. And for who actually lied? Hard to tell so far.
The other question for me is "What did Blackwater expect in return for hiring Buzzy?" And was Buzzy scamming Blackwater, or acting as a conduit to Cookie.
November 15, 2007 3:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cookie and Buzzy was probably thought to be kind of cute when they were tots. Now it just makes them look like twits. Not their fault their parents or whoever hung these nicknames on them. The dishonesty of "Cookie" is all his own.
November 15, 2007 6:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Imagine these scandals back 10 years ago during the Clinton administration, you know, when just talking about masturbation would force you to resign (poor Joycelyn). The media monsters and the Congress would have had these guy's heads on a plate. We wouldn't have heard the end of it for weeks. And if the Clinton administration had been the root cause of these blunders, he'd have been impeached.
Oh, wait, he was. Not for corruption, but for lying about a blowjob.
Now? Ho hum, weekly political corruption scandal. So boring. Nothing to see here.
November 15, 2007 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who is Buzzy?
A good starting point is his Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.B._%22Buzzy%22_Krongard
November 15, 2007 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Advisory boards can provide feedback or guidance on strategic choices or technical direction that the BoD might not wade into. For example a scientific or technical advisory board of a research-based organization can critique scientific R&D strategy, even as the BoD sets the mission and R&D budget.
November 15, 2007 8:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
According to the Wiki wmforr alluded to, Buzzy was appointed to the CIA gig by Tenet, left when Goss came aboard three years later.
Still, I remain curious as to what exactly he was 'advising' Blackwater about? Was it operational in nature, policy, lobbying, or something totally innocuous like some benevolent committee or other?
I suspect if some enterprising sort can actually figure out Buzzy's role there, some light may be shed.
November 15, 2007 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Congress should flex a little muscle and can the guy!"
November 15, 2007 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Greg" Keen insight into the purpose of advisory boards. But, it's pretty easy to suggest from the evidence, although circumstantial, that Blackwater's advisory board serves the purpose of keeping on retainer, connected people who can be called upon to grease the wheels when necessary: The former CIA bigshot who's brother also happens to be the IG that oversees the relationship with Blackwater. $15,000 a year is a bargain for that kind of access/advisory capacity. Buzzy's donating his $15,000 token fee. Obviously making obscene amounts of money elsewhere.
November 15, 2007 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Buzzy and Cookie? Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like characters from a "Jeeves and Wooster" episode?
November 15, 2007 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
since all the phones are tapped it might be just easier to replay the conversation
November 15, 2007 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Moral #1: If you're going to oversee a company, on whose board your brother sits... SOMEONE IS GOING TO FIND THIS OUT. Really not rational, to think you can keep this one under wraps;
Maoral #2: If you're going to attempt to bribe someone who will have oversight of your corporation, by hiring his brother... make sure it's a situation where the brothers are, like, SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER?!? Or, at least, care about each other enough that they won't rat each other out?
I really thought our Evil Overlords were a hell of a lot smarter than they're turning out to be.
Of course, if Cookie (jeezus...) doesn't end up going to the Greybar Hotel for perjuring himself, does it even matter? Isn't this [groan] yet another case of the bastards in this administration, getting away with anything they damned well please?
November 15, 2007 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Weird. I wrote a comment last night answering folks' questions about who Buzzy is and what are his and Cookie's connections (lots of detail and URLs--too much and many?), and then I posited a nascent conspiracy theory that Cookie's the patsy and Buzzy's the one working with the power groups (Blackwater, Halliburton, Deutsche Bank, AB Brown).
I hit send (around 2:45 EST, as I remember it) and got to a screen that told me something to the effect that my comment needed to be checked and that this would happen "when I get around to it."
Anyone had this experience? I've posted a lot of stuff that's long and has URLs given (not links from my name or anything), and I can't remember this happening before.
November 15, 2007 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Po, po, po Buzzy and Cookie's mommy! And she thought she could pretty safely and reasonably get away with naming her babes Cookie and Buzzy, cause after all, who would KNOW but family and friends.....
TILL THEY HIT CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AND NATIONAL NEWS.....
And with the same boyhood shennanigans they always pulled, "he did it" "no, HE did it" "no I didn't, HE'S LYING", "no, I"M NOT! HE'S the liar...."
Teh po buzzy and cookie mommy!
LOLOL!
WHAT bunch of looser thugs, right at home in the Bu$h cabal!
siri@legitgov.org
www.legitgov.org
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