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Officer's CYA Memo: State Department Withheld Info From Congress
Maj. Larry Harrison told his military commanders back in April that State Department officials might be concealing information from Congress.
Harrison was working in the U.S.embassy at Tirana, Albania, when he saw the U.S. officials there help Albanian officials conceal the origin of a weapons shipment that might be illegal, he told House investigators.
When Congress started asking questions about the weapons deal, Harrison suggested that the embassy officials be upfront about the late-night meeting they had in November 2007 with the Albanian defense minister when they talked about how to repackage the Chinese ammo.
But the embassy officials didn't take his advice. And it looks like Harrison sent a C-Y-A memo to his military bosses at European Command on April 16:
Although I provided input to the third question, the Political--Economic Officer, the Deputy Chief of Mission and the Ambassador did not accept my input. The answers were forwarded to the committee with my name on the memo as having cleared the memo, or in other words, approved the content.I did not approve of the content of the answers and I am concerned that information may have been omitted relevant to the question.
The memo was disclosed today by Rep. Henry Waxman's oversight committee.
A spokesman for the State Department told me this morning said they were still reviewing Waxman's documents. We asked a Defense Department spokeswoman what European Command officials did with Harrison's memo. We'll let you know when we hear back from her.
So the US Ambassador had advance knowledge that the Albanian government was going to cover up evidence in an emerging criminal matter.
And he gave his implicit approval for that coverup to proceed.
Question:
- Who in Washington told the Ambassador to encourage the Ambanians to proceed with the coverup from the New York Times?
- Did the Ambassador "act alone" in an effort to keep good relations with Albanians, recognizing the damage a scandal could do to the bilateral relationship?
- Who set up AEY with its initial contacts in Albania?
- Did the Bush visit to Tirana in June 2007 have any bearing on what played out here?
June 23, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Was the US "scratching Albania's back" by taking some much-unwanted obsolete ammo off it's hands in exchange for cash?
And was Albania, in turn, "scratching the US's back" by keeping their 120 or so soldiers in Iraq in exchange for the cash?
And because buying Chinese bullets would have been illegal under US law, did the US government have to find a go-between (to possibly take the fall)?
Some whiffs of Iran-Contra?
June 23, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
US Ambassador. Illegal arms sales.
Sure sounds familiar.
1982.
John Negroponte, who was the US Ambassador to Honduras.
John Negroponte, defender of freedom, then deeply involved in supplying arms to the Nicaraguan contras using repressive Honduras as a staging area.
Then - Honduras - repressive regime but hated the Marxist Nicaraguan Sandanistas. Therefore, US ally.
Now - Albania - nation of great history, turbulence, and painfully deep corruption and international crime - but sent soldiers to Iraq for the GWOT. Therefore, US ally.
Plus ca change.
June 23, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Am I the only one that wants to do naughty things with this dude?
June 23, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I see to many books or see to many movies, the mystery here can be found by following the money. If Efram did not spend the money then who did?????
June 23, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I loved the original post with this thug's picture. It went something like, "Dude, Where's my RPG?"
June 23, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
More lies, more secrecy, more fascism. Welcome to Amerikkka. Bush: The worst president ever! We will never have a preznit worse than this one. You could throw a dead cat at a phone book and choose a better president and human being.
Don't tell some of you still support this abysmal failure?
June 23, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope this lands right in the lap of Condi Rice, US Secretary of State. She has been an utter failure, from beginning to end. If she were ever to realize her dream of becoming NFL Commissioner, I would be the first person to turn in my season tickets.
June 23, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ralph G. Merrill, 65, of Bountiful, Utah was arrested last week along with Diveroli and the others. Merrill reportedly financed Diveroli and provided management advice.
Ralph G. Merrill appears to be the owner of Vector Arms in North Salt Lake Utah. It was registered in Utah in 1993.
Vector Arms is "a manufacturer, distributor, and dealer of the following replica weapons: UZI*, H&K**, AK, and RPD. Also, accessories, parts, and service".
The Uzi Talk website details how Merrill got into the Uzi business.
Alexander "Rex" Podrinski, also arrested with Diveroli, reportedly was Merrill's store manager.
In an arms forum, someone mentioned that federal credits can be used to buy weapons from Vector
Arms but I'm not sure what that means.
The investigation has been ongoing for three years so there has to be more to this story.
BTW, Merrill recently auctioned off his 2004 Lamborghini on eBay.
June 24, 2008 7:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Federal Register: April 10, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 68)]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Applicant: Ralph G. Merrill, Bountiful, UT, PRT-148895.
The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled from a
captive herd maintained under the management program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the
species.
June 24, 2008 7:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs Panstreppon,
Good to see you posting again. According to your links, Vector also made Uzi purchases in South Africa in addition to a few other interesting places. Considering Utah's peculiar gun laws, I'm not surprised that Merrill was based out of Bountiful but what amazes me is how little info on the guy is found in the either the Salt Lake Tribune or the Deseret News. It makes me wonder if the guy is related to any LDS General Authorities so I'm checking out that angle. I'm curious to see if Merrill is connected to Botach Tactical and Worldwide Tactical in addition to AEY.
June 24, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security".
June 24, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink