Posted on Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
U-M professor Juan Cole sues CIA and FBI, seeking information in alleged smear campaign
By Cindy Heflin
University of Michigan professor Juan Cole, who a CIA agent alleged was the target of a smear campaign by the administration of President George W. Bush, has sued the CIA and the FBI, The Detroit News reported.
Juan Cole
Courtesy photo | University of Michigan
Cole last month called for an investigation after The New York Times reported that a former Central Intelligence Agency official alleged Bush’s White House at least twice asked intelligence officials to gather sensitive information on Cole. The CIA has denied the allegations.
The Senate Intelligence Committee launched an investigation of the allegations.
Comments
Steve Pepple
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 11:51 a.m.
The comments on this post are starting to degenerate into personal sniping. Please stick to debating the issues without name-calling or personal attacks. Thanks.
clownfish
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 11:37 a.m.
There is a BIG difference between being anti-semitic and being opposed to Israels continued occupation of territories and their heavy handed techniques for controlling an occupied people. But, I guess if one has a different opinion than "the right" one is a "typical leftist hater" and should not exercise ones right to free speech? Is that your America Macabre? An America where only the govts particular position should be heard and any dissent is not to be tolerated and possibly investigated by COINTELPRO type bureaus. Just out of curiosity, were you a fan of Joe McCarthy?
bedrog
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
case by case basis, re federal investigation!!...As i've said repeatedly i don't think Cole has crossed a line warranting the alleged investigation, but others,( including some locals i could readily name,) should absolutely be investigated for their political views, in some cases shaped by religion ( or virulent oppostion to certain ones)... How could any person who is aware of current events think otherwise??
clownfish
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
Does that mean the CIA should spend time investigating Dr. Cole? Should political or religious positions taken by citizens open them up for federal inquest?
bedrog
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
There is indeed a big difference between antisemitism and criticism of particular israeli policies in theory...and i am no fan of the settlements for a whole bunch of reasons... But one would have to be willfully blind to ignore the true antisemitism in many of the most vocal critics of Israel...locally and abroad. Cole is not personally in that category but his work does serve as fodder for them.
lois freeh
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 1:56 a.m.
Juan Cole would serve his case and FOIA request against the FBI if he contacts Salt Lake City attorney Jesse Trentadue who currently has a lawsuit against the FBI for hidong files on their I Drives. google trentadue fbi I drives You can also see this link for current stories. <a href="http://www.corbettreport.com/breaking-secret-fbi-storage-drive-to-shield-evidence-from-foia/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.corbettreport.com/breaking-secret-fbi-storage-drive-to-shield-evidence-from-foia/</a> Attorney Trentadue successful sues the FBI for $1,000,000 for torturing his brother to death. During the trial he obtained FBI documents that show the FBI was handling Timothy McVeigh before the Oklahoma City bombing. google trentadue nichols potts fbi
David Briegel
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 12:34 a.m.
Isn't it wonderful that, in upholding our sacred Constitution, Macabre and cinnabar are willing to serve as Judge, Jury, and in their dreams, Executioner? Wonder in which article that power exists.
godsbreath64
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 12:54 a.m.
That would be the urinal pill down at the Party cinema, David.
Townie
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.
The run up to the Iraq war was a sad period for this country with all the lying, slander and illegal activities to silence anyone who obstructed the mad rush to war. Truth was the largest casualty. Unfortunately, none of those really responsible have been brought to justice (Dick Cheney et al) but it's good that Juan is at least pushing for exposure of the level of this kind of activity.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.
Love the people who attack Juan Cole with ad hominem innuendo but who offer nothing of substance in their posts. Perhaps if they read his blog they might learn something? <a href="http://www.juancole.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.juancole.com/</a> Naaaaaaaaaaah. Who am I kidding. They'd have to be willing to give up their preconceptions before they checked his website. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 11:41 a.m.
Evidence? Come on. You can cite some evidence. Link and quote, please. Otherwise, your charge is simply scurrilous name-calling. Good Night and Good Luck
cinnabar7071
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
Who cares? Never heard of this guy until now, well I heard of him the first time you ran this story. How many more times will you run this story?
Blerg
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 2:14 a.m.
Seriously? You never heard of him? What Fox News rock have you been living under?
Michigan Man
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 1:53 a.m.
Cinnabar7071 gets it = total waste of time, resources and effort. No one will remember this story tomorrow ( 7/14/2011).
Enso
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
Illustrate how uninformed you are. Nice. You've never heard of this guy? This guy that lives and works in your backyard? This local guy that the entire mechanism of government is seeking to smear? Do us all a favor and stop reading these articles. I know AnnArbor.com has a great "Pets" section on their website.
Enso
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
oops... you know he must be doing something right that the government is looking to smear him.
Enso
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 11:28 p.m.
Foolish! And pure Dribble! You are going to sit there at your computer and tell me that the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have nothing better to do than to smear the work of an "uninformed ranter?! "
Roadman
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:53 p.m.
"He smears himself with his uninformed rantings....." Dr.Juan Cole has been a published author for at least 20 years on issues of Middle East affairs and culture.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:02 p.m.
"The government is interested only because he has 'cred' with a small group of extremists." Evidence, please? Good Night and Good Luck
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.
He smears himself with his uninformed rantings. The government is interested only because he has "cred" with a small group of extremists.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
I am so tired of the rantings of Juan Cole. I suppose I shouldn't read them, but it's helpful knowing what the radical anti-Semitic left is ranting about these days. Hopefully this lawsuit will get all the attention it deserves.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
You made the charge. Show the proof. Not my responsibility to prove your ludicrous assertion. Good Night and Good Luck
clownfish
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.
Just because you disagree with Dr cole, Macabre, does not make him "anti-semitic". Just like his pointing out the obvious flaws in the Iraq war non-plan made him "anti-American. Had the powers that be listened to him we would have saved over a trillion US tax payer dollars.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 4:47 a.m.
Just use Lord Google. It's not like it's a controversial statement. Good Racists and Bad Racists?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.
Proof of your slander, please? Good Night and Good Luck
godsbreath64
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:09 p.m.
This is not only good for professor Cole, but the country at large. His is good work and it would take a lot for him to take such valuable time out to hold the CIA and FBI to the laws we all have to abide by. Let the truth be told!
zip the cat
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
Sue the CIA,FBI,Ha Dream on You'll get zero answers out of them Talk about a waste of money
John B.
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
It's an FOIA suit.
Roadman
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
This lawsuit is not one for damages but to seek documents under the federal law Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It is being filed by the ACLU. In the 1970s, Detroit attorney and civil rights activist Abdeen Jabara filed an action against the FBI for invasion of privacy and FOIA enforcement (as a result of surveillance) that was likewise brought by the ACLU that resulted in a settlement after an appeal of that case was taken to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Jabara case made landmark law on interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act as applied to ongoing investigatons. Jabara had been legal counsel in the 1960s to Sirhan Sirhan and later was appointed as executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Juan Cole, lIke Jabara had been critical of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the conduct of Israel. Jabara believed he was targeted due to his political activities. Cole and the ACLU should be applauded for initiation of these federal court proceedings.
bedrog
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.
With friends like you and those you have repeatedly rooted for on this and other sites, Cole does not need enemies,. Your partisanship paints him a bad light re this case. And your response to 'demistify' is totally disingenuous re your supposed "non-rooting". In fact know Cole and his writings and he is far less extreme and irrational in his views than your local heroes who often cite him approvingly , although alot of his writings can serve as "useful idiot' fodder for such extremists...for which he must take responsibility.
Roadman
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.
@demistify: No, Jabara's link as a high-profile legal counsel to Sirhan was likely a factor in the FBI's decision to engage in warrantless surveillance and investigation of Jabara. I am not "rooting" for anyone. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Jabara's case validated much of what the ACLU was arguing regarding highly questionable tactics by the FBI targeting Arab-American civil rights leaders in Operation Boulder.
demistify
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 8:44 p.m.
Roadman, the multiple strands in your argument leave me confused. Perhaps you could clarify: 1) Are you rooting for both Abdeen Jabara and Sirhan Sirhan? 2) Do you believe that there is a connection between the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Sirhan Sirhan?
rocco
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
If no one took responsibility for the Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson leaks, who thinks any agency of government will take responsibility for the abuse of Juan Cole's rights?
5c0++ H4d13y
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.
It was Armitage in the state department. I would think anyone still so concerned would know that by now.
mojo
Wed, Jul 13, 2011 : 7 p.m.
In an interview with CBS News first broadcast on September 7, 2006, Richard Armitage admitted that he was Novak's "initial" and "primary source" (Novak's words). Richard Armitage is your man.