Send In The Clowns (Ringling Bros/CIA/PETA)

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/19/AR2005111901467_pf.html

excerpt:

Then Pottker starts talking about seeing strange cars lingering on her street and hearing odd noises on her phone line. And how she discovered that many things in her secluded little world were not as they seemed. For years, covert operatives monitored her activities: her book and magazine projects, her travel plans, even her hair appointments.

<snip>

You might expect such statements from delusional types who inhabit park benches wearing tinfoil hats. But Pottker and Fishel -- married 36 years, holders of doctoral degrees, accomplished people -- can easily justify their paranoia. The infiltration of their lives, it turns out, was overseen by the former head of worldwide covert operations for the CIA, an Iran-contra scandal figure named Clair E. George. They have documented as much in a lawsuit.

<snip>

Instead Feld, who once described himself to a reporter as "very much the kind of person who wants to be in control," took another approach. A covert one. Court papers allege that Feld, at an estimated expense of $2.3 million, authorized master spy Clair George to carry out a CIA-style operation to make sure the circus knew what Jan Pottker was doing and writing.

<snip>

In a lawsuit, the couple portrays Feld as a malicious, vindictive man who ordered wiretapping, bugging and surveillance in a scheme to "destroy" Pottker because he hated the magazine article she'd written about him. Feld planted a mole in her life, a "false friend" who posed as her business partner, torpedoed her career and steered her away from writing a book on the circus, the suit alleges.

<snip>

During his long CIA career, Clair George was a highly regarded covert operations officer, an ebullient character known for his bravery and ability to handle crises in overseas hotspots. He rose to become chief of the agency's global clandestine service in the mid-1980s, only to see his career derailed by the Iran-contra scandal. Caught up in a grinding independent counsel's investigation, George was put on trial twice and convicted once, in 1992, on two felony counts of lying to a congressional committee. (Later he was pardoned by President George H.W. Bush.)

...more...

This is too weird.

[China_cat]

1. Weird isn't the word for it.

But I do find it funnier than hell that PETA is getting back some of their own tactics and having the nerve to complain about it.

As for Feld, when I traveled with a carnival, it was just general 'knowledge' that Sir Irving was better known as Irma and had great legs.

[beam me up scottie]

2. That has to be one of the most

bizarre stories I have ever heard.

He's even trying to claim that his mole helped her career.

I hope she writes that book and wins the lawsuit.

Recommended.

I wish I could recommend it twice.

[davsand]

3. They gave her book deals to "distract her"--and she accepted them?

While I'd agree that wiretaps and being stalked are a very real infringement on her life, I'm having a hard time understanding how her acceptance of book deeals was anything other than her choice. She had the ability to tell them no at any point and she made her own decisions. If she feels her "business partner" influenced her over much, then her beef should be with him--not his employer.

This is really one for the freak show...


Laura

[goforit]

4. Geeee....what money can buy!!!!

Most people go out and buy mansions, cars and boats.

This duffus pays heavy for revenge.

[WhiteTara]

5. wow. I'm glad my life is so mundane

I bet she never thought that her life would be ruled by some stranger, motivated by their anger.