CIA takes on expanded role on front lines

[maseman]

Source: NY Times

The deaths of seven Central Intelligence Agency operatives at a remote base in the mountains of Afghanistan are a pointed example of the civilian spy agency’s transformation in recent years into a paramilitary organization at the vanguard of America’s far-flung wars.

The C.I.A. operatives stationed at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost Province, where Wednesday’s suicide bombing occurred, were responsible for collecting information about militant networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan and plotting missions to kill the networks’ top leaders. In recent months, American officials said, C.I.A. officers at the base had begun an aggressive campaign against a radical group run by Sirajuddin Haqqani, which has claimed responsibility for the deaths of dozens of American troops.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34648242/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Presumably that just means more contractors

Two of those killed were contractors with private security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater, a former intelligence official told CNN. The CIA considers contractors to be officers.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/01/afghanistan.us.casualties/index.html

[rgbecker]

3. I'm reading "JFK and the Unspeakable".

The CIA was swarming Vietnam in the build up in Vietnam in the early 60's. These guys are out of control. The military branches have their own intelligence gathering units....why are CIA folks sitting in forts in foreign lands? I think its the CIA because they are not subject to any meaningful over site or budget review. Maybe the Army can't get anyone to join up with the ASA. The smart ones want to stay out of uniform with all its bullshit, and they choose the civilian route.

[lib2DaBone]

4. Murder......drug smuggling..... kidnapping...

We put people in jail for that stuff. Unless you work for the government.. then it's OK.

[defendandprotect]

5. +1000%

Happy New Year --:)

[zogofzorkon]

6. For the New Year a favorite song

CIA Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3V98lnJX1k

Some things just never change

[JDPriestly]

8. Are these alleged singers on drugs or just drunk?

Sounds awful.

[FarCenter]

7. These operatives would not be spies; they would be former special operations forces

Either working for a contractor working for the CIA or recruited onto the CIA payroll from the military.