CIA Accused of Cover Up in Deaths of U.S. Civilians in Peru

[cory777]

Source: Politics Daily

Christopher Weber
Posted: 02/3/10

The CIA was accused Wednesday of lying to Congress and covering up its role in the downing of a plane carrying Christian missionaries nine years ago over Peru, killing an American mother and her infant daughter, ABC News reported.

In April 2001, the Cessna with Jim and Veronica Bowers and their two children aboard was mistaken for a drug smuggling plane by the Peruvian Air Force, which was working with the CIA on an anti-narcotics mission. A Peruvian gunship fired on the small aircraft. It burst into flames but managed an emergency landing along a stretch of the Amazon River.

Veronica Bowers and her daughter were killed by gunfire. Jim Bowers and their 6-year-old son, Cory, survived, along with the pilot, Kevin Donaldson.

In the moments leading up to the crash, CIA operatives and Peruvian officials did not follow strict rules of engagement, ABC reported. The military pilots failed to identify the Cessna from its tail number and did not order the plane to follow them and land.

The CIA announced Wednesday its nine-year investigation found that 16 CIA employees should be disciplined, including the agent then in charge of counternarcotics. Many of the agents no longer work for the CIA.

Read more: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/03/cia-accused-of-cover-up-in-deaths-of-u-s-civilians-in-peru/

[midnight]

1. I remember that story. I can't believe it was nine years ago.

[EFerrari]

8. I know, me too. n/t

[cory777]

2. Seemed like news to me?

[rabs]

3. It was indeed news. In fact, very big news

Here is the dramatic ABC report (Diane Sawyer) Wednesday evening. (Dial-uppers, video)

http://news.yahoo.com/video/politics-15749652/17962900

Hannity comes after Sawyer, so ignore.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Thanks for the ABC newsclip. Horrid, awful CIA conduct.

Very glad the House Intelligence Committee brought this up Wednesday and did it in such a way the people who followed the story originally will be able to know what the hell happened.

We were all treated disrespectfully, as well, by the CIA's deception after their crime. These arrogant people should not be operating as their own unaccountable, private agency. The government needs to put an end to this.

[thunder rising]

5. Bush's first execution. Shoot first and ask questions second.

[Festivito]

6. The sham war against drugs. /nt

[troubledamerican]

7. Oh Please. CIA "fighting" cocaine trafficking?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/12/19210/608/933/420107

[Monk06]

9. That's what I thought when I saw that story. More like CIA protecting their 'hood'