[A-List] US imperialism: CIA/Pentagon turf wars

["Michael Keaney" <michael011@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anti-terror commando teams prompt turf war
IAN BRUCE
The Herald, March 09 2006

The Pentagon has triggered an intelligence "turf war" with the CIA by
sending small teams of undercover special forces to US embassies in
Africa, south-east Asia and South America to identify and hunt down
terrorist suspects.

The commandos, all with reconnaissance experience, are drawn from the
Navy Seals, US Army Rangers and the Green Berets and are known as
"military liaison elements".

John Brennan, a CIA veteran who headed the National Counter-terrorism
Centre until last year, said yesterday: "The CIA's important lead role
in many of these areas is being steadily eroded.

"The current moves to militarise many of the nation's intelligence
functions and responsibilities will be viewed as a major diplomatic
mistake in the very near future."

Mr Brennan added that if special ops soldiers engaged in covert action
abroad separately from the CIA, or to pave the way for unilateral US
military strikes, they would "increase the White House's problems
significantly".

One member of a military liaison element had to be withdrawn from
Paraguay after he shot and killed an armed mugger who attacked him as he
stepped out of a taxi.

Senior embassy officials had not been told the commandos were operating
in the country. The soldiers were living in a hotel to avoid contact
with the embassy.

The rules have now been changed to ensure local ambassadors are informed
before troopers arrive and they are based in embassy compounds.


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