Conservapedia Never Even Called the FBI

In Summer 2007, the august founder of Conservapedia Andrew Schlafly threatened to sic the FBI on a user of his website. Naturally, a huge blow-up ensued and was ably documented by the heroes at the RationalWiki.

However, the RationalWiki did fall down on arguably most important task of all, following up on the FBI investigation. There's simply nothing there. Turns out there is a perfectly rational explanation for all this, Neuschwander.

The rational explanation is that Andy Schlafly never called the FBI. He made it all up. I discovered this after ordering up a FOIA request to the FBI on the matter. As their final response letter demonstrates, they have no records pertaining to Conservapedia.


Conservapedia FBI FOIA Letter

CIA Denies Request for Records Given to 9-11 Commission

In his book, Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam after Iraq, Michael Scheuer provides a tantalizing glimpse into a collection of documents that he provided to the 9-11 Commission that details the American response to the threat posed by Al-Qaeda. Naturally, I immediately had them FOIAed for and eagerly awaited the CIA's response.

I was informed that the CIA's response was very negative. You can see for yourself that the CIA not only invoked the operational exemption to FOIA requests given to it by the CIA Information Act of 1984, they would not even confirm that the files existed. Nor did they give leave to appeal their decision. Overall, a total FOIA block.

P.S. I included the pages from Marching Toward Hell in which Scheuer describes the files on the off-chance that someone else wants to submit a FOIA request.

CIA Shoot Down Scheuer FOIA

What Was Mother Teresa Doing?

Interesting fact: Mother Teresa not only has amassed some form of records with the National Security Agency, but those records, if released, would "cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security." See the denial letter


NSA Mother Teresa Denial Letter

Seriously, WTF?

Did Hitler Cheat on His Wife?

No, Adolf Hitler never cheated on his heterosexual life partner/ wife Eva Braun.

Below is a delightful study of the women who surrounded Adolf Hitler. The report itself is undated and unaccredited but appears to be a study conducted by the US military, probably the US Army, sometime after the conclusion of the Second World War.

Hitler's Women: A Study of Them By the US Gov.

The report, as posted here, is nine pages with a single page memorandum attached to it. However, the last page of the report ends abruptly which shows that this report was at least one page longer. However, the nine pages posted here are all that made it to the National Archives for preservation.

Some Republican Sanity on Unemployment

Below is a 12/21/1981 Rudy Giuliani memo on unemployment compensation. It should be noted that unemployment is "earned" and that "acceptance of such benefits does not make one a public charge."

12/21/1981 Rudy Giuliani Memo on Unemployment

Baltimore Marxist Group

An associate of mine acquired the FBI's file on the Baltimore Marxist Group, a left-wing organization active in the mid-1970s. As they are done with the file, I have decided to post it online.

BMG FBI File

The Yugoslav Communists Reflect on American Communists

The Yugoslav Communists were harsh critics of American Communists. As shown by this 11/9/1965 cable from the US Embassy in Belgrade, the Yugoslav Communists viewed the Communist Party USA as an "alien body" within the United States due to the Communist Party USA's adherence to Moscow's dictates. The Yugoslavs also felt that the Communist Party USA was flawed in its analysis of American society. The opinion of the Communist Party USA was so low, that the Yugoslavs avoided it and opted to establish direct relations with the American trade unions.

Yugoslav Government Thoughts on USCP

Lukewarm Pursuit: The US Army Investigates Wikileaks

On December 3, 2007, the assistant security manager of the 655th Regional Support Group was alerted by a unit member who reported finding a very detailed listing of 382nd Military Police Battalion has discovered a “very detailed listing of 382nd MP BN equipment on Wikileaks.org. (The report is still available here). The assistant security manager alerted his chain of command as well as the 94 RRC (Regional Readiness Reserve Commands) Command Security Manager. The 94 RCC Security Manager alerted Mr. [Redacted] seeking guidance on which law enforcement and or military intelligence units had to be contacted. Permission was also requested for the incident to be included in the 94 RCC Security Manager’s OPSEC (Operational Security) briefing.

On December 7, 2007, The agent who created the “Agent’s Activity Summary” stated that he was going to contact the West Point CID (Criminal Investigation Division ) to determine whether the Active Duty CID had a plan in place for such contingencies.

While the Agent’s Activity Summary states, “I do know at this moment,” I believe what the Activity Summary agent meant to say was “I do not know at this moment…” based on his earlier statement about contacting West Point CID for direction on how to handle the incident. The agent listed a few possibilities: 902nd Military Intelligence (MI), the West Point CID Office, or possibly the JTTF or a MA fusion cell. He also expressed his “strong support” for inclusion in the OPSEC briefing. All this occurred between 8:30 when the Special- Agent- in- Charge [Redacted], Boston Fraud Resident Agency received an email from a Mr. {Redacted] Ani-terrorism officer that an listing of 382nd MP BN equipment had been posted on Wikileaks.

Shortly after noon on December 7th, West Point CID’s Special- Agent- in- Charge announced via email that it was decided the leak was an OPSEC issue and that the 902nd MI would have “investigative responsibility” and that if the 902nd MI needed assistance that the West Office would provide it. He also advised that West Point CID had no intention of beginning its own investigation into the matter.

At 5:15 December 7th, the Activity Summary agent received an “email string” from a MPRI (military professional Resources Inc. staffer attached with IMCOM- NE ATO, IMC, North East Region; Current Operations which reported that one of the assistant security managers at Ft. Devens “chanced upon” a British website which has placed the entire joint service TDA & TO&E for Iraq and Afghanistan theaters on their website. This appears to be a reference to the events of December 3, 2007 discussed in the first paragraph. The author of the email stated that he “feels certain” that “someone” in the DOD is aware of the situation that he is reporting but is reporting “this information” to Army CID so that Army CID could alert the DA (Department of Army) OPSEC POC (Point of Contact). A Ms. [redacted] is noted as having passed the information to the Joint OPSEC Support Center. Activity Summary Agent then reports his intention to close TAB but only after following up with 902nd MI. On December 17, 2007, the agent reports that Special Agent [redacted] told him that “he had attempted to follow-up by requesting the lists of equipment from the unit, which was pending. His initial position is that none of the equipment was sensitive and therefore not releasable. He [sic] agreed that it probably should not be [on?] a website, but it is an issue that his office will not further pursue.

The released records raise all sorts of questions. Did Bradley Manning have any involvement in this leak? I have not been able to turn up any information on his duty stations. I doubt it given Manning enlisted in 2007.

Why did the US Army allow for such a lackluster investigation? Granted the 902nd decided that the files that were leaked were not “not releasable,” that still didn’t prevent someone for being nailed for violating OPSEC. Or being discovered and monitored for future violations. As far as the Army goes this could possibly be a missed opportunity prevent the future Manning leaks to Wikileaks.

It has to be asked about how the persecution of Wikileaks. As I have previously, it seems that NCIS was barely interested in investigating Wikileaks. Now, we see that both the US Army CID and at least one unit of military intelligence were equally blasé about Wikileaks. Now maybe CID, NCIS, and US Army intelligence are out of the loop, or the decision to go after Wikileaks is recent. Cryptome has given time and attention to those who believe that Wikileaks might be a front to snare unsuspecting leakers.

Finally, why did the Army CID send me these records? Seriously, I did not request these records. I sought out the investigative records for a different Wikileaks leak investigation. Was this done in error?

Army CID Wikileaks Hunt

Praying Away the Gay: The Air Force Response

A while back, I requested copies of "all Air Force policies regarding therapy, reparative therapy, or reorientation therapy or any other method of "curing" or "converting" gays and lesbians (i.e. make them heterosexual) in relation to the issuing and holding of security clearances and the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy."

I was curious to how the Air Force handle gays and lesbians who went off and prayed away the gay like Ted Haggard has done.

I recently received a response. I learned that the Air Force Central Adjudication Facility conducted a comprehensive search for responsive records, but none was found. Thus I received a "no records" determination is made. Interesting. Either the Air Force has never encountered "cured gays" or has yet to formulate a policy on handling them.

FBI Response to Bradley Manning Case FOIAs

Inspired by Glenn Greenwald's coverage of the arrest of Pfc Bradley Manning and the possible roll of Adrian Lamo and Kevin Poulsen in the matter, I had a couple of FOIA requests fired off to the FBI. Today, I received my answers.

My first request was for any contact between Wired Magazine and the FBI during the first few weeks of the Manning affair. As seen below, they came back with a "no records" response." Assuming they are being honest in both search and their reply means they had no interaction with Kevin Poulsen or any other member of the Wired staff.

FBI FOIA Letter Wired Contact

The second FOIA request was for the chat log between Adrian Lamo and Bradley Manning. This request was not even processed with the FBI invoking both men's right to privacy to justify their lack of search.

FBI FOIA Denial of Lamo Log

I intend to submit appeals on both requests. I am not sure the FBI is entire on the level or that their search was as effective as it could have been. As for the chat log, it should qualify for release as a legal record and the notoriety of both Adrian Lamo and Bradley Manning.