2 March 2011

American Spying in Canberra?

| johnboy
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Dianne has pointed me at a strange story in the SMH of a William Spencer of the US Embassy here (and the FBI) allegedly making strange inquiries of local resident (but US citizen with an intriguing past) Gwenyth Todd.

No harm in asking questions or a gross violation of sovereignty?

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I actually think the reporter missed the whole story on this one especially in light of the previous comment regarding her firing which I would imagine is true. If I were the reporter, I would have pursued the angle of national security…here you have an American woman who was fired from the navy for “disclosure of classified information” (not really buying the story of a set-up…give me a break) and, doing a little google research, I found that Mr Cabelly in his on-line indictment (Oct 09) was also fired from the American state department for the same thing (to the Sudan government of all things – a known terrorist country) and now Ms Todd is married to a “senior Australian Defence officer”…wonder what clearances he has and what information Ms Todd could disclose from him. Maybe it’s time for the reporter to capture the real story and for the AFP to be the next agency to knock on her door.

Pandy said :

Your pretty Gwen.

Now *that* is creepy. Shivers up my spine Uber-creepy.

Your pretty Gwen.

And if ever a story appears in the SMH featuring a photo of a nattily dressed LSWCHP about to enjoy a nice feed, I can only pray to all deities that the ad that looks like a caption across the top of the picture doesn’t loudly proclaim “Remove dog urine forever”

(For reference, a Gwyneth Todd appears to have posted something in <a href = "http://the-riotact.com/media-watch-takes-on-crappy-local-tv-news/22341&quot; this story over here.

Gt1 said :

I, Gwenyth Todd, would like to post to the commentary on me that I was absolutely not fired from my job at the US Navy and that if I had had anything to hide, I would have demanded a lawyer instead of speaking freely with the FBI three years ago and giving them four personal computers to examine forensically. I never got them back. And the level of harassment to force me to give false testimony has been so bad that innocent lives have been endangered. No, I have nothing to hide, but the FBI does. I have requested the US Department of Justice investigate this. That is how confident I am that I have nothing to hide. I just hope they don’t get someone in Australia killed when they try again, which they almost certainly will. That is why I went public.

Gt1 said :

I, Gwenyth Todd, would like to post to the commentary on me that I was absolutely not fired from my job at the US Navy

That one seems to be directed at me.
A cross-linking and replication of this comment appear in that article’s comments.

All I was doing was quoting from paragraph five of this (linked) New York Times article entitled Dim View of U.S. Posture Toward Bahraini Shiites Is Described, by MICHAEL SLACKMAN published: February 21, 2011, which came with the footer A version of this article appeared in print on February 22, 2011, on page A11 of the New York edition. Appreciably, there was no footer related to any correction or retraction.

I assumed that from the description provided and context of the description of a Ms Todd, that the Ms Todd having their character brought into question was the same Ms Gwyneth Todd being described and quoted in the preceding paragraph:
‘The problem has been that we have been doing everything we can to cuddle up to the Khalifas and have been consciously ignoring at best the situation of Bahraini Shiites,” said Gwenyth Todd, a former political adviser to the Navy in Bahrain from 2004 to 2007 who was also an adviser on Middle Eastern and North African affairs at the Pentagon and the White House. “We could find ourselves in a very bad situation if the regime has to make major concessions to the Shia, unless we change our tone.” ‘.
Paragraph 4 of the NYT article.

My reasoning behind the assumption was that the Ms Todd in the SMH article, was given a near-identical description and work history:
‘Gwenyth Todd – a former Middle East adviser to the White House, the Pentagon and the US Navy’.
Paragraph 2 of the SMH article.

I just found it strange that the same name and work history showed up in both my RiotACT and NYT news feeds within a week of eachother, and that the Gwyneth Todd the article SMH article refers to received a knock on the door from an FBI agent the day after the other Gwyneth Todd was quoted in the New York Times.

It could all be a terrible case of mistaken identity, I am open to this idea, and will apologise if this is the case. My interest in the subject wanes.
However, I stand by the only additional comment I made about the attributed quote, that you were not a saint.
If you are in fact a saint, please accept my humble apology and I wish you good luck with any future miracles.

Gt1 said :

First, I was not dismissed from my job, I had one of many clearances suspended in a setup that they tried to cover up, but is now being investigated. Second, I cooperated fully with the FBI four years ago and even gave them all my computers for forensic examination and let them search and photograph my house, money jewelry, as well as giving them all banking info. Apparently it did not help their case, so they have since tried on numerous occasions, in various countries to coerce me to change my testimony. Third, I have absolutely nothing to hide, including sordid details of my life, personal relationships, and all other flaws. The only people who have something to hide are the FBI and the US Department of Justice for acting illegally, repeatedly. And I can prove all of this with documents and witnesses of high credibility. That is why I went public about their latest stunt in Austtralia, because I doubt most Australians want rogue FBI agents entering their houses under false pretences. Sit back and wait, you do not need to believe me, but please try not to judge without knowing the facts.

Does this mean you’re a political refugee?

First, I was not dismissed from my job, I had one of many clearances suspended in a setup that they tried to cover up, but is now being investigated. Second, I cooperated fully with the FBI four years ago and even gave them all my computers for forensic examination and let them search and photograph my house, money jewelry, as well as giving them all banking info. Apparently it did not help their case, so they have since tried on numerous occasions, in various countries to coerce me to change my testimony. Third, I have absolutely nothing to hide, including sordid details of my life, personal relationships, and all other flaws. The only people who have something to hide are the FBI and the US Department of Justice for acting illegally, repeatedly. And I can prove all of this with documents and witnesses of high credibility. That is why I went public about their latest stunt in Austtralia, because I doubt most Australians want rogue FBI agents entering their houses under false pretences. Sit back and wait, you do not need to believe me, but please try not to judge without knowing the facts.

Skidbladnir said :

Gwneth Todd is no saint herself…
Ms. Todd, who was assigned as an informal liaison between the Navy and the [Bahraini] Shiites, was dismissed from her duties in December 2007 in a formal letter that cited “unauthorized contact with foreign nationals,” “financial irresponsibility” and “disclosure of classified information.

SMH didn’t mention being sacked. “Ms Todd stopped working for the US government in 2007……..”

Ernie said :

I read it in the Canberra Times this morning and thought it was a very odd story. I’m thinking she has something to hide and is on the attack.

+1

Gwneth Todd is no saint herself…
Ms. Todd, who was assigned as an informal liaison between the Navy and the [Bahraini] Shiites, was dismissed from her duties in December 2007 in a formal letter that cited “unauthorized contact with foreign nationals,” “financial irresponsibility” and “disclosure of classified information.

Ernie said :

I read it in the Canberra Times this morning and thought it was a very odd story. I’m thinking she has something to hide and is on the attack.

Nice reading between the lines, Americans are classic for spying on their friends. Hell, even some of our politicians are yankee stooges (Stand up and take a bow Mr Mark Arbidge).

Many, many moons ago (90’s) when we moved a fax line at Russell we found that the onsite Americans were also recieving the same faxes as they had jacked onto the line. When it was fixed they freaked out and wanted to know why their fax was not working properley and we informed them of what was found and nothing was ever said again.

Mormons are a great travelling info source for the US govt as well.

Not exactly spying. Definitely sounds a bit lame though.

”I said to my husband, ‘I think that guy is intel. I could smell a rat’.”

I love Americans. They find someone appears dodgy, ill prepared and dense, so they assume intelligence services….

I read it in the Canberra Times this morning and thought it was a very odd story. I’m thinking she has something to hide and is on the attack.

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