The Interpreter
So many thoughts, not enough words. That's my reaction to the Vanity Fair article. Here's a brief overview for those who don't have time to read through the incredible 10 page article of this woman's story.
If anybody ever saw the movie "The Interpreter" with Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, some of you may have asked the question my sister raised, "Why hasn't this happened for us?" The storyline was this. A UN interpretor returned to her booth to gather her things after hours when she overheard through headphones a secret conversation on the floor. She decided to report it for futher investigation. The response was to shut her up before opening a can of worms.
Well it seems to be exactly what happened in this article. Sebil, an Iranian born Turkish woman (I guess she might be half Azeri), came to America for its freedom and found something completely different. She started translating wiretap recordings for the FBI from Turkish. Another Turkish woman was hired to do the same, but apparently this other womans relationship with the American Turkish Council (ATC) was concealed in her background check because she was very involved with them.
So the other woman was pushing to have specific lines assigned to her, specifically the Turkish Embassy. The request was granted. At this point, she was free to decide which recordings were passed along to be investigated... which were "pertinent." Many tapes from the Turkish Embassy were marked as "not pertinent."
Sibel looked into it herself and listened to the tapes herself, finding discussions of "Denny Boy's" (US House Speaker Dennis Hastert) price to block the genocide resolution in 2000. She decided to go up the ladder within the FBI, and threatened along the way. Her family in Turkey decided to fly to DC to stay with her in fear of threats they received from the Turkish government... obviously.
So as she continued to dig, she put her situation at risk and was fired from the FBI. Sibel decided to take legal action, but the second she attempted to do so, Ashcroft slapped the term "states secrets privelege" citing that the case poses as a national security threat.
Sibel is now represtented by lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and is taking her case to the Supreme Court. She has also reached out to other "whistle-blowers" to create a coalition. Not noted in the article, but reported on the US News & World Report website, they will begin an ad campaign "targeting government officials who have allegedly endangered national security. The newspaper ads, which could be launched as early as two months from now, would name officials, their titles, their salaries, where they work, and their alleged or documented wrongdoing, says Edmonds."
SOOOO to wrap up, what does this mean for us? It seems that this may be exposed as a bigger issue of corruption within Congress, FBI, etc. and as the Armenian genocide issue is at the root of the issue, that subject will be carried with it. Already the few news organization who have covered the story have all gone into the genocide resolution, which is interesting because there is no solid evidence that Hastert actually was paid off. However, enough is out there to scream and shout corruption that it deserves further investigation. What this ALSO does for us is completely destroy Turkey's credibility in their argument against genocide, make it harder for them to conduct such campaigns, and throws another mark against them at a time when they are already under scrutiny for human rights reform for consideration of them joining the EU. It's TERRIBLE news for Turkey, but knowing the way of the US, unfortunately the reality may be that Hastert gets away with it, just knowing how things happen in this government. If DeLay, Carl Rove, and the endless list of corrupt officials in this government (and it ain't a Democrat vs. Republican thing, Cong. Wexler (D-FL) is just as dirty and paid off by the Turks as Hastert I'm sure) have walked away from their scandals, it's entirely possible Hastert will do the same, especially since his voice was not recorded. But an investigation might bring light to the whole thing.
ANYWAY, I really recommend picking up a copy if your eyes are hurting from reading that poor quality PDF. It's such a fascinating story, and inspiring at that. This Sibel Edmonds woman seems to have really stood a solid ground against the worst. She must be one fearless and determined woman to pursue this.
And for those of you who might be asking the question in your heads, as far as I know, the ANCA, Armenian community, everyone I know of, learned of the whole story when Vanity Fair hit the stands. No one I know had anything to do with it.... which makes it all the more fascinating.
Will report developments as they come.
If anybody ever saw the movie "The Interpreter" with Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, some of you may have asked the question my sister raised, "Why hasn't this happened for us?" The storyline was this. A UN interpretor returned to her booth to gather her things after hours when she overheard through headphones a secret conversation on the floor. She decided to report it for futher investigation. The response was to shut her up before opening a can of worms.
Well it seems to be exactly what happened in this article. Sebil, an Iranian born Turkish woman (I guess she might be half Azeri), came to America for its freedom and found something completely different. She started translating wiretap recordings for the FBI from Turkish. Another Turkish woman was hired to do the same, but apparently this other womans relationship with the American Turkish Council (ATC) was concealed in her background check because she was very involved with them.
So the other woman was pushing to have specific lines assigned to her, specifically the Turkish Embassy. The request was granted. At this point, she was free to decide which recordings were passed along to be investigated... which were "pertinent." Many tapes from the Turkish Embassy were marked as "not pertinent."
Sibel looked into it herself and listened to the tapes herself, finding discussions of "Denny Boy's" (US House Speaker Dennis Hastert) price to block the genocide resolution in 2000. She decided to go up the ladder within the FBI, and threatened along the way. Her family in Turkey decided to fly to DC to stay with her in fear of threats they received from the Turkish government... obviously.
So as she continued to dig, she put her situation at risk and was fired from the FBI. Sibel decided to take legal action, but the second she attempted to do so, Ashcroft slapped the term "states secrets privelege" citing that the case poses as a national security threat.
Sibel is now represtented by lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and is taking her case to the Supreme Court. She has also reached out to other "whistle-blowers" to create a coalition. Not noted in the article, but reported on the US News & World Report website, they will begin an ad campaign "targeting government officials who have allegedly endangered national security. The newspaper ads, which could be launched as early as two months from now, would name officials, their titles, their salaries, where they work, and their alleged or documented wrongdoing, says Edmonds."
SOOOO to wrap up, what does this mean for us? It seems that this may be exposed as a bigger issue of corruption within Congress, FBI, etc. and as the Armenian genocide issue is at the root of the issue, that subject will be carried with it. Already the few news organization who have covered the story have all gone into the genocide resolution, which is interesting because there is no solid evidence that Hastert actually was paid off. However, enough is out there to scream and shout corruption that it deserves further investigation. What this ALSO does for us is completely destroy Turkey's credibility in their argument against genocide, make it harder for them to conduct such campaigns, and throws another mark against them at a time when they are already under scrutiny for human rights reform for consideration of them joining the EU. It's TERRIBLE news for Turkey, but knowing the way of the US, unfortunately the reality may be that Hastert gets away with it, just knowing how things happen in this government. If DeLay, Carl Rove, and the endless list of corrupt officials in this government (and it ain't a Democrat vs. Republican thing, Cong. Wexler (D-FL) is just as dirty and paid off by the Turks as Hastert I'm sure) have walked away from their scandals, it's entirely possible Hastert will do the same, especially since his voice was not recorded. But an investigation might bring light to the whole thing.
ANYWAY, I really recommend picking up a copy if your eyes are hurting from reading that poor quality PDF. It's such a fascinating story, and inspiring at that. This Sibel Edmonds woman seems to have really stood a solid ground against the worst. She must be one fearless and determined woman to pursue this.
And for those of you who might be asking the question in your heads, as far as I know, the ANCA, Armenian community, everyone I know of, learned of the whole story when Vanity Fair hit the stands. No one I know had anything to do with it.... which makes it all the more fascinating.
Will report developments as they come.
posted by Arsineh at 6:29 AM
5 Comments:
And to crudely comment on my own blog, Hastert, I hope you get what you deserve you low life lying coward. You and anyone else who has taken money has reduced the values of this great nation (America) to the mercy of a genocidal dictatorship and now the world knows it.
Thanks Arsineh!
Thanks for the summary Arsineh!
Enjoy reading all these logs. You’re all very passionate and committed. Arsineh, embrace the idea of seeking a position in one of the Armenian community newspapers in MA or NY. I think you’ll be an excellent news reporter. Take care.
Happy to deliver. Raymond, thank you. I actually worked for the Armenian Weekly years ago and still contribute to them and a few Armenian publications (Asbarez, AIM, etc). However, I wouldn't say I'd be any good editorially. I tend to have a lot to say when I feel passionately about the subject. This one had me dancing and smiling. I can't wait to see how it unfolds.
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