Keith Olbermann: Ready, Fire, Aim

Last Monday, a friend informed me that MSNBC’s host of Countdown with Keith Olbermann had gone off on a rant about me on his show.  The friend told me that Mr. Olbermann had commented on an interview I had done on Fox & Friends on March 1, 2009 in which I had stated that I was displeased with the Bush Administration for not—after seven years— having executed September 11th mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other Guantanamo Bay detention camp detainees that are classified as unlawful enemy combatants.  Unlawful enemy combatants are those individuals captured on the battlefield conducting military-type operations who are not in uniform, lack any designating unit patch, are not led by recognized authority and do not conduct themselves in accordance with the rule of law.  Under the Geneva Convention, these individuals are also designated as marauders and we are under no obligation to provide them POW status.  I argue that we must provide a suitable and expeditious legal process to handle these critical cases – a legal process that keeps on the table the option of our harshest punishment. 

I watched Mr. Olbermann’s performance later in the evening.  He called me a sadist.  Then he lectured that had Al Qaeda operated under the parameters which I suggested, I too would have been subject to execution by Al Qaeda if captured by them.  I have a newsflash for Mr. Olbermann and his MSNBC producers: Al Qaeda and the Taliban torture, rape and kill all Westerners who fall under their control.  In the specific case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, responsible for the horrible death of close to 3,000 people in the United States, he has been in front of a judge and proudly admitted both his role in his heinous acts and his desire for the death penalty.  I have served on the battlefield against these type of killers on many occasions.  Though I had retired from the CIA in 2005, I returned to Afghanistan from June 2007 to June 2008 and worked as an adviser to the U.S. Army on a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Task Force in Eastern Afghanistan.  It was my great honor to work as a member of this unit.  I deeply lament the sacrifices my fellow team members made—several of whom lost their lives or suffered horrific life changing injuries.  Mr. Olbermann’s desire to lecture me, or anyone else who has worked against Al Qaeda, is frankly pathetic.     

Furthermore, MSNBC producers and Mr.Olbermann are not as informed or prepared as they should be—and I believe they do a poor job of representing the NBC brand.  Let me provide a personal story to highlight my point.  After retiring from the CIA in 2005 and publishing my first book, Jawbreaker, I did the television circuit for several months.  One day I received a call from NBC informing me that Tim Russert wanted to interview me for his hour-long CNBC show.  On the appointed day I traveled to Washington, D.C.  When I entered the studio, the lights were down and Mr. Russert was already seated.  In front of him was a copy of my book, Jawbreaker.  It looked worn from use and notes were attached to dozens of pages.  A cameraman directed me to my seat.  I was nervous, of course.  Tim Russert looked across the table and stated, “Welcome Gary.  I have seen all of your interviews and read this book twice. I know you have been honest.  That is why you are here today.  Let’s begin the interview.”  Tim Russert was probing, insightful and clearly in search of the truth.  It was a privilege to be interviewed by him.  The fact that Mr. Olbermann is now a major representative of the same brand is disheartening.

On television news shows, guests are forced to compress answers and it is easy for viewers to come to conclusions that may be less than accurate.  In regards to the issue at hand, I am a published bestselling author who has provided detailed and nuanced answers to some of the most difficult challenges that lie ahead for our country.  In November 2008, I published a policy book called Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism and National Leadership.  Though I am a Republican, the book was written in a non-partisan fashion and I balanced my criticisms of both major political parties for failures in understanding intelligence, covert action, and other critical issues related to national security.  Having said all of this, I return to Mr. Olbermann’s categorization of me.  The word “sadist” is defined as someone who derives pleasure from the pain of others.  I certainly have faults, but sadism is not one of them.  What I desire is justice.  Individuals like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and those who employ terror in the cities of the world or in the mountains of Afghanistan should face our harshest punishment, the death penalty.  The sooner we can deliver it, the better.

Comments

[Larry S.]

What I do not understand is how we have two schools of thought; those with stamina to finish the fight, and those who have neither the stomach or resolve to finish the fight. The GWOT is very important to me, I had friends that died in the towers. It seems like their memory is fading and people want a way out of Afghanistan. Whether it is changing interrogation tactics/techniques, moving GITMO to the southwest US, trying US Soldiers for murder when they are just doing their job, I could go on and on, but the simple fact remains the US wants out. I do not agree with this unspoken collective desire amongst policy makers and lobbyist, they truly act like if we leave Afghanistan, Al Qaeda and the Taliban will simply disappear and forget about the west.

It is pretty disturbing. I read an article earlier today about the possibility of bringing the Taliban to the peace table. Doesn't anybody know that is exactly what the Taliban wants to claim their victory over the West? Don't the policy makers and lobbyist understand that this counter insurgency theory (stamina-how long will wait until our objective is complete)is exactly how they wage war?

That is why Mr. Olbermann and people like himself are the truest form of coward there is in definition. It is so easy to compare and contrast, prove and negate, command and remand without ever being put into harm's way. Al Qaeda and the Taliban look for individuals like Mr. Olbermann to entertain because they are their most convincing fans when it comes to their genre of terrorism. The irony of the whole situation is that the men and women dying in Afghanistan and Iraq are preserving the freedoms for Mr. Olbermann and those alike to be cowards and critics from a safe distance, but I guess that is the genius of our country.

The fact he called you a sadist is obvious implication that he neither understands what is at stake, or is pacifist/ sympathizer to Al Qaeda and the Taliban. I mean seriously, the death of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be a given. In my opinion anybody associated or connected with the horrible deaths of 911 should suffer our gravest consequences.

[joe]

Olbermann is a gutless coward.

[Joe G.]

Speaking of gutless cowards, Time.com uses the word “quagmire” for the first time as far as a major media outlet is concerned, I think, to describe the war in Afghanistan. Quagmire. Do you believe these people?

Thank heavens for guys like our esteemed Web host here and the other heroes who TOOK IT TO THE BASTARDS in 2001-2002 – when we won the war, I might add.

Read this silly drivel for yourself if you happen to be extremely bored today. Page to the bottom if you don’t want to read the whole thing:

www.time.com

[Joe G.]

The only person worse than Olbermann at NBC is that manly girl Rachel Maddow.

[Chris Jones]

I completely agree with you. Keith likes to rant and rave incoherently about subjects which he knows nothing about. That's why his rating are so terrible. I agree with you about executing these thugs, but unfortunately I don't see justice coming anytime soon under Obama.

[Neil Colello]

Gary -- Being disliked by Olbermann puts you in some pretty great company and on a list I would be proud to be associated with.

[tim zank]

Gary, Thank you for your service and God Bless you for your patience, especially when responding to morons like Mr. Olbermann. Keep fighting the good fight!

[BR]

People like Olbermann, Maddow and almost all "intellectual" leftist are driven by guilt, envy and narcissism. They are unable to deal with their dependency and cowardice and attempt to minimize and delegitimize the very people they envy the most, people who are independent, self-reliant, resourceful, hard working, trustworthy and responsible. Like most pseudo-intellectuals they cannot deal with the fact that even after acquiring various academic degrees, they have yet to leverage their perceived superiority.

[Greg]

Gary--

Thank you for your service to the country.
God bless.

[Mark]

Wow. I have read some powerful articles and books in my life but I can tell you I am on my way to Barnes and Noble for Jawbreaker. You are truly a great American. God Bless you.