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CIA Chief in Pakistan Leaves after Drone Trial Blows his Cover
Jonathan Banks, station chief In Islamabad, back in US after calls for him to be charged with murder over drone attack
The CIA has pulled its station chief from Islamabad, one of America's most important spy posts, after his cover was blown in a legal action brought by victims of US drone strikes in the tribal belt.
The officer, named in Pakistan as Jonathan Banks, left the country yesterday, after a tribesman publicly accused him of being responsible for the death of his brother and son in a CIA drone strike in December 2009. Karim Khan, a journalist from North Waziristan, called for Banks to be charged with murder and executed.
In a rare move, the CIA called Banks home yesterday, citing "security concerns" and saying he had received death threats, Washington officials told Associated Press. Khan's lawyer said he was fleeing the possibility of prosecution.
"This is just diplomatic language they are using. Banks is a liability to the CIA because he's likely to be called to court. They want to save him, and themselves, the embarrassment," said lawyer Shahzad Akbar. Pakistani media reports have claimed that Banks entered the country on a business visa, and therefore does not enjoy diplomatic immunity from prosecution.
The recall comes at a sensitive moment for Washington. This week's Afghanistan policy review brought fresh focus on Taliban safe havens in Pakistan's tribal belt. Meanwhile CIA drone attacks – which are co-ordinated from the Islamabad embassy – have reached a new peak. Three drones struck targets in Khyber, a previously untouched tribal agency, on Friday, reportedly killing 24 people and signalling a widening of the CIA covert campaign.
The drones enjoy quiet support from the Pakistani government and military but are intensely unpopular among the wider public. Public anger over civilian casualties has focused on Karim Khan, who first publicised his case with a $500m (£323m) civil law suit that named Banks, CIA director Leon Panetta and the US defence secretary, Robert Gates, as respondents.
Few legal experts expect the case to succeed, but it has renewed uneasiness over drones. There have been over 100 strikes so this year, twice as many as in 2009.
The identity of the CIA station chief is a closely guarded secret in any country. Khan's lawyer said he had obtained Banks's name from one Pakistani journalist and confirmed it with a second. "I asked around, then got an answer after three or four days of searching," he said.
There was also speculation that Banks could have been named by a disgruntled element within Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency. Last month, several senior ISI officials were named in a New York legal action brought by relatives of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
It is unusual for the CIA to recall such a senior spy. Station chiefs were recalled from Israel in 1999 and Argentina in 2001 after being identified in the local media. Today, several US media outlets did not name Banks, citing national security concerns. His identity has been widely reported in Pakistan and India.
Akbar, the lawyer, said the unusual legal action had attracted another 14 families of alleged drone victims from the tribal belt. They intend to bring a class action suit against the CIA in early January, he said.
45 Comments so far
Show AllRun you coward! RUN!
Indeed, scram.
This sentence in the report caught my eye: "Today, several US media outlets did not name Banks, citing national security concerns."
Since Banks has already been outed in the Pakistani media, why are our "media" being so subservient--again?
Because our media our 100% corporate-owned and corporate-controlled propaganda parrots, and literally nothing more. Everyone in the world - with the exception of 99% of the U.S. sheeple, of course - knows this.
One of the main reasons democracy died in the U.S. was due to the death of our 4th estate. As was stated by Thomas Jefferson, an independent media is essential to the survival of democracy. Without an independent media, democracy dies.
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."
Dear Demonstrom, your words above sound like a rant, yet it is unfortunately an eloquent summary of reality of the American media. Twenty two years ago, when I escaped for my freedom to the USA, from oppressive laws of the Turkish government and the threat of a fringe religious extremist groups, I was like Pollyanna.
For about ten years, until graduating from the law school, I saw (and perhaps wanted to see) the American media to be free. But, later some events exposed the real nature of the mass media; they were all in bed with corporations and government.
The incestuous relation became more evident when I noticed that I would not hear the voice of progressive thinkers and politicians in debates on vital national issues. Their talking head were all stooges of the same interest that was very different from the interest of American people.
This media is a major accomplice in the atrocities committed by the US military around the world and it is also the enabler of the Zionist crimes. All they do is to "manufacture consent" to promote the interest of corporations, especially the monstrous military industrial complex.
I feel like I enjoy a consumer heaven, a dubious freedom bestowed to me by bloody corporations at the cost of creating hells around the world for humanity.
Turkey, despite its numerous problems is today much more democratic than the USA. My old friend Tayyip Erdogan is now eliminating the influence of the USA-supported Turkish military. There are numerous parties reflecting various interests and views. The media is vibrant and you can hear every voice there.
You can find dozens of brands of cereals, cheese and bathroom tissues at a nearby Wal Mart, more than 30 flavors ice-cream at Baskin Robinson, but you are deprived of chance to vote for a third party without being forced to help the worst party! That is not a democracy.
So, our biggest challenge in the USA is to establish the "separation of corporations from our government". We need a constitutional amendment for that.
Peace,
Edip Yuksel
Very well said. And very refreshing - although depressing - hearing the perspective from someone who came to the U.S. from another country.
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."
Edip,
You may be interested in this site: ( http://freespeechforpeople.org/node/14). It is one which is working toward reversing the Citizens United decision.
They are afraid Americans will find out. Deliberate killing of humans, even soldiers, outside of a war zone and apart from an official declaration of war, such as could be made by Congress, is still murder, 0bama and Cheney's denials to the contrary.
Any conceivable US president would pardon Banks, of course. But the robotic, remote-control murder of the civilian women and children of a supposedly allied nation is likely not what 0bama, his sponsors, or his minions would prefer to use as a media test case to see whether Americans can stomach murder by fiat backed by a smile and a platitude.
I like the words Scurry and Cockroach better...
What cheers, where? Jew slaughtering? I missed that in the article and comments.
As opposed to the Muslim-slaughtering US Intelligence service?
or the Muslim slaughtering Zionists....
I believe the great unravelling is upon us.
Return all trays to their upright and locked positions.
Supposedly the CIA "missed" the fact in the late 1980s that the USSR was about to disintegrate.
i doubt any "intelligence" services around the world are missing the pending implosion of the USA.
Except perhaps the CIA...
the Bushes and now Obomber is ensuring that Americans anywhere in the world will be targets in retaliation for the murder of innocents in our war of Imperialism
that is exactly it toubibcal. i don't support this crap of bush and now oilybomber but now me and other 'merikans are put at risk for our coountry's criminal warmongering aroung the world. we can be detained in other countries or attacked because of what the bush regime and now obama are doing. it is time to stop this insane miltary empire.
matt
galveston tx
When will Pakistan begin the extradition process?
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
I so long for a world where this applies to our rulers and their servants instead of just the poor.
I'm waiting for the day when the U.S. is condemned for being a terrorist state, and on the face of it, it will probably be sooner than later.
US do the dirty job for all the governments of the world whose members are in large majority the SHAREHOLDERS LEGISLATIVE ARMY
edweg
The corruption and immorality of Obama's wars will dwarf anything Bush ever did. Just proves that, smart or dumb, American presidents are the scum of the earth.
Drone bombings that kill innocent civilians is a disgrace.
Precisely.
Other reports of this (Yahoo News, the link is too long) list "54 suspected militants" killed in the three drone attacks. So once again all you have to be is "suspected", no evidence, no arrest, no trial; and you can be summarily executed anywhere in the world. On another note, I'm waiting for Banks' outing to be compared with Valerie Plame, Assange and all the double standards about accountability. I won't hold my breath though.
What the hell is this statement 2/3 down in the report: "The drones enjoy quiet support from the Pakistani government and military but are intensely unpopular among the wider public."
Damned English reporting? Oh yes old chap, I'll say that they are rather unpopular this season, what... Bloody hell Watson, those drones are a bit annoying, what...
The CIA asshole better bugger outta there because those tribespeople, just like any good old country folk, will draw and quarter the SOB in a heartbeat.
I caught that, too, but what bothers me is that it's OK with the Pakistani government that a foreign power bombs its own people - who apparently ought to welcome being bombed?...gaaahhhh!
Bribery for the purpose of weapons testing of Terminator Drones. Who would have guessed that Arnold was starring in a prophetic movie and the Terminator was based on researched leaks from the Pentagon.
The Pakistan government and military like to have some of their more radical tribes around because they do not trust the U.S. or India. They have noticed that the U.S. provides an umbrella for India, who is their arch enemy. The U.S. has been letting India come into Afghanistan and acquire infrastructure, land, and businesses. This makes Pakistan uneasy. They want to hold onto their radical tribes in case the U.S. pulls out right away and there is conflict. At the same time they have no problems allowing sacrifice of their radical tribes being attacked by the drones if it appeases the U.S.
The drone raids in Pakistan remind me of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The U.S. bombed Cambodian civilian villages in an attempt to root out North Vietnamese soldiers who crossed over for protection. The only thing is the angry villagers in northern Cambodia rose up with the Khmer Rouge and took over Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge would not likely have had the support from the country side villagers if they did not have bombs dropped on them by Americans. There were more bombs dropped in northern Cambodia than that what was dropped on Japan in WWII. McCain “Bomb Bomb Iran” was one of those bomber pilots. The U.S. at the time of the bombing was not admitting the bombing was taking place officially.
Wait, you mean there could be unintended consequences of indiscriminate bombing?
Don't talk crazy, man!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12015959
this didn't get much publicity as far as i can see.......
The sooner the U.S. dollar loses its status as world reserve currency, the better for everyone. That - and that alone - is what keeps the U.S. at the top of the heap as the sole "superpower," not our military. Once the dollar is replaced by the Euro - which WILL happen, sooner or later - as world reserve currency, the dominos will start to tumble for this shitty fascist country. Our descent into 3rd or 4th world status will accelerate at that point, our budget and trade deficits will balloon beyond imagination, the MIMC will be forced to cut is budgets and scale back its global garrisons and military occupations bigtime, the Dims/Rethugs at home will slash medicare, SS, public education, and basically gut the New Deal to try to address the deficits, wiping out the already dying middle class and plunging the vast majority of the citizenry into abject poverty. Etc, etc, etc. Bad for the U.S. citizens, but VERY good for the rest of humanity. And frankly, the U.S. citizens deserve what's coming to them, as they have continued to vote for the 2-party corporatist duopoly despite all evidence pointing to the obvious fact that they are simply whores for U.S. global capitalist hegemony.
You reap what you sow. Let the U.S. reap what it has sown, sooner rather than later. In the end, mother earth and the billions across the planet will breath a collective sigh of relief.
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."
the shiety currency situation is in every country, what doesn't make dollar situation unique, it may loose some, but replacement is unlikely since the world is not ready for only free from debt / non-kingdom/Chinese currency
dweg
And the band played on . . .
Our murdering will not stop until American voters rise up and throw the rascals of the ruling out, all of them. And that is about as likely as pigs flying. Our last election was just a taste of what is to come.
Jim Shea
Americans are too fat and stupid to do any overthrowing. They reminded me of fattened pig waiting for slaughter.
Being a Swede on my behalf
the guy is welcome to Stockholm.
We might be able to host him in a chambre separé before on request
extraditing him to Pakistan...:-D
I hope Judge William Jensen of the Creech 14 trial in Las Vegas reads this article. He had taken a couple of months to deliberate over the charges of the Creech 14 defendants trespassing on the military base to shout warnings to all of humanity about those innocents are being killed by drone attacks.I hope Judge Jensen has the guts to rule in favor of the defendants to send shock wages through the Pentagon. His decision will be on Jan 26.
How do you prosecute those murderers that drop bombs on AfPak civilians from drones guided from a military facility in America?
From the Daily Mail, Islamabad, Wednesday, December 01, 2010
http://dailymailnews.com/1210/01/FrontPage/index.php?id=7
“Kareem Khan challenged the precision of drone attacks and specifically questioned the precision of 31st December 2009 attack where in three innocent lives were taken by CIA in a secretive mode. He further challenged that if CIA can establish involvement of any of victims of 31st December attack in terrorism he will pay damages to United States instead.
While talking about the catastrophe he told The Daily Mail how his18 years old son Zaenullah, his young brother Asif Iqbal and a mason who was working on construction of village masque and had came from another village of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa were killed.
Kareem Khan told The Daily Mail that “his family is one of few educated families from the North Waziristan .He himself is M .Phil while his son was employee of Government school in town and his brother was graduate of National University of Modern languages from Islamabad .After compilation of his studies he went back to his town to add his positive contribution in educational uplifting of tribal area. They were innocent Pakistani citizen of Islamic Republic Of Pakistan whose fundamental rights have been guaranteed under the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
In the response of one question about the families of victims he told Asif Iqbal left two years old son Muhammad Kafeel and a widow. Mohammad Kafeel has no one to look after as his mother is suffering great emotional and mental trauma. . “I lost my son and brother and now family’s full responsibility is now on me now we are living in uncle’s house waiting for justice or compensation”. He told The Daily Mail
Kareem Khan told the Daily Mail after this tragedy “I went here and there for Justice but all in vain because of undefined and so called system in tribal areas than one of my good friend suggested me to ask for Justice through legal way”. On November 29 2010 I through my lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar issued a legal notice to United States Secretary Defence Mr. Robert Gates, Director CIA Leon Panetta CIA Islamabad Station Chief Jonathan Banks for damages of $ 500 Million .he added
He also told that Drone attacks in tribal areas are carried out by CIA in langly, Virginia USA with co-ordination of local intelligence gathered by spies on ground in tribal area. CIA, s Islamabad station Chief, Jonathan Banks coordinates such intelligence through the network of on ground spies, who are paid a hefty amount for pointing out any militant. On these uncorroborated reports, CIA is executing people of tribal areas.
He stated that “CIA Director Leon Panetta has been reported in media saying that ‘Drone attacks are precise and limited in terms of collateral damage’.
“CIA officials are not part of United States armed forces, therefore under international law they are civilians directly participating in hostilities. Furthermore being non-diplomat and non-armed forces members CIA officials, who are operating drone attacks have no immunity and therefore are liable for murder and damages under laws of Pakistan and principles of natural justice throughout the world’ Kareem Khan explained
Kareem Khan also grumbled that media is not playing vibrant role and journalists even don’t bother to find ground realities. Every time we watched in media that numbers of militants are killed in the result of drone attacks. All the time they go for figures they don’t even bother to differentiate the innocent people and militants. Unfortunately they just rely on people who are present there and love to create hype for their own purpose.Kareem Khan gave the example of Hakeem Ullah Mehsood, Jalal Din ,Aimen Alzwari and Sheikh Usamma and told that according to so called reliable sources media published news regarding their, several times deaths . Which is very funny situation because in my limited knowledge a person died once in his or her life .
Shahzad Mirza Akbar ,the legal representative of Kareem khan who was present during the interview told The Daily Mail Drone attacks on house of his client is in clear violation of United Nations declaration of Human Rights ,International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCRP) and the citizens of Pakistan through the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan .Those who have committed this atrocity are liable to be charged under the Penal Code of Pakistan and no law custom or authority gives CIA the permission to carry out killing in the sovereign territory of another country .So this is illegal act of United States and CIA and cannot be recognized as legal at any judicial or legal forum .The UN special report on extra –judicial ,summery and executions declared in 2004
“Empowering Government to identify and kill “known terrorists” places no verifiable obligation upon them to demonstrate in any way that those against whome lethal force is used are indeed terrorists, or to demonstrate that every other alternative had been exhausted”.
He told Court issued the notice on November 29, 2010 and count down has been started from today .He also talked about next step is to go in American court for justice.”
“no law custom or authority gives CIA the permission to carry out killing in the sovereign territory of another country ”
Imagine if someone went to Nevada and killed about 100 people in an area near Las Vegas because they had “reliable” information that 5 or 6 of them were working for the CIA, (Noting that the CIA is in every sense of the definition an international criminal and terrorist organization), do you think the US legal system would feel it had reason to charge them with something? Do you think the US people would think it a reasonable and justified action with “acceptable” collateral damage?
What makes me really wonder about this WikiLeaks thing and their further revaluations of American malfeasance, I ask myself what is the point? What are we doing about the innumerable criminal acts that the US Government and its agencies are doing and have done right out in the open clearly and documented already.
In the ME providing aid and weapons to Israel, in Pakistan with murder, in Iraq with a war of aggression, and an entire litany of crimes against humanity, in Iran with state terrorism, etc. etc. the Bush and Obama administrations have been and are in breach of international treaties, conventions, and even their own constitution, and absolutely nothing has come of it as they brazenly continue to put themselves above the law.
What further evidence is needed? What revelation will tip the balance? When will people in the US and around the world actually accept and come to terms with the fact that if they want to return to a world of sanity with laws or at least a presumption of law at the foundation of states and statecraft, the problem is not global terrorism, what is needed is to dismantle and prohibit the brazen tyranny of an empire.
i agree 100%. No dis on WikiLeaks, more power to 'em, and bless 'em if they spark a transformation of awareness. But anyone who requires new revelations to see the plain truth about the USA and "international diplomacy" is living in some form of denial.
Here's an amazing statement from the article: "Today, several US media outlets did not name Banks, citing national security concerns."
I wish the author had listed those media outlets. It would be nice to know which dailies feel a need to collude with the illegal U.S. practice of carrying out extrajudicial killings abroad.
-TIA
Just consider all suspect and you will be heading down the right path.