The Jordanian Arms Theft Story
The NYT has a blockbuster story reporting that Jordanian officers have been stealing weapons "shipped into Jordan" by CIA, and selling them on the black market. Some of these weapons were used to kill two American contractors at a training facility in November.
Weapons shipped into Jordan by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia intended for Syrian rebels have been systematically stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, according to American and Jordanian officials.
Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, F.B.I. officials believe after months of investigating the attack, according to people familiar with the investigation.
The existence of the weapons theft, which ended only months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, is being reported for the first time after a joint investigation by The New York Times and Al Jazeera.
I'm still trying to figure out what to make of this story, so for the moment, I just want to unpack it.
First, consider the players. The story is sourced to US and Jordanian "officials," (a term which can sometimes mean contractors or Members of Congress). The CIA and FBI both refused to comment for the story; the State Department and Jordan's press people both gave fluff statements.
The story is a joint project -- between Qatar's media outlet, Al-Jazeera (here's their link to the story), and the "official press" of the US, the NYT. So, Americans, Jordanians, and Qataris were involved in this story.
But no Saudis, in spite of the fact that the story reports that Saudis apparently complained some months ago.
Read the full story at EmptyWheel.net
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The NYT has a blockbuster story reporting that Jordanian officers have been stealing weapons "shipped into Jordan" by CIA, and selling them on the black market. Some of these weapons were used to kill two American contractors at a training facility in November.
Weapons shipped into Jordan by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia intended for Syrian rebels have been systematically stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, according to American and Jordanian officials.
Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, F.B.I. officials believe after months of investigating the attack, according to people familiar with the investigation.
The existence of the weapons theft, which ended only months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, is being reported for the first time after a joint investigation by The New York Times and Al Jazeera.
I'm still trying to figure out what to make of this story, so for the moment, I just want to unpack it.
First, consider the players. The story is sourced to US and Jordanian "officials," (a term which can sometimes mean contractors or Members of Congress). The CIA and FBI both refused to comment for the story; the State Department and Jordan's press people both gave fluff statements.
The story is a joint project -- between Qatar's media outlet, Al-Jazeera (here's their link to the story), and the "official press" of the US, the NYT. So, Americans, Jordanians, and Qataris were involved in this story.
But no Saudis, in spite of the fact that the story reports that Saudis apparently complained some months ago.
Read the full story at EmptyWheel.net
The NYT has a blockbuster story reporting that Jordanian officers have been stealing weapons "shipped into Jordan" by CIA, and selling them on the black market. Some of these weapons were used to kill two American contractors at a training facility in November.
Weapons shipped into Jordan by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia intended for Syrian rebels have been systematically stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, according to American and Jordanian officials.
Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, F.B.I. officials believe after months of investigating the attack, according to people familiar with the investigation.
The existence of the weapons theft, which ended only months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, is being reported for the first time after a joint investigation by The New York Times and Al Jazeera.
I'm still trying to figure out what to make of this story, so for the moment, I just want to unpack it.
First, consider the players. The story is sourced to US and Jordanian "officials," (a term which can sometimes mean contractors or Members of Congress). The CIA and FBI both refused to comment for the story; the State Department and Jordan's press people both gave fluff statements.
The story is a joint project -- between Qatar's media outlet, Al-Jazeera (here's their link to the story), and the "official press" of the US, the NYT. So, Americans, Jordanians, and Qataris were involved in this story.
But no Saudis, in spite of the fact that the story reports that Saudis apparently complained some months ago.
Read the full story at EmptyWheel.net