Ex-CIA Analyst, Ray McGovern, Beaten, Bloodied and Arrested

Well this is just sad.

In what can be described as the epitome of irony, ex-CIA senior analyst Ray McGovern was beaten, bloodied and arrested as he stood in silent protest at a speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week.

The topic of Mrs. Clinton's speech? Why freedom of expression of course!!

Here is a video interview with McGover, post attack and with bruises to show, with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now:




What's shocking is that Mr. McGovern is not a nobody in political circles. Here is an excerpt from his Wikipedia profile:

McGovern was a mid-level officer in the CIA in the 1960s where his focus was analysis of Soviet policy toward Vietnam. McGovern was one of President Ronald Reagan's intelligence briefers from 1981–85; he was in charge of preparing daily security briefs for Reagan, Vice President George H.W. Bush, the National Security Advisor, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Cabinet. Later, McGovern was one of several senior CIA analysts who prepared the President's Daily Brief (PDB) during the first Bush administration.

Upon retirement, McGovern was awarded the Intelligence Commendation Medal from Bush (which he later returned, see below^[1]) and worked for Washington-based non-profits before becoming co-director of the Servant Leadership School in Washington. Now, McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, D.C.


However, McGovern also has a conscience:

McGovern has been an outspoken commentator on intelligence-related issues since the late 1990s.^[2] He was heavily critical of the government's handling of the Wen Ho Lee case in 2000.^[3] In 2002 he was publicly critical of President George W. Bush's use of government intelligence in the lead-up to the war in Iraq.^[4]

In 2003, together with other former CIA employees, McGovern founded the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity or VIPS. The organization is dedicated to analyzing and criticizing the use of intelligence, specifically relating to the War in Iraq. In January 2006, McGovern began speaking out on behalf of the anti-war group Not in Our Name. According to the group's press release, McGovern served symbolic "war crimes indictments" on the Bush White House from a "people's tribunal."

Here is a video of McGovern calling Rumsfeld out on the lies that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq:

This man should be honoured for his service, consulted with because of his experience and respected for his opinions. He should be put on a pedestal!

It's a shame that's not the case.