Ralph McGehee Quotes
Death squads have been created and used by the CIA around the world — particularly the Third World — since the late 1940s
Ralph McGehee, CIA Operative, Deadly Deceits: My 25 years in the CIA, 1999
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The U.S. was at war with Spain and Filipino insurgents for the control of the Philippines. During this war there were a few senior U. S. Officers who in later times would have been tried and jailed for war crimes. The men under them were brutal and committed atrocities at their orders. See {615368}.
Mahathir, in his moral assessment, fails to come to grips with the fact that the Coalition forces in their Afghan and Iraq activities attempt to kill and injure as few people as possible to accomplish their objective. The terrorists attempt to kill and injure as many people as possible. In the September 11 attack, the buildings could have been attacked late at night so there would be few casualties, and in Bali they could have bombed the facility after it had closed instead of waiting until there was the largest audience. And the terrorist bombs include nails, rat poison, and other additional material designed not to do more building damage, but to kill and maim more people which is their specific objective. Most wars have collateral damage and the parties are required to make a good faith attempt to minimize that. But the terrorists not only make no attempt, but make strong efforts to kill as many as possible. That is a huge moral and ethical distinction.
Chile under Pinochet was the center for Operation Condor, and in addition it included Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. These countries all were committing wholesale murders and disappearances of, in Scherrer’s words, “leftists, communists and Marxists”. The Condor agents assassinated many abroad who just opposed their methods including a Chilean national in the Untied States and an American friend. Scherrer discovered the identity of some of the Condor terrorist criminals. The US government was very ambivalent as an innocent American had been murdered together with a visiting foreign visitor in Washington DC, by being blown up by a car bomb. At the same time the CIA and others in the government had been aiding the Condor governments but generally did not realize how far these right wing governments were going although some Americans knew, For example, the military through the School of the Americas {588838} taught the South Americans interrogation techniques including torture methods that were illegal in America. The desire to keep the extent of the atrocities secret and the extent of American support of the governments conflicted with the desire to find and punish the terrorists who were killing Americans and others on American soil.
Islamic Religious Fundamentalist Terrorists in Algeria had kidnapped over 100 Western Hostages including some Americans. One of the terrorist’s “demands” was for the release of convicted murderers and terrorists in the United States. The official policy which she stated was not totally accurate. On several occasions, U. S. Officials or third parties representing them had “unofficially” negotiated with terrorists. In many cases this was a tactic to buy time and military action followed and in other cases unofficial ransoms were actually paid. The United States has had to contend with this problem with Islamic Terrorists and Pirates since the Thomas Jefferson Presidency when he argued against John Adams who wanted to pay the tribute while Jefferson preferred military action.
The Armenian-Turkish enmity was vicious to the point that each people tried to kill and exterminate the other—men women and children. The atrocities committed by the Armenians were unfortunately matched by the Turks in what is now referred to as the “Armenian Genocide”—see {51838} The armed combatants amongst Turks and Armenians were in the minority yet each side slaughtered all members of the other whenever they could. The hatred still prevails – see {588211}. And Turks and Armenians both still accuse the other of atrocities of the period and appear in denial about their own violence.
Campbell carried out the order although many MacDonalds escaped in the highlands. The particular massacre has always taken on an even greater infamy because the Campbell murderers had been given food and hospitality by the MacDonalds. This began the most bitter of the Scottish clan feuds that persists into modern times.
Ralph Walter McGehee Jr was case officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), serving the CIA for 25 years, and an author. From 1953 to 1972, his assignments were in East Asia and Southeast Asia, where he held administrative posts. Since leaving intelligence work in 1977, he publicly expressed views highly critical of the CIA.
