If you had been watching Fox news in particular, and cable news in general, the last week of August into September, out of nowhere, this gal O’Bagy spun into our living rooms to tell America that Syria’s rebels are mostly moderate. It never added up. This very attractive woman was cruising about Syria and its rebel conclaves unmolested where macho testosterone laden newsmen feared to go. By now most know she has been discredited.
Elizabeth O’Bagy, known for her work at the Institute for the Study of War. She penned a piece for the Wall Street Journal that has become the basis for the idea that Syria’s rebels are more moderate than jihadist.
America’s Watchtower has more Here:
It turns out, if this story is true, that she was not fired for lying on her resume after all. While it is true that she does not have her PH.D,. the think tank knew this at the time they hired her so she could not possibly have been fired for misleading the group.
The Institute for the Study of War knew that controversial Syria analyst Elizabeth O’Bagy lacked a PhD long before it fired her, according to the group’s own website.
In fact, the neoconservative think tank knew she was in a joint Ph.D. program all along. The author bio from her March 2013 study of the Free Syrian Army says O’Bagy is “in a joint Master’s/PhD program in Arab Studies and Political Science at Georgetown University and is working on a dissertation on women’s militancy.”
But let me get to the purpose of my post before I lose you. Just what is the Institute for the Study of War? Unfortunately, much of their original information disappeared yesterday from their website. Thanking various military contractors for hosting dinners, and of course Liz Cheney’s name and picture are no longer prominently displayed.
And how does O’Bagy get paid?
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller earlier last week, O’Bagy explained how she got paid.
“Most of the contracts that I’ve been a part of through the Task Force have been through CSO, which is the Conflict and Stabilization Office[sic],” O’Bagy told The Daily Caller. O’Bagy was likely referring to the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, a State Department-funded organization. Read more: Daily Caller
Leadership and Funding
However, according to 2011 tax documents, directors included: Elizabeth Cheney, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney and founder of the right-wing advocacy group Keep America Safe; William Kristol, editor of the neoconservative flagship magazine the Weekly Standard; Jack Keane, a retired four-star general who coauthored with Frederick Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute “Choosing Victory,” a 2007 study that served as a blueprint for the so-called “surge” in Iraq; Dennis Showalter, a military historian; Hal Hirsch; Bill Roberti; and Kim Kagan.
According to its 2011 Form 990, ISW had operating expenses of just under $1.9 million that year, up from $1.57 in 2010.
A non-exhaustive Right Web investigation of Form 990 U.S. tax records revealed nearly $700,000 in donations from charitable foundations during 2007-2009.
ISW has increasingly drawn support from military contractors with stakes in the issues that the institute studies. “According to ISW’s last annual report,” noted Consortium News in December 2012, “its original supporters were mostly right-wing foundations, such as the Smith-Richardson Foundation and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, but it now is backed by national security contractors, including major ones like Raytheon, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and CACI, as well as lesser-known firms such as DynCorp International, which provides training for Afghan police, and Palantir, a technology company founded with the backing of the CIA’s venture-capital arm, In-Q-Tel. Palantir supplies software to U.S. military intelligence in Afghanistan.”[18]
Donations included nearly $180,000 from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a premier neoconservative advocacy group, as well as $60,000 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a right-wing foundation that has funded other militarist outfits like the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) and Daniel Pipes’ Middle East Forum, earning it a spot among the top funders of the anti-Islamic discourse in the United States according to a 2011 report by the Center for American Progress. The Marcus Foundation, which has also supported MEMRI, contributed another $250,000 to ISW during this period. (For a full list of Right Web’s findings, click here.)
But what about O’Bagy and the Syrian Emergency Task Force? Otherwise known as SETF? Check out PJ Media:
Here’s a jaw-dropper: O’Bagy criticized Israel for killing Hamas leader Ahmed al-Jabari last November. But enough about her.
The SETF’s executive director is one Mouaz Moustafa. This is Moustafa.
And look, here he is in Syria. That’s Sen. John McCain there in the middle, and a couple of Islamist kidnappers behind him.
Moustafa and O’Bagy arranged McCain’s trip to Syria through the Syrian Emergency Task Force.
You probably have guessed where this is going by now. Mr. Moustafa is a Palestinian Arab, and was involved in the Libya war before he turned up in Syria. He openly hates Israel. He opposed the overthrow of Mohammed Morsi in Egypt. He hearts Hamas. Connect that dot to O’Bagy’s take on the strike that killed Ahmed al-Jabari, above.
In short, the man behind the source for the notion that Syria’s rebellion is moderate is, himself, an Islamist among Islamists, according to FrontPage.
One member of the SETF’s Board of Trustees/Board of Directors, Dr. Jihad Qaddour, was also a trustee of the Muslim American Society, which is a front for the Muslim Brotherhood.
Another, Bassam Estwani, appears to have been the Imam of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, also known as Al-Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki’s former mosque. The mosque was considered a front for Hamas and other “Islamic extremists” by the Treasury Department.
A third, Zaher Sahloul, appears to be the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago, an organization with terrorist links which is involved in organizing a boycott of Israel.
“Syria’s rebels are moderates,” according to the disinformation very effectively spread by the Syrian Emergency Task Force.
Back to the ISW’S Corporate Council:
ISW’s Corporate Council members believe that an advanced understanding of military issues results in significantly better national security policy. They recognize the relevance, accuracy, and impact of ISW’s research and analysis, and provide support to ISW and its leadership.
For a list of their supporters here. Note the Military contractors.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Cheney, Esq.
Founder, Keep America Safe
2011
General Jack Keane,
(U.S. Army, Ret.)
Chairman of the
Board of Directors
Founder, Keane Advisors LLC
Dr. Kimberly Kagan
Founder and President,
Institute for the Study of
War
Dr. William Kristol
Founder and Editor,
The Weekly Standard
But it is this Kimberly Kagan that is the one to keep an eye on. More about Kagan tomorrow. Much more at Right Web
We are on the front lines of military thinking.
Our Mission
The Institute for the Study of War advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. We are committed to improving the nation’s ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. strategic objectives. ISW is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization.
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August 13, 2014 at 6:14 am
[…] Liz Cheney, Elizabeth O’Bagy, Military contractors- a toxic brew an interesting post, if one enjoys the weeds. […]
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September 18, 2013 at 8:04 am
[…] For the full rant, check out my earlier post: Liz Cheney, Elizabeth O’Bagy, Military contractors- a toxic brew […]
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September 13, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Great research and writing, Bunker. It is depressing…that is why you are so tired. I thought of Eisenhower’s warning as well when reading this. The Cheney connection is not surprising to me, but sorry just the same. There really seems no where to turn when looking for leadership. By the time people get to that level of higher office…or running for DC seats, they are so corrupted we can trust none of them.
So get some good rest. You deserve it. Oh….be sure to guzzle lots of water! That’s the ticket! LOL
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September 14, 2013 at 6:54 am
Thanks Cheryl. I shall rally forth! I really expected more from some of these folks I otherwise had respect for. How could they get themselves mixed up with this. How does Liz think she needs or could run for Senate? Depressing indeed. Lucky the original website was scrubbed I guess.
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September 13, 2013 at 6:58 am
This kind of crap has now become the norm. In fact, the norm has created a situation that it is impossible for watchers to stay on top of!
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September 13, 2013 at 7:29 am
I wanted to do more on this organization today, Friday, but plum wore out. There were days when it was hard to find something worthwhile to post, now it is impossible to pick from the stack.
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September 12, 2013 at 11:36 pm
sorry but those ‘poor’ IzlamoNazi Syrians would kill every Jew Or Christian in a heartbeat…what a travesty…have a blessed weekend my friend:)
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September 13, 2013 at 7:27 am
True words Angel. Have a good Holiday.
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September 12, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Just to let those who really believe the country is not headed over the cliff due not only to the corrupt politicians but also to a dumbed down beyond belief citizenry. NJ senate race special election October 16th for the now dead senator Frank Lautenberg-D. The players-
Steve Loneghan-R two term mayor of Bogota, NJ, balanced budgets, cut tax rates; was hired by democrat mayors of other towns to help bring their budgets to fiscal sanity; former State Director of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperity.
Cory Booker, mayor newark, NJ. 10 murders in 10 days, 14% unemployment, rampant corruption, you get the picture. Booker leads Loneghan in the polls 64% to 29%…nuff said.
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September 12, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Sounds pretty close to being a racist. Hehe.
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September 12, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Yeah, how dare Lonegan practice sane fiscal policies while the bro is creating jobs, providing more money for schools and fighting for the middle class Obama style. B man will he a rubber stamp for his messiah
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September 12, 2013 at 12:06 pm
GREAT article!
So many questions. The answer to all of them is our government is EVIL and only out for themselves. They DON’T care one whit about the People, only keeping the ‘corruption as usual’ going on in D.C.
“This was one of the most depressing posts I have done. Up to now I had hope that there were some of honor left. Now it is clear it matters not the name or party.”
I grieve with you bunker.
“Right wing, left wing, middle of the bird, apparently they’re all in this together. Money and power, power and money. We are being sold out by a host of Judas whores the likes of McCain et al.”
I agree completely, Peter.
“…we are the ones being played for fools as these people all look to line their pockets with the blood of our heroes.”
Exactly, Steve!
“Where is our modern day McCarthy?”
If we can find one, CoF, he will be drowned out, ridiculed, dismissed, ignored, and vilified by our elected officials and the media.
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September 12, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Thanks Laura for your insightful comment. I am at low ebb. For some reason I held hope that at least some of the neocon organizations believed in what they said. Now I know they simply represent the worst of mankind. It’s all for the money. And those poor Syrians caught in all if this. At least Assad protected the Christians, same with Gaddafi and Mubarak.
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September 12, 2013 at 8:58 am
Great job, Bunker! Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex but where has been the warning of enemies within? Where is our modern day McCarthy?
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September 12, 2013 at 9:15 am
We are running out of time I do believe. Too late friend.
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September 12, 2013 at 8:32 am
Speaking of which: Kudos to retired general and resigned in disgrace ex- CIA director David Petraeus. Our man flint is being paid $150,000 as an adjunct professor by CUNY (taxpayer funded City University of New York) to teach one class once per week. The average salary for an adjunct professor at CUNY is $3,000 per class. But he did display some largess considering his initial salary request was for $200,000. Coupled with his upcoming professorship at USC, yes that’s in California, he should be able to have an overall positive influence on the college experience for his students at CUNY. The corruption of the insiders knows no bounds.
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September 12, 2013 at 8:40 am
Oh that is just the beginning. He is up to his eyeballs with this organization and this Kagan woman. More on him tomorrow.
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September 12, 2013 at 8:01 am
Calvin Coolidge summed it up best: “The business of America is business.” We might add: All other considerations be damned.
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September 12, 2013 at 8:02 am
Excellent point. And the same with this corrupt and evil government.
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September 12, 2013 at 7:47 am
Right wing, left wing, middle of the bird, apparently they’re all in this together. Money and power, power and money. We are being sold out by a host of Judas whores the likes of McCain et al.
In a prior comment I pointed out that govt contractors were paid $16.00 per food tray in Iraq; do the math: 75,000 x $16.00 x 3=$3.6 million per day minimum just to feed our soldiers. Seems petty of course but now factor in the everything else ; consider the penny ante traitorous bastards involved with their interest in these contracts. If we go into Syria we may be looking at another 10 years of contracting. How do the Russians and Chicoms do this same crap without selling out their respective countries unlike our politicians who collude with the enemy to line their own pockets and jeopardize our national security interests? They are selling us out but that’s OK since the great unwashed haven’ a clue. Then there’s Obama’s mission to weaken and socialize this nation. It all adds up
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September 12, 2013 at 7:50 am
This was one of the most depressing posts I have done. Up to now I had hope that there were some of honor left. Now it is clear it matters not the name or party. As Eisenhower had warned us of the Industrial military complex.
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September 12, 2013 at 6:43 am
Wow, great work! And thank you for the link. This whole thing stinks, doesn’t it? I used to think that McCain was being played for a fool or was going senile or something but that is probably not the case, we are the ones being played for fools as these people all look to line their pockets with the blood of our heroes.
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September 12, 2013 at 6:55 am
Yes indeed. Just aggravated I didn’t grab the good stuff before they took it all down yesterday. It was there in the afternoon where they had discussed the contractor involvement. All of these people are all Fox war mongers.
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September 12, 2013 at 6:38 am
Reblogged this on Brittius.com and commented:
O’Bagy is lucky that she was not harmed while running around with al-Qaeda rebels. The video of the rape of western journalist females online, was disturbing. Why didn’t Obama, Kerry, and Clinton, have any public outrage over the rape videos? Maybe they gave a “heads up” to the rebels to behave themselves?
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September 12, 2013 at 6:56 am
You raise an interesting point I hadn’t really thought about. How did she just shuffle about unharmed unless the government was involved.
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