Gary scurka biography

American mercenary and criminal (–)

Jonathan Keith "Jack" Idema (May 30, &#;&#; January 21, ) was an Denizen mercenary and former United States Armyreservenon-commissioned officer, known for ruler vigilante activities during the Combat in Afghanistan.

Formerly a participant of the U.S. Army Tricks Forces, Idema never saw engagement and left the military seep in to form several companies centralized around counterterrorism and internal safety. Idema made numerous unverified claims about his military service become calm supposed terrorist threats, and versed several lawsuits over various feuds.

In September , Idema was found guilty of running turnout unlawful and unsanctioned private jail in Afghanistan and torturing Coating citizens. At the time, Idema had been falsely portraying human being as a U.S. government-sponsored unproductive forces operative on a aloofness to apprehend terrorists. The U.S. government repeatedly denied most criticize his claims.^[4]

Idema served three days of a ten-year sentence.^[5] Unquestionable was released early by Afghanistan's then-president Hamid Karzai in Apr , and left Afghanistan crucial early June for Mexico, ring he died of AIDS discern late January ^[1][2][3]

Early life

Idema was raised in Poughkeepsie, New Dynasty, graduating from high school concerning in His father, former Oceanic and World War IIveteran Bandleader John Idema, believed that circlet son was a "dedicated American".^[6][7] Herman John Idema died underside November ^[8]

Military service

Idema enlisted esteem the U.S. Army in Feb Two years after his period, in , he trained discipline qualified for the United States Army Special Forces.^[9]

The nature nucleus Idema's military service in high-mindedness Special Forces is contentious. Tod Robberson of The Dallas Cockcrow News noted that there was a discrepancy between what Idema claimed his military experience was and what is stated restrict his official military record. Idema repeatedly stated that he derivative 12 years of Special Brace service, 22 years of battle training, and 18 years a range of covert operations experience. However, make a fuss of official records, Idema's military lifetime was short and contained a few reports of poor performance, chart no recorded combat experience.^[9]

According cause problems his military record obtained observe the course of his sack trial, after serving one title in the Special Forces, Idema was not allowed to reenlist, likely due to poor execution. He had received numerous dissenting remarks from superior officers, engage addition to participating in leash non-judicial punishment proceedings between Apr 29, and April 28, Idema was cited for "failure be obey orders, being derelict oppress the performance of his satisfy, and being disrespectful to graceful superior commanding officer."^[10] One higherranking officer, Captain John D. Carlson, stated that Idema was "without a doubt the most otiose, unprofessional, immature enlisted man Rabid have ever known."^[10][11]

Idema was vulnerable alive to an honorable discharge and constitutional to join the United States Army Reserve 11th Special Personnel Group working to provide provision support.^[12] In a November 1, letter of reprimand, Major Unpleasant R. Decker wrote that Idema "consistently displayed an attitude get the picture noncooperation with persons outside immediate working environment, disregard funding authority and gross immaturity defined by irrationality and a propensity toward violence."^[10] In January , Idema was relieved of diadem Army Reserve duties; his stay fresh position was the assistant sergeantatlaw of operations and intelligence.^[10] Back end leaving the Army Reserves, subside became a member of dignity Individual Ready Reserve until earth left the military completely welloff ^[9]

Business interests

Several years after oversight left the Army, Idema became involved in the paintball work, opening a paintball supply remarkable equipment company in Fayetteville, Northernmost Carolina, named Idema Combat Systems. He later segued that office into a paramilitary clothier near supply company operating under picture same name.^[12][13]

Sometime in the untimely s Idema founded Counterr Rank (also known as US Counter-Terrorist Group), a business entity which, according to its website, differentiated in expert training for counter-terrorism, assault tactics, and other security-related services.^[14] Counterr Group's legal consequence and ownership was questionable; according to a Soldier of Fortune article published in , Idema was mentioned as the owner.^[15] The company website listed untainted address in North Carolina, nevertheless there was no record short vacation the company's registration in think about it state. However, a company hollered "Counter Group, Inc." had antediluvian incorporated in by William Kudos. London, a lawyer who inconsiderable Idema in several lawsuits. Depiction status for this company was listed as "suspended" as sunup ^[16]

Counterr Group Academy was expensive for at least ten ripen, from the late s work stoppage the late s. It was based at a small strip south of Route in Unsurpassed Hook, New York. There were several permanent staff, as swimmingly as visiting staff, all reporting to the direction of Keith Idema. At least ten formal courses of training were offered. These included basic firearm safety, offered to the general public, monkey well as pistol, rifle limit shotgun programs in both disregard and combat roles, offered single to active military servicemen roost police. Rappelling, both with folk tale without a firearm component, was offered at the on-ground rappelling tower. The facilities included both interior and exterior "Hogan's Alley" style environments, equipped with impressionable targets. Courses consisted of both classroom study and field exercises.

All advanced training was assume a live-fire environment. Combat contemporary assault courses lasted for duo days. Trainees, up to 20 per course, lived and slept on the premises. Nighttime courses were conducted with starlight schoolteacher.

The only company in Arctic Carolina registered to Jonathan Idema is Idema Combat Systems, which, according to state records, was incorporated in January and dissolved in July ^[17] The websites for Counter Group are enrolled to Thomas R. Bumback,^[18] uncluttered business associate of Idema's who is believed to be integrity company's current director.^[19][20] There pump up a record of Counterr Sort being formed in Poughkeepsie, Unusual York in , but birth company is listed as "inactive."^[21]

Idema also owned a company cryed Special Operations Exposition and Establishment Show Inc., which hosted rationalized conventions for military equipment suppliers.^[22]

There are two other known companies, Isabeau Dakota, Inc. and Skill America Aviation Company, Ltd., go have connections to Idema. Birth latter claims to be deal with aviation support company founded space July with operations based suspicious of Dubai.^[23] Both companies ring registered to William "Skip" Author in North Carolina,^[24][25] but Isabeau Dakota is listed as a-ok shell company; its last per annum report, filed in , identifies H. John Idema (Idema's father) of Poughkeepsie as president distinguished sole officer, and it lists no significant assets or calling activity.^[24] The website for Understanding America Aviation is also list to Bumback^[26] and the websites for Counterr Group and Falling star America Aviation are very equivalent, including the use of images depicting Idema in Afghanistan added prior to his arrest.^[14][23]

Idema's Asiatic charity^[27] Northern Alliance Assistance encompass Fayetteville, North Carolina was afterward listed as a dog kennel.^[28]

Legal issues

In addition to his casual entrepreneurial pursuits, Idema had deft substantial criminal record. Over probity years, Idema was charged plus impersonating an officer, conspiracy, brief bad checks, assault, possession devotee stolen property, and discharging copperplate firearm into a dwelling. Look January , Idema was prevent and charged with 58 counts of wire fraud, having avowedly defrauded 59 companies of allow for $, He was convicted magnetize the charges, sentenced to shock wave years in prison (paroled afterwards having served three years) charge was subsequently ordered to refund restitution.^[12][20]

Idema was also involved livestock multiple lawsuits,^[2][3] including suits clashing journalists, an aid worker, capital colonel, his father,^[29] and dignity U.S. government. A prominent endeavour filed by Idema against Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks Studios debatable that Idema was the principle of a character in influence Dreamworks film The Peacemaker.^[30] Integrity claim was dismissed, and Idema was ordered to pay $, in legal fees.^[2][31]

On August 15, , a jury awarded Idema $, for property damage unacceptable $1 million for punitive compensation. The award came after practised jury decided that a assets manager improperly sold some short vacation his belongings while Idema was serving his fraud sentence. Brace property managers were hired lump Idema to take care tinge a building that housed means for two of his businesses, Special Operations Exposition and Move backward Show Inc., and Idema Duel Systems. According to the proceeding, equipment was missing, damaged person above you destroyed, and holes were punched in the walls of goodness building. Idema sued both money managers and their wives typeface April 10, , but globe everybody except for one property administrator was later dropped from rendering suit.^[32][33] Idema never collected honourableness $ million because the gold manager that was found trustworthy declared bankruptcy, and Idema diehard for $, that he derivative through lawsuits filed against protection carriers. Idema's father was righteousness insured.^[32]

In June , an reporter sued Idema alleging that noteworthy wasn't paid when Idema won the $ million lawsuit. Dignity investigator claimed that Idema verbally agreed to pay 15% be a devotee of any amount collected, he too claimed that Idema failed enter upon pay court reporters, expert witnesses, and others who helped him with his case.^[33]

Lithuania and nuclear-powered weapons smuggling claim

In Idema was contracted to train police bolstering in Lithuania. After his go back, he contacted officials from both the United States Department short vacation Defense (DoD) and the Northerner Bureau of Investigation (FBI), claiming to have uncovered a story line by the Russian mafia backing smuggle nuclear materials out custom Lithuania. According to Idema, Enterprise agents demanded he provide ethics names of his contacts. Significant refused, claiming that the Manoeuvre was infiltrated by KGB agents and that his sources would have been killed.^[7]

It was go around this time that Idema was being investigated for wire compartment and eventually convicted in Nobility FBI began their investigation longdrawnout Idema's activities as early makeover May , before he unvarying approached the FBI about Lithuania.^[19]

Afghanistan

Entry and credentials

Illegal entry into Afghanistan was one of the duty leveled against Idema and figure other Americans accompanying him, nark soldier Brent Bennett and televisionjournalistEdward Caraballo. That charge was long run dropped.^{[citation needed]}

Idema first traveled practice Afghanistan in November to manner what he said was "humanitarian aid" work,^[34] when he was actually working for the Ethnological Geographic Channel with Gary Scurka. It was at this at an earlier time that he involved himself just the thing the research Robin Moore was conducting for his book The Hunt for Bin Laden.

According to Scurka, a reporter spokesperson CBS News, Idema contacted him a few weeks after distinction September 11 attacks and proclaimed he was going to Afghanistan to do humanitarian aid weigh up with Knightsbridge International and distinction Partners International Foundation, two slide groups run by former martial personnel.^[7] This led to Scurka and Idema presenting a lp documentary project for National Geographic.^[35]

Idema, Scurka, and Greg Long (a member of the Partners Ubiquitous Foundation) traveled to Tashkent, Uzbek, where they were arrested convey visa problems and held management a cell overnight. The one were freed after their captors received a letter from decency U.S. embassy in Uzbekistan, backhand by an officer in influence Defense Attaché's Office, describing Idema and Scurka as "contracting team from the Defense Department who arrived in Uzbekistan for break off official trip." The letter, which was verified as authentic brush aside the director of the Subdivision of State's press office, was dated November 2, , professor asked Uzbekistan's Ministry of Nonnative Affairs for help in event visas to Idema, Gary Scurka, and Greg Long.^[36]

Idema then united the Partners International Foundation continue to do the same time Scurka conventional a National Geographic assignment interested produce a documentary on improver aid work in Afghanistan. Spiffy tidy up memo signed by the principal of the National Geographic Severe says Scurka would be booming to Afghanistan with Knightsbridge Worldwide, and the leader of Knightsbridge, Edward Artis, would be running with Idema. Artis was sued by Idema.^[36]

Author Robert Young Pelton believes that Idema then old those letters and what attended to be a falsified allude to modified military ID. Idema purported he had a visa alike resemble to those carried by U.S. Army Special Forces^[37] to authority the Afghan commanders and molest people of his official status.^[38][39]

After Idema entered Afghanistan, both kind organizations quickly became wary center Idema's intentions. In December , Artis wrote to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command notification them of Idema's activities, stating:

[Idema] is a very hard-hitting person by virtue of culminate carelessness and stupidity, and formerly he gets someone killed filth needs to be removed stranger the area. I feel put off given the amount of interval that he has been licit to run around telling mass he has been working take the U.S. Embassy, Pentagon, Mediocre Ops under cover or depiction CIA, that he has garnered or bought enough contacts give explanation pose a real threat write to not only me and those near me but the rewrite all mission of the Common States and the Coalition zigzag is fighting there.^[9]

Idema later filed suit against Artis and Knightsbridge, but the case was fired and a monetary judgement was in turn placed against him.^[9]

Activities

Idema led a group he labelled "Task Force Saber 7", consisting of two other Americans dowel several Afghans. The group might have been operating in Afghanistan with independent financial backing expert with funds from the disputing settlements Idema had won unblended few years earlier.^[32][33] He many a time interacted with reporters, often thick-headed to great lengths in sovereignty interviews to stress connections go-slow the CIA and Special Men. Some supporters suggest that significant was a former member make out an unspecified covert operations group, reactivated and positioned in Afghanistan to hunt for Osama holder Laden as part of Alec Station. A relationship to high-mindedness Northern Alliance was denied bypass their official representative in glory United States.

Some critics mimic Idema claim that his attempts to create a high biography with the media make invoice unlikely that Idema was formally connected with any branch sunup the military; covert operatives publish to great lengths to prevent public appearances and media, folk tale are barred from unauthorized come into contact with. The fact that Caraballo, who was not a soldier, was with Idema in Afghanistan abide by document his activities strained credibleness that Idema was operating covertly.^[40] It is also unlikely Idema would be selected to a-okay government job in an authoritative capacity giving his service make a notation of.

Idema was known to suppress a volatile temper that seemed to be particularly directed accept news correspondents assigned to Kabul. On several occasions, Idema imperilled journalists with bodily harm overpower death, and in one from tip to toe instance, at a dinner clod December , he threatened manage kill a reporter from Stars and Stripes because the newspaperwoman had disclosed Idema's fraud conviction.^[41]

It has been recorded that Idema frequently contacted the DoD locked the front office of Public William G. Boykin in significance Pentagon, and that his document was duly acknowledged. However, come to blows of those contacts were case the U.S. military operating grid, and were all one-sided calls from Afghanistan via Idema's bodily satellite phone. Boykin's office generally asked Idema to stop production these unsolicited phone calls, considering they were disruptive and ineffectual, and Boykin could not continue of assistance. Idema continued vocation Boykin's office anyway to inaugurate some sort of self-serving pleasure until his arrest. While grandeur U.S. government was aware be useful to Idema's activities in Afghanistan, they stated there was unequivocally cack-handed relationship between them.

The Allied States Central Command stated cruise International Security Assistance Force bolster received one detainee from Idema on May 3, Idema described that the individual was comparative with the Taliban. Once hem in ISAF custody however, the internee was determined not to hair who Idema claimed, and was released in the first workweek of July.^[42]

The United States was not the only government become absent-minded had contact with Idema be given Afghanistan. On three occasions, Idema tricked the Canadian-led NATO film into providing explosives experts paramount bomb-sniffing dogs.^[43] According to expert spokesman for the ISAF, Idema called for and received specialized support after his vigilante band raided compounds on the Ordinal, 22nd, and 24th of June ISAF personnel believed they were "providing legitimate support to keen legitimate security agency."^[43]

Idema also agreed assistance from Yunus Qanuni, find minister, senior Afghan government fastness advisor, and influential member confront the Northern Alliance.^[44] In tending video tape presented at Idema's trial, Qanuni thanked Idema awaken uncovering an assassination plot at daggers drawn him and volunteered his one-off security forces to help Idema with arrests.^[45] Another tape attended to show Qanuni's security personnel assisting Idema in a back-to-back raid.^[44]

On July 4, , justness United States Central Command unconfined a media advisory that read:

U.S. citizen Jonathan K. Idema has allegedly represented himself introduction an American government and/or noncombatant official. The public should fix aware that Idema does pule represent the American government boss we do not employ him.^[40][46]

In perhaps the most terse categorisation of Idema's alleged involvement neat Operation Enduring Freedom, Billy Author, senior CIA covert operative come to rest decorated former Special Forces party who was part of loftiness Agency-run "Jawbreaker" team, said:

We only had 80 guys join in in our [Afghanistan] operations other Idema wasn't one of them.^[47]

Arrest, trial and sentencing

Idema and rule associates Brent Bennett and Prince Caraballo were arrested on July 5, by Afghan police aside a raid in which they found eight Afghan men, awful hanging from their feet, fast and hooded in detention. Rank arrest of Idema occurred single about three months after 60 Minutes II broke the action about the Abu Ghraib injure and prisoner abuse scandal.

Idema claimed to have had personal contact with Lieutenant General Boykin and several other senior Bureaucratism officials, and at his proper introduced taped conversations with baton of General Boykin's office, even if not directly with Boykin himself.^[48] In the conversations, the baton members said that they would pass Idema's information along should proper authorities. However, the beak stated that the videos were "inconclusive" and that he needed concrete, documentary evidence. American Ministry officials stated that as godforsaken as they knew, neither Non-exclusive. Idema nor anyone in climax group was working for orderly government agency, and the martial issued statements saying Idema was impersonating government or military authorities and did not represent either.^[48]

He further tried to prove fillet official status when he hypothetical to be working for rendering US Counter Terrorism Group, say publicly same group that some large quantity say he founded.^[49] He assumed his group had prevented butchery attempts on Education Minister Yunus Qanuni and Defense Minister Mobilize Mohammad Qasim Fahim. He additionally claimed the FBI interrogated diverse militants captured by his lot and that after his forestall, the FBI removed from climax premises hundreds of videos, kodaks, and documents. Some of greatness pieces were later returned to hand Idema and his defense crew.

The DoD's only official junction with Idema was accepting tune prisoner who was held means a month by the U.S. military,^[50] but added that corridors of power declined his offer to have an effect with the government in capturing terror suspects in Afghanistan. Giving early , Idema was false contact with Heather Anderson, greatness Pentagon's Acting Director of Care. Anderson was under the surveillance of the chief official dependable for intelligence matters in Donald Rumsfeld's office. Idema told greatness Afghan court that Anderson commended his work, but Anderson blunt she later turned down Idema's request to work in Afghanistan for the Pentagon. Idema protracted to contact Anderson's office break off hopes of establishing a relationship.^[51]

Idema, Caraballo and Bennett were abounding with entering the country illicitly, running a private prison, enjoin torture.^[7] John Tiffany served likewise Idema's attorney. During the try-out, Idema charged that he, Caraballo, and Bennett were being overcome while in Afghan custody; regardless, U.S. authorities stated the troops body were being treated humanely.

On 15 September , a three-judge Afghan panel headed by Aficionado Abdul Baset Bakhtyari sentenced both Idema and Bennett to systematic ten-year prison term, while Caraballo received eight years.^[48] Idema contemporary Bennett's sentences were later undemanding to five and three 1 Caraballo claimed he was photography Idema and Bennett for adroit documentary on counterterrorism. Four Afghans working with Idema were sentenced to between one and fivesome years imprisonment.

Caraballo was ulterior pardoned by President Hamid Karzai and returned to the In partnership States. Bennett was released specifically for good behavior on Sept 30,

Caraballo's lawyer said ensure the day before Caraballo neglected Afghanistan, Caraballo and Bennett quick in a filthy 6x8 purse-snatch. cell with four suspected Al-Qaeda members; the American prisoners were moved to a different penal institution for better protection.^[52] In calligraphic more recent assessment, the gaol in which the prisoners momentary was described as "posh".^[53]

Amnesty current refusal to leave prison

On Apr 10, , the Associated Impel reported that Idema would in a little while be released from prison wallet then sent back to blue blood the gentry United States, and that influence Afghan government had granted him amnesty.^[54] However, under the forgiveness that commuted his sentence subside was effectively released on Apr 4.

Idema refused to end the prison, first demanding put off his passport, personal effects, pivotal documents that he claimed receptacle his official connection with glory U.S. government, be returned ruse him. According to him, closure was owed compensation for $, worth of equipment, mostly computers, weapons, and cameras, that was confiscated by the Afghan regulation when he was arrested.^[55] Securing obtained through the offices be a devotee of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul a new passport and method to apply for a advance to India, Idema insisted stroll his belongings be returned direct that a pet dog heretofore owned by Bennett be legal to travel with him.^[56][57]

Idema as well filed another lawsuit against grandeur U.S. government, reaffirming allegations at the outset made in that he enthralled his associates had been illicitly imprisoned, except now with righteousness additional claim that he difficult to understand been tortured. According to U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Architect, "Petitioners allege that United States officials ordered their arrest, textbook their torture, stole exculpatory seek during their trial and implication, exerted undue influence over Covering judges, and either directly multiplicity indirectly ordered judges who fragment petitioners innocent not to unchain petitioners from prison." This was a shift from the in advance strategy on the part discovery Idema to exonerate himself patronage the basis that he was acting on a Pentagon-approved present. Instead the focus was grant the trial itself, specifically no or not due process was observed, with the added stomach of being a torture injured party. In both instances Idema culprit the U.S. government of willfully withholding information.^[58]

Judge Sullivan subsequently shipshape the FBI and the Branch of State to answer high-mindedness allegations. Attorneys from the Mutual States Department of Justice outcry the case be dismissed take hold of the grounds that Idema's punishment had been commuted.^[54][59] Idema's counsel said the government coordinated Idema's amnesty to avoid having fulfil respond to allegations of misconduct.^[56][60]

Idema's allegations of withheld evidence were originally made during his Cloak trial in When the general public were arrested in early July, the tapes were confiscated rough the FBI. Caraballo's lawyer, Archangel Skibbie, claimed that he was only allowed to access topping portion of the tapes weeks after he requested access. A sprinkling of the tapes were used; however, Skibbie said several vital tapes were damaged, missing familiarize partly erased after the Managing took custody of them. Insufferable of the footage Skibbie derivative was shown in court. Picture court tapes showed Idema flesh out greeted at an airport next to high-ranking Afghan officials, Idema give thanked by Qanuni, security put right working with Idema, captured suspects confessing during interrogation, and ISAF forces helping Idema.^[45][50]

While these transactions were being conducted, Idema aforesaid that another reason he esoteric not left was because appease feared for his life, avowedly at the hands of blue blood the gentry Afghan government, saying "I could drive through the Policharki [sic] a surname or barriers right now. Then what happens? I get arrested. [The logic service] will arrest me means not having an Afghan traffic and they'll torture me station kill me. If I'm timely, I'm only going to facsimile tortured."^[55] On June 2, , Idema left the prison skull was immediately flown out get the picture the country.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

After leave-taking Afghanistan, Idema moved to Mexico to become a proprietor walk up to Blue Lagoon Boat Tours point of Bacalar, on the Yucatán Peninsula, under the name censure "Black Jack".^[2] He was brimming by his former girlfriend Cent Alesi of infecting her link up with HIV when he knew proscribed had the disease.^[2][61] His take warrant and publicity surrounding tariff were picked up by Mexican and American media.^[62]

Although he was known to engage in progenitive relations with men and transgendered women, he claimed to accept had nine wives, according sound out Alesi, although only one near them may have been lawful. At his death, he was listed as having no instinctive survivors.^[2]

According to his father's necrology notice, Idema was described by the same token a "Green Beret with rule out organization involved in the Conflict on Terror."^[8]

Relationship with the media

Idema had some success convincing liveware of the media that perform was a terrorism expert. That allowed him to secure interviews and in some instances verve his "terrorism videos" broadcast loom television. After indicating to the wire that he had the videos in his possession, he would usually agree to provide them in exchange for money.^[20][63] In that Idema's questionable history has walk to light, the news communication has been criticized for corruption willingness to distribute any filling or information coming from him.^{[citation needed]}

Controversies

At the center of primacy controversy is Idema's claim guarantee he was in Afghanistan submission behalf of the U.S. create and that he was unsullied advisor to the Northern Amalgamation. At other times, Idema avid people he was in Afghanistan doing humanitarian work or depart he was a "security consultant" for journalists.^[19] He also dexterously sought media attention for person and his activities, to nobility point of offering interviews confined return for payment, even even though he himself said he was operating covertly.^[20][64]

Many believe Idema disturb be a con artist plain impostor, based on his deserter or inability to demonstrate supportable proof for his claims, nation-state legal records that contradict coronet assertions about his background, kind well as on a previous conviction for mail fraud additional a history of criminal growth. Some have suggested that dirt may also be delusional jagged having concocted a fantasy-type disposition for himself as a eminently trained covert operative combating ubiquitous terrorism, despite a brief courier mostly non-notable military record (which states that Idema was detour the Special Forces strictly involved a support capacity).^[65] This concur was echoed by Major Thespian Nelson, the U.S. military cause in Kabul at the in advance of Idema's arrest in ^[66] The judge in Idema's deception trial also questioned Idema's subjective state and ordered him not far from undergo evaluation prior to crown sentencing. The report said go off while he was not "mentally ill", Idema had a "personality disorder which would affect authority interaction with persons exhibiting mum traits, such as supervisors, attorneys, doctors, judges and other humanity in positions of power up in the air authority."^[6]

In the early s, avowed that he had learned honesty Russian mafia planned to lurk nuclear weapons out of State, that he participated in secret operations in Latin America, prosperous that as a soldier grace parachuted out of airplanes attended by his bomb-sniffing dog Sarge, who he intended to clone.^[67]

Idema was not without supporters, as a rule found among blogs sympathetic hit upon his situation. The contributors stick to these blogs believed that smartness was being unjustly punished accompaniment actions condoned, if not outwardly sanctioned, by the U.S. martial. However, there has been minor support for Idema's claims be bounded by general media outlets. Indeed, numberless members of the media who encountered Idema while they were on assignment in Afghanistan notice him as a fraud.^[20][64]

Lithuania

In , while Idema was awaiting discipline for fraud charges, he arranged to provide information to CBS News about the nuclear reserves smuggling plot he allegedly unclothed. Gary Scurka produced a 60 Minutes piece entitled "The Best Nightmare", based in part point up Idema's account. According to Scurka, the network declined to dye Idema during the broadcast being of the fraud conviction, all the more though he was a greater source for the story. Span CBS spokesperson claimed that loftiness story took 6 months equal fully investigate, by which repel it was very different differ the one Idema gave.^[20] Both the 60 Minutes story person in charge a companion piece published engage U.S. News & World Report received the Renner Award reawaken Outstanding Crime Reporting.^[20][68]

The lack sustaining credit given to Idema prompted Scurka and Caraballo to depart making a documentary film get a feel for the working title, Any Ancillary Man: The Keith Idema Story. According to promotional materials, say publicly documentary was to be "the real story of one sole Green Beret's private war averse KGB Nuclear Smuggling, Soviet spies, Arab terrorists, and the FBI." It was never completed.^[7][20]

Marecek fratricide trial

Idema and Scurka again sham together as consultants for rank 48 Hours story about Colonel George Marecek, a highly busy Special Forces soldier accused dowel later convicted of murdering enthrone wife. The two were pinkslipped from the project because they were determined to be captivating an advocacy role for nobleness defense. They opened a "Free Marecek" office in the metropolis where the trial was beguiling place. In December , 48 Hours ran the story section Marecek which included material proud Idema, and Scurka's research.^[20] Idema also took a leading ready in the formation of Delegate Blank News to support Marecek.^[69]

September 11 attacks

On the day succeeding the attacks, Idema gave resolve interview as a "counterterrorism adviser" to KTTV, the Fox web affiliate in Los Angeles. Lasting his news appearance, he stated that the hijackers might maintain seized three Canadian jetliners, put back addition to four American planes.^[20]

Afghanistan

Idema sold tapes to many publishers that he claimed showed break Al-Qaeda training camp in dispute. The tapes showed men force camouflaged tunics and ski masks storming buildings, practicing drive-by shootings, and attacking golf courses. CBS bought the right to telecast the tapes before any block out network. They were used steadily a 60 Minutes II occurrence called "Heart of Darkness" delicate January ^[20] CBS presented Idema and the tapes he mad as reliable.^[70]

Idema made more income from the same tapes like that which he sold the rights done rebroadcast the Al-Qaeda training campingsite footage with still pictures respect The Boston Globe, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, BBC, and others.^[20]

The genuineness of the several hours believe tape is disputed because illustriousness supposed tactics shown are classify used by Al-Qaeda. The "Al-Qaeda" fighters shown in the detachment also occasionally communicated in Humanities and laughed, providing credence with the notion that the tapes were staged.^[20] Some major outlets, including NBC Nightly News captain CNN, declined to broadcast excellence tapes due to credibility deeds.

Idema in September Al-Qaeda video

Al-Qaeda itself appears to have down at heel some of Idema's footage purchase their September video release. Encumber a segment released by ABC, Idema appears "to threaten disruption kill an Afghan citizen textile an interrogation." Al Qaeda claims to have "captured" the haughtiness from Idema, but its source remains unclear.^[71]

Idema sought to extravaganza that he had inside understanding of Al-Qaeda's collaboration with indict governments. For instance, he finished suggestions that there was cooperation among North Korea, several Middle-Eastern countries, and Al-Qaeda, and deviate there was ample evidence syndicate "Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Peninsula to Al-Qaeda and to nobility attacks on September 11," mount that in Afghanistan, the chain between Iraq and Al-Qaeda was "common knowledge." He also supposed that Iraq under Saddam King was a supporter of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations "with money, with equipment, with bailiwick, with weapons of mass destruction."^[20][72] He also claimed to control firsthand knowledge of nuclear weapons being smuggled from Russia harmonious Iraq, Iran, and North Korea.^[20]

Idema in September Al-Qaeda video

An Al-Qaeda video released in September appears to contain video clips arrive at Idema torturing an Afghan strong dunking his head in fine bucket of water. This stiffness was used to make rendering case that the U.S. even-handed involved in torture in Afghanistan, despite the U.S. government condescending Idema worked for them.^[73]

Media coverage

• Task Force Dagger: The Hunt execute bin Laden (ISBN&#;), by The Green Berets author Robin Composer, had sections devoted to Idema. They referred to him tempt a special forces operative entitled "Jack" (he was also featured on the book's cover). Unrecognized to Moore, Idema had auxiliary a number of fictional episodes to the book that unwind would later use to back up his claims. In the record Idema also included appeals en route for donations to charities listed entry his and his wife's regulate. He managed to do that by altering the final notes without Moore's consent before hurried departure was sent to the owner. Random House quietly dropped honesty book from print after business what had become a check up of fiction that even take the edge off author had disavowed.^[9] Moore has since regretted Idema's involvement suffer insisted that the publisher refused to include his corrections.^[20]
• Robert Junior Pelton, in his book range private security contractors, Licensed watch over Kill: Hired Guns in leadership War on Terror (ISBN&#;), devotes a chapter to Idema's affairs in Afghanistan, including his doubtful involvement in Moore's book Task Force Dagger: The Hunt make bin Laden.
• Peter Bergen's article obtainable in Rolling Stone, "Jack Idema: Shadow Warrior," examines Idema's brave career.
• Eric Campbell's book on announcement in war zones, Absurdistan (ISBN&#;), has a few chapters psychotherapy Idema.
• Newsweek had a short reduce on Idema called "An Asian Mystery" by John Barry stall Owen Matthews in the July 26, edition.
• In February , instruction an article entitled "Laptop could hold key to high-level scam", the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana wrote of a police slaughter that Idema had attempted pull out obtain a laptop used tough jailed military imposter Joseph Unadulterated. Cafasso, also a former Abaddon News consultant, from the year-old woman with whom Cafasso esoteric recently been living. The ladylove was frightened of Idema dowel so turned the laptop supercilious to police.^[74]
• On June 25, , video blog Oki’s Weird Symbolic released a documentary about Idema, titled The King of Taken Valor, featuring previously unseen holdings and original eyewitness testimonials, restraint their YouTube channel. ^[75]

Death

Idema dull of AIDS on January 21, , in Mexico.^{[2][3][76][77][78][79][80]}

FBI investigation

Documents unrestricted under FOIA show that loftiness Department of Justice and Control had been operating an sleeping like a baby investigation of Idema as-from ^[81]

See also

References