Kerry and McCain’s favorite Syria ‘expert’ fired for faking credentials

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from RawStory: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/11/kerry-and-mccains-favorite-syria-expert-fired-for-faking-credentials/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter


A prominent pro-Syrian intervention expert, cited by both Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sec. of State John Kerry, lied about her academic credentials and failed to disclose her ties to rebel groups in the embattled republic. According to Buzzfeed, the Institute for the Study of War, a non-partisan Washington think tank, fired Elizabeth O’Bagy on Tuesday after finding out she lied about earning a Ph.D. from Georgetown, University in Washington.

On Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War website said, “The Institute for the Study of War has learned and confirmed that, contrary to her representations, Ms. Elizabeth O’Bagy does not in fact have a Ph.D. degree from Georgetown University. ISW has accordingly terminated Ms. O’Bagy’s employment, effective immediately.”

O’Bagy wrote to Buzzfeed’s Susannah George via email, “I was just fired from ISW and I’m no longer legally allowed to discuss my employment with them or affiliate it any way.”

An op-ed piece by O’Bagy published in the Wall Street Journal drew fire over O’Bagy’s failure to disclose her ties to rebel groups in Syria. In the Journal piece, she wrote that she has spent “hundreds of hours” in Syria in the company of various rebel factions arrayed against Pres. Bashar al-Assad.

“Contrary to many media accounts, the war in Syria is not being waged entirely, or even predominantly, by dangerous Islamists and al Qaeda die-hards,” O’Bagy asserted.

Sen. McCain read a portion of her op-ed piece aloud on the Senate floor to advocate for U.S. intervention. Sec. of State Kerry called her argument in the piece “very interesting” and urged members of Congress to read it.


read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/11/kerry-and-mccains-favorite-syria-expert-fired-for-faking-credentials/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Well, at least Kissinger's PhD is probably legit.

I swear, you can't make this shit up.

[DirkGently]

2. Jesus. Chemical weapons, huh?

... if that's the whole issue, why is a degree-faking lobbyist being cited by the administration?

Looking more pre-texty all the time.

[grasswire]

3. see this other thread for more info

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3647083

[bigtree]

6. first rule of circular reporting

. . . don't talk about circular reporting.

(read on twitter)

[ProSense]

4. This headline is so misleading and ridiculous.

"favorite Syria ‘expert’"?

Sen. McCain read a portion of her op-ed piece aloud on the Senate floor to advocate for U.S. intervention. Sec. of State Kerry called her argument in the piece “very interesting” and urged members of Congress to read it.

Kerry said the piece was interesting. That doesn't make the author his "favorite Syria expert."

[bigtree]

7. used this young woman to sell his militarism

. . . inspiring.

[ProSense]

8. "Used this young woman"?

Desperation?

I mean, is that your characterization of Kerry saying the report was "interesting"?

[bigtree]

11. you're off in another world, ProSense

I'm not responding to such subjective comments.

[ProSense]

12. No, the comment was strange. n/t

[nashville_brook]

5. she also failed to disclose her affiliation with Syrian Emergency Task Force in op-ed

Every war has it's Judith Miller...er, or...Jayson Blair.

[bvar22]

9. Oh BOY! John Kerry has hios own "curveball",

and the System and Personnel on our "Intelligence" Agencies that "Stove Piped" the "intelligence" used to start the Iraq WAR
are STILL running the show.
The White House has Circled-the-Wagons to protect known LIAR General Clapper.
"Heck of a Job, Clappy!"

If Obama had cleaned house after the election
I would be more inclined to believe them,
but it IS the Same-Old-Shit as last time.

"Did Saddam Hussein have weapons of mass destruction? No, he did not. We've known that for some time now. So where did the intelligence come from that he was building up his arsenal? Fantastically, the most compelling part came from one obscure Iraqi defector who came in and out of history like a comet. His code name, ironically, was "Curve Ball" and his information became the pillar of the case Colin Powell made to the United Nations before the war. "

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-3440577.html

Hey!
We can name John Kerry's phony intelligence source [font size=3]"Knuckle Ball".[/font]

[MisterP]

13. Baby Curveball

[G_j]

10. Kick

[MNBrewer]

14. I was just contemplating omitting my earned Ph.D. from my resume

so that I don't appear "overqualified", in order to obtain employment.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

15. Too funny.