White House Chief of Staff's Cousin is an Iraqi Spy?

[ShaneGR]

Ok, this is just bizarre.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4506229/

(snip)
A former congressional aide was arrested Thursday on charges that she was a paid agent for for the Iraqi intelligence service before and after the U.S. invasion, receiving $10,000 for her work, federal prosecutors said.

The woman, Susan Lindauer, 41, whom U.S. officials told NBC News was a second cousin of White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, was arrested in her hometown of Takoma Park, Md., a suburb of Washington. Lindauer was to appear in court later in the day in Baltimore, authorities in New York said.

She was charged with conspiracy, acting as an unregistered foreign government agent and taking money from a government that supports terrorism. If convicted of all counts, she could face 25 years in prison.

“I’m an antiwar activist, and I’m innocent,” Lindauer told NBC affiliate WBAL-TV as she was led to a car outside the Baltimore FBI office. “I did more to stop terrorism in this country than anybody else. I have done good things for this country. I worked to get weapons inspectors back to Iraq when everyone else said it was impossible. I’m very proud, and I’ll stand by my achievements.”

[monobrau]

1. There was no spying alleged

From what I've read, she was involved in trying to influence the administration not to go to war with the involvement of Iraqi nationals. I have not seen any allegations that she passed secret or strategic information to the Iraqis.
This is looking like a troubling case, especially the media's eagerness to label her a "spy".

[cmayer]

2. There is another thread going

There is a lot of weirdness here. The thread is "Researcher Alert"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1219226

[wndycty]

3. Interesting whats a bigger angle. . .

. . .that she worked for Democrats or is related to Andy Card?

[cmayer]

4. Since Card turned her in...

I would say that they are going to try to play the Coulter card on the Dems.

[stopthegop]

5. well..I don't even know my second cousins names...

pretty close to people I work with...

[papau]

6. Spin on Cable was that she worked for Dems on the Hill

Carol Moseley-Braun, Peter DeFazio, Ron Wyden, and Zoe Lofgren.

NOT ONE WORD ON ABC, CBS, or NBC, the AP wire service, or the cable news channels that she was related to GOP'er Card.

Not that there is right wing GOP bias in the US media - they just act that way!

:-)

[stopthegop]

7. so there's a blood curse on republicans' relatives?

so what if she's related to a republican...most of us are if you go out a bit

[papau]

8. Point is AP wire hot to ID her w/ Dems -but says NOTHING about GOP'er Card

Ex-Aide in Congress Charged As Iraq Spy

By LARRY NEUMEISTER
Associated Press Writer

Vieire de Castro says Lindauer wasn't particularly outspoken about her political views. (longer version of cut used in wrap) (Audio)

NEW YORK (AP) -- A former journalist and one-time press secretary for four members of Congress was arrested Thursday on charges she served as a paid agent for the Iraqi intelligence service before and after the U.S. invasion.<snip>

[stopthegop]

9. ok...CNN and others do though...

[papau]

10. Now I feel better !!! - At least CNN has not gone totally over to the dark

side!

:-)

[CaptainClark23]

11. An indication perhaps

of turning tides?

One year ago, or less, we'd be hard pressed to find ANYTHING redeemable about CNN.

But now here and there we get these little glimmers of...dare I say it...journalistic integrity?!

Tides are shifting. Now, I'm not overly optimistic about our outlook just because CNN as a vestige of a spine...but these days I will take what little solace as I can find, wherever I can find it.

[papau]

12. Amen Amen - I also take solace as I can find, wherever I can find it

:-)