Anthony Shaffer (intelligence officer)

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Not to be confused with Anthony Shaffer (writer).
Anthony Shaffer
Officer Candidate School (1982)
Wright State University (1986)
Known forAble Danger controversy
Operation Dark Heart (Book)

Anthony Shaffer (born 1962) is a former

lieutenant colonel who became known for his claims about mishandled intelligence before the September 11 attacks, and for the censoring of his ghost written[1] book Operation Dark Heart. Shaffer was a member of the Able Danger project, having joined in 1999.[2]

Following a

London Center for Policy Research.[4]

9/11 hijacker claims

Further information: Able Danger

While deployed as a staff officer in Afghanistan in 2003, Shaffer came under investigation over an alleged pattern of misconduct including obtaining a service medal under false pretenses,

FBI because military lawyers expressed concerns about the legality of doing so. Shaffer also asserted that he briefed Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet
on three separate occasions regarding his unit's activities.

The

Time magazine article dated August 14, 2005, reported that Weldon was no longer sure that Atta's name was on the chart created by Able Danger that he had handed to then-Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley in 2001, days after the 9/11 attacks.[8] On December 22, 2006, a 16-month investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that Able Danger, "did not identify Mohamed Atta or any other 9/11 hijacker at any time prior to September 11, 2001".[9] The Defense Department's inspector general (DoD OIG) came to a similar conclusion.[3][10]

While Shaffer was stripped of his security clearance,[6] and placed on indefinite unpaid suspension, the investigation of the Defense Department's inspector general concluded that "DIA officials did not reprise against LTC Shaffer, in either his civilian or military capacity, for making disclosures regarding Able Danger".[3] Investigations by both the Defense Department's inspector general and the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that Able Danger did not identify any 9/11 hijacker before September 11, 2001.[10]

Censored memoirs

With the help of ghostwriter and researcher Jacqueline Salmon,[1] Shaffer published memoirs of his time as a reports officer in Afghanistan in book titled Operation Dark Heart. The Defense Department bought and destroyed 10,000 copies of the book's first, uncensored run, before allowing the release of a second, censored printing with redactions on approximately 250 pages.[11]

Later career

Shaffer was appointed in the summer of 2013 as a senior fellow to the London Center for Policy Research.

William H. Keith, The Last Line, which was released in June 2013.[13][14] Shaffer was a member of Donald Trump's 2020 campaign advisory board.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Vlahos, Kelley B. (2011-01-14). "Lt. Col Shaffer vs. the Pentagon". Antiwar.com Original. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  2. ^ Paul, Church; Nowosielski, Ray (January 20, 2013). "Ex-Army Officer Accuses CIA of Obstructing Pre-9/11 Intelligence-Gathering". Truthout. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT OF INVESTIGATION CASE NUMBER H05L97905217" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-03.
  4. ^ "London Center For Policy Research". londoncenter.org. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  5. ^ "Pentagon Revokes 'Able Danger' Officer's Clearance". Associated Press. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  6. ^ a b "Able-Danger Officer Disciplined". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  7. ^ "Able Danger and the 9/11 Attacks." Unclassified Draft Statement by Anthony A. Shaffer, Lt. Col., U.S. Army, House Armed Services Committee, February 15, 2006.
  8. ISSN 0040-781X
    . Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  9. ^ "Senate Intelligence Committee Letter on ABLE DANGER" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-02-07.
  10. ^ a b "Trump's team is considering Anthony Shaffer, a controversial former Army officer, for a senior defense role". Newsweek. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  11. ^ Shane, Scott (2010-09-18). "Secrets in Plain Sight in Censored Book's Reprint". The New York Times. p. A9.
    ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  12. ^ "LtCol Anthony Shaffer - London Center for Policy Research - National Security, Energy, and Risk Analysis". 3 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  13. ISBN 978-1250007759
    .
  14. OCLC 852658420
  15. ^ "False claims blur line between mass shootings, 2020 politics". AP NEWS. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
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