cannabisnews.com: Drug Director Criticizes Journalist Drug Director Criticizes Journalist Posted by FoM on April 18, 2000 at 19:59:11 PT By The Associated Press Source: Las Vegas SUN White House drug policy director Barry McCaffrey is striking back at a prize-winning investigative reporter he accuses of spreading "defamatory" allegations about McCaffrey's conduct as an Army general in the Persian Gulf War.In an unusual twist, McCaffrey's efforts are bringing to the public's attention an assortment of allegations against him even before they are published. He is trying to head off an article that is being prepared by Seymour Hersh for The New Yorker magazine.McCaffrey said Tuesday that Hersh, who won a Pulitzer Prize for exposing the My Lai massacre in Vietnam in 1968, has been spreading a range of false accusations during interviews with friends and former military colleagues.Among them: assertions that troops led by McCaffrey killed Iraqi prisoners of war, that McCaffrey committed unspecified crimes in the Vietnam War and that he has acted inappropriately in pushing a $1.6 billion anti-drug aid package for Colombia.McCaffrey wrote New Yorker editor David Remnick last month to warn against publishing false and libelous statements. He accuses Hersh of malice and "journalistic stalking.""I've gotten calls from dozens of friends over the last three months reporting a series of accusations by Mr. Hersh ranging from bike theft at age 11 to atrocities in the Gulf War," McCaffrey said. "They are defamatory and sort of frightening to my friends and family."Hersh said Tuesday he wouldn't comment on reporting that has yet to be published.In a letter to McCaffrey's Office of National Drug Control Policy, made available by a McCaffrey spokesman, Hersh denied that he was acting maliciously."I am simply going about my business, as I have for the past 35 years, asking questions, listening to answers and trying to verify and assess what I've been told," wrote Hersh.New Yorker spokeswoman Perri Dorset declined to discuss the contents of Hersh's article but said it was going through normal fact-checking procedures. "Sy's a terrific reporter who has a proven track record and The New Yorker stands by that," she said.Although he isn't sure what Hersh is writing, McCaffrey is convinced the reporter is biased against him and has refused him an interview. He has complained to editors at The New York Times and The Washington Post, as well as other journalists, about Hersh's tactics. The Post published an account of the dispute Tuesday.McCaffrey said he began discussing how to handle the situation with a few journalists after reporters working on other stories asked him about rumors that Hersh was pursuing the allegations.He said he was especially alarmed by suggestions that, under his command, the 24th Infantry Division killed POWs and committed other war crimes in the Persian Gulf."It is only fair to give notice that I cannot accept publication of false statements by Mr. Hersh that would dishonor the 24th Infantry Division," McCaffrey wrote to Remnick, specifically warning against "libelous attacks" that would damage the good names of the division's 19,000 soldiers who, unlike McCaffrey, are not public figures.Marc Raimondi, spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, said Hersh had requested and received records of investigations of alleged wrongdoing at the end of the Gulf War. "There was no criminal wrongdoing found," he said.Marine Corps Gen. C.E. Wilhelm, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, and other current and former military officers have backed McCaffrey in letters to the magazine's editor and written accounts of their conversations with Hersh.Dorset said The New Yorker has received pre-emptive strikes against publication before."It's not the first time it's happened," she said. "Anytime you're working with sensitive material, you have people trying to protect themselves."Associated PressWashington (AP) Published: April 18, 2000Copyright 2000 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.Related Articles On Barry McCaffrey:A Way to Beat Illegal Drugs http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5425.shtmlhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/McCaffrey.shtmlhttp://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+McCaffrey+site:cannabisnews.com Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by Matt Schweder on May 02, 2000 at 09:34:01 PT: McCaffrey Let the record show the absolute truth behind the saying, "whatever energy you put out into the universe will come back to you ten-fold."McCaffrey is living a lie every single day that he goes to work. You simply cannot continue on a path of retchedness without suffering the consequences down the road.And the perfect conclusion to this long embarassing saga would be for the perpetually unconscious McCaffrey to spend the final days of his life rotting in a prison, after having done nothing more than possess a natural God-given herb and while hurting no other person or person's property save his own. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by LSN on April 19, 2000 at 19:41:16 PT Upper Circle The upper circle does stink. Scum always rises to the top. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by MikeEEEE on April 19, 2000 at 19:03:56 PT I was right Shit does stink. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Jeaneous on April 19, 2000 at 18:50:51 PT: About Time I think it's wonderful that someone is actually looking into that man's history. It's time for the public to see what kind of person he is. I think that if they studied him, they would find that he has some major mental problems.His reaction to this story before it even comes out, shows to me that he is afraid. The big man is actually afraid. About time!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by kaptinemo on April 19, 2000 at 18:32:54 PT: All's fair in love... and DrugWar How many non-violent potheads are in jail tonight because their neighbor anonymously dropped a dime on them? How many have had their homes raided, lives threatened (or 'accidentally' taken!), families torn apart, homes stolen, careers ruined? All on the simple *suspicion* of wrongdoing? Just the *suspicion*, mind you; in forfeiture cases, the State has all the advantages, because it doesn't have to prove anything. The onus is upon the owner of the property.In a very small way, Barry is finding out that the worm does turn - unfortunately, not fast enough. Because Barry will still be in office, ruining people's lives as he has done since his non-inhaling boss invited him to work for him. Right up to January 20th of 2001.But the very fact that he is indeed starting to squeal makes me think there are , as 4d said, so many skeletons of another nature in the closet that to open the door is to be crushed by them.Remember, this is the man who headed US Southern Command. The same Army organization responsible for the infamous School of the America's, where future US allies such as Noriega and Somoza learned torture and murder to keep their people in line. And this is the same man under whose military aegis the Latin American spawned coke 'blizzard' of the 1980's happened. Barry was privy to spook intelligence; is anyone here going to tell me that he didn't KNOW about such a strategically important and dangerous event? Particularly when the CIA and Military Intelligence are practically joined at the hip?Barry's worried all right, but not about the Gulf War. Any one who was at the top of the Southern Command during the infamous Ollie North's 'Enterprise' and who claims no knowledge of what happened back then is either a bald-faced liar or a dangerous fool who has no business making and implementing policy. We can't afford to have either in places of high sensitivity. After all, look at his boss; he was impeached for a very good reason. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Wabo on April 19, 2000 at 15:39:59 PT This man has no honor >"It is only fair to give notice that I cannot accept publication of false statements by Mr. Hersh that would dishonor the 24thInfantry Division," McCaffrey wrote to Remnick, specifically warning against "libelous attacks" that would damage the goodnames of the division's 19,000 soldiers who, unlike McCaffrey, are not public figures.McBarry hides behind his troops like a dictator.Also, considering the the length of his Pinnochio-esque shnoz which now threatens air traffic over D.C., I doubt if anyone but McCzar's McMom will believe him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Senator Dollars on April 19, 2000 at 10:26:25 PT: Hey, J.Bills.... I second the nomination!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dddd on April 19, 2000 at 10:01:49 PT Thanx J.Bills Thank you for turning me on to Dr. Grinspoons site....it's outasight.........sincerely .........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by J. Bills on April 19, 2000 at 08:01:01 PT: Talking about the Pot Calling the Kettle Black Oh my God, she's lying about me! You have lied, and lied repeatedly, to the entire country you warmonger! I go along with rainbow. McCaffery, you're fired. We do NOT need a war lord for the job that an honest doctor must fill. Also, the scheduling of drugs MUST be returned to physicians instead of the Injustice Department. We have all seen what happens when lawyers are allowed to schedule drugs. What the f*** does a god**** lawyer know about medicine? I nominate Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Harvard graduate and MEDICAL DOCTOR for the job. ENOUGH POLITICS! Dr. Les Grinspoon's website [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by fivepounder on April 19, 2000 at 07:38:08 PT I hear the sound of bubbling oil..... Well the 'ol czar seems to have something to worry about, with his 'pre-emptive strike.' Sure seems like a strong response to something he's going to plead innocent to. May this be the end of the pig known as 'mccafferty, ' turn up the heat, let him fry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by MiniLove on April 19, 2000 at 07:26:23 PT Paranoia? "Although he isn't sure what Hersh is writing, McCaffrey is convinced the reporter is biased against him and has refused him an interview."A clear case of drug-induced paranoia, I'd say. Doubleplusungood. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Kanabys on April 19, 2000 at 06:50:16 PT: lots a swords One comment: Live by the Sword, DIE by the Sword. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on April 19, 2000 at 02:28:24 PT closet? I'll bet a closet would be much too small to hold all the nasty skeletons of the czars past.In fact,I think we could easily fill several garages.It's most interesting to hear the threats,and loud squeals from the czarster,when the exsistance of his past ghosts are are even suggested. I wonder if he has ever engaged in any statements that could be construed as libelous,or slanderous?.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Humour on April 18, 2000 at 23:08:20 PT Aha! Now he'll realize what it feels like to be on the OTHER end of the microscope being WATCHED. If he really has skeletons in his closet, his political appointment will look just as ridiculous as the drug war he's fighting so valiently. The man with feet of clay is struck down by his own foibles of the past. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: