Debunking Obama Security Clearance Myths

Last week, I wrote that the Todd Palin's ties to Alaskan secessionists could raise security concerns.

A common negative response to my posting asserts, "Oh, yeah? Obama would NEVER be allowed to have a clearance. He was associated with Bill Ayers and/or Reverend Wright and/or Frank Marshall Davis and/or communists and/or Chicago real estate crooks." Apparently, this meme was given life by a chain email in circulation over the past month or so, supposedly originating from an FBI veteran. Yeah, the FBI--you know, the guys who gave a clearance to Robert Hanssen, the most damaging, traitorous spy in US history.

Like most chain emails--it's wrong.

I'm not even sure how Barack Obama's Ayers or Wright connections would even be reported to security clearance investigators--there's not a blank space on the SF 86 security form for "tenuous or fleeting connections to people that are disliked by conservatives." There's not even a place on the form for religion or congregation. Investigators who might develop information about Obama's connection to Ayers or Wright would be focused on whether or not they were ever roommates or if they ever jointly filed bankruptcy. Investigators would have no trouble figuring out that Obama merely was acquainted with Ayers (Wright wouldn't even be interesting enough for investigative follow up), and not a fellow member of the Weather Underground.

Don't take my word for it. Expert sources--specifically, attorneys specializing in national security law--explained in the St. Petersburg Times that the Obamas' acquaintance and association with Ayers, Wright, and Davis simply are not relevant or substantive enough to impact Barack Obama's security suitability.

Obama's detractors don't understand how the security clearance process works if they think that merely knowing or doing business with a felon, former terrorist, or conservative boogeyman renders all who do so as ineligible for a clearance. Similar ignorance of the clearance process is evidenced by claims that membership in the cranky Rev. Wright's "anti-American" congregation is or should be a problem from a security perspective. This is America, after all--intelligence and military security investigators do not screen or vet churches, synagogues, or bowling leagues to ensure that they are "pro-American" enough for their security clearance-holding members.

Even the conservative characterization of Bill Ayers vastly inflates the relevance and impact of the once-violent Ayers and the Weather Underground terrorist group. The more breathless accounts posit Ayers as some kind of terrorist mastermind with an uncanny ability to transform anybody he meets or shares committee assignments with into a subversive American-hating militant, and who very nearly toppled American civilization as we know it.

In reality, Ayers and his WU pals had little effect on American society and policy. As a terrorist group, WU was singularly ineffective--the FBI easily penetrated and disrupted WU, and most of the group's leadership were killed when a bomb they were making inadvertently detonated and destroyed their New York City hideout. Indeed, the terror part of homebrewed US left wing terrorism has always lagged behind the comparatively bloody effectiveness of homebrewed right wing terrorism. Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and Olympics/Women's Clinic bomber Eric Robert Rudolph probably killed more of their fellow citizens in the 1990s than Ayers and all of his 20th century lefty fellow travelers combined.

That's the McVeigh and Rudolph who, by the way, trace their violent politics back to the same ideological swamp of anti-government sentiment, gun rights zealotry, and extreme social conservatism that the militia movement comes from. You know, the militia movement that has so much in common with that Alaska Independence Party that loves Sarah and Todd Palin so much.

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Comments

[Woolley]

President-to-be Obama has been fully vetted by the FBI and the media. There is absolutely no reason for him to not have the highest level of security clearances.

[MajorKong]

I held a Top Secret SCI in the Air Force. Every few years I would have to go through the process to have it renewed. I was also frequently interviewed as a reference for other people's clearances.

They generally looked for drugs, alcohol abuse or financial problems. Things that would leave you open to blackmail or bribes (like being heavily in debt).

They would specifically ask about membership in groups that advocate violent overthrow of the US Constitution. For it to even be an issue, Obama would have had to been an active member of the Weather Underground, not just have known some guy who was in it 40 years ago.

[CalGoldenBear]

As I recall, under applicable DoD regulations, everyone holding a TS clearance was and is required to have a five-year periodic reinvestigation (PR).

In originally applying for a TS clearance, a Special Background Investigation (SBI) is conducted of the applicant's previous fifteen years' residences, employment, encounters with law enforcement, etc.

Based on the SBI, the Central Clearance Facility (CCF) at Ft. Meade, MD, grants or denies clearance, at least for Army personnel.

[fredfep]

Republicans are a bunch of babies, afraid of your own shadows, which I am sure your hero will tell you next is a clear & present danger, & that shadows are Obama's spies or something. Once again you will be foaming at the mouth over something you didn't even know existed the week before.

Even if you should win, these are the worst candidates in history the Republicans, & would be the worst leaders in this country ever. They make no sense now, stand for nothing at all but hatred. Bush will seem lucid and a pacifist in comparison, Cheney a liberal Constitutionalist

[fredfep]

Look, in this country, something you did 40 years ago & were not convicted of, we allow rehabilitation. No Vietnam war anymore. Evryone knew people in RYM (Revolutionary Youth Movement, the real name for the Weathermen) Who gives a crap. Meant nothing & all they ever did blow up was themselves.

Cheney, Rumsfeld gave WMDs to Saddam. They still thought he had them because they originally knew what he had, having supplied raw materials, know-how, advisors & technicians, & then cover in the UN for using them. Reagan people traded arms to Iran after they took our hostages, in exchange for money to buy cocaine , they brought into US (Ollie North can tell you), converted into crack, made big bucks , began the crack epidemic, for money to help the Contras rape & murder farmers in Nicaragua. Many now advising Iraq & in Afghanistan, advised Honduras, El Salvador and Guatamala on what to do with their intellectuals and dissenters, and both aided and turned away as they buried students, artists, intellectuals, teachers, union workers, in mass graves.

Don't tell me who supports terrorism. McCain approved of, voted for everything noted above, he has palled around with known mass murders & genociders. A maverick is an unbranded calf, a male baby cow. Palin is a whiner with ambitions, a Huey Long, & hardly reformer, that is a hunk of bull.

[pixy242a]

Hasn't Obama had to obtain security clearance as a US Senator and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee etc ?

[Kaleokualoha]

Frank Marshall Davis's son held a TS/SCI (SI/TK/G/B) clearance as an Air Force Intelligence Officer, and was "associated" with Davis from birth. An SBI focuses on the CANDIDATE'S trustworthiness as evidenced by the CANDIDATE'S actions. Obama's childhood association with Davis is irrelevent.

[Michale32086]

Several things wrong with your assessment.

First, the idea of it being a "tenuous" connection.

Let me ask ya'all a question.

Let's say you are approached and asked to work on a board of directors. This board of directors has been set up to assist Palestinian refugees.. Another person on the board is Osama Bin Laden.

Now, would you accept such a position on that board??

Of COURSE you wouldn't..­.

Now, let's further postulate that you are invited to a social engagement that is being held at the home of John Wayne Gacy.

Would you accept such a social invitation?

Of COURSE you wouldn't..­.

In fact, I would be willing to wager that you would go out of your way NOT to accept those invitations. And you would vehemently encourage others NOT to accept those invitations.

Am I right??

Of course I am...

There goes the "tenuous connections" argument totally down the drain.....

Now I'll be standing bi to totally refute the expected response of "But AYERS is not Bin Laden!!!"

Michale...­..

[JDShipley]

Michale,

What if you were invited to belong to a board funded by the former ambassador to Great Britain, a Republican, a University professor and other community luminaries. Would you join? No?

Would you join a committee chaired by G. Gordon Liddy, who has recommended that citizens shoot ATF agents, aiming for head shots because of their armor? Would you call G. Gordon Liddy a "fine American?" Yes. You can run for the next Republican presidential nomination.

[Quaoar]

It's entirely possible that he didn' t know about Ayers' reputation among the tinfoil plated neocon conspiracy theorists. In fact, like most Americans (even knowledgeable ones), he there's an excellent chance he never heard of Ayers before he accepted the invitations or a position on the board.

[whit4brains]

Your argument is so s.tupid! William Ayers is not even comparable to O.sama B.in L.aden or J.ohn W.ayne G.acy! And even you know it since you are already expecting this response!

A.yers was protesting the V.ietnam W.ar. His objective was not the d.ownfall and d.eath of all Americans. Please...

And if I was asked to be on the Annenberg Foundation which was started by a good friend of Ronald Reagan's and had respected members of my community on it to work towards an honorable goal...I would absolutely join it.

William A.yers has gone on to do a lot of good in his community. Is a Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois and was named "Citizen of the Year" in 1997 for his word on Public Education reform. He is the author of several books and many articles.

Deal with it. Your obsession about Obama and A,yers is just your way of attacking a candidate that you would have NEVER supported anyway!

[Jandros]

MR, NAIF, HELLOOOO!!!!! I can't believe you said "I'm not even sure how Barack Obama's Ayers or Wright connections would even be reported ... there's not a blank space on the SF 86......" Do you think the FBI is ONLY going to look at information that the SUBJECT provides?? It's not even rational. The FBI looks at a LOT more than a form. Even an "interim Secret" clearance involves an NCIC and state-level criminal history check, etc.
But a TOP Secret background check is a full-blown INVESTIGATION. I held a TS for 20 years and all of my work associates had TS, and TS requires renewal (re-investigation) every 5 years. So I was interviewed by FBI agents numerous times (as references of other subjects) and the agents always asked 2 things: First, did I believe the subject was worthy to be trusted with sensitive information? And did I know of anyone else who might have MORE information about the subject? That's a reason that a TS check costs thousands of dollars and takes several months to complete.
But can't you also imagine? .... FBI agents watch TV! And they might even read the newspapers! Soooooo ..... if they notice a derogatory story about their subject, don't you think they might want to check it out??
But really, this entire site is tripe. I only created an account so I could write this comment.
How much are Obama and Biden paying you to operate this site?

[PDXKevin]

Obama is on the senate foreign relations committee. He probably already has AT LEAST a TS/SCI.

[ToonMoene]

The militia movement ...

You mean the movement that traces back to the Second Amendment ?

(this is just from a Continental European who doesn't understand what the tormented English of the 2nd Amendment actually means)

[Dystopic]

technically, it was so citizens could defend their property, since there wasn't really a military yet.

Some have taken it to mean you can have AK47's and RPGs. I do not agree with that assessment.

I am licensed to carry a concealed handgun, and I often do. My wife was attacked in Dallas a couple of years ago, I wasn't there. She told me she felt so helpless and scared to go out of the house. We went and both took the classes and bought pistols - a nice Walther PPK and for her a Browning 9mm. The police cannot be everywhere.

IF you try and harm me or mine, you will have a serious problem, I assure you.

Luckily, I have not been tested on this, and I hope I never will. I would not hesitate for a second if I thought my wife or myself was in danger. My wife can take the balls off a housefly at 50 yards.

[ProudAmerican23]

I still dont get what Todd Palin would need a clearance for?

[Dystopic]

If he visits her at her office, where classified material might be. Or sitting in on meetings like he did in alaska.

If he were denied, McCain could grant him clearance by executive order.

Since McCain has zero chance being elected, it's all academic.

[ProudAmerican23]

I'm still trying to figure out why you people thing that Todd Palin NEEDS a clearance????

[hlawyer]

Who are "you people?"

I'm wondering why, if you really are a "proud American," you would support someone who was allied with the AIP, or his wife?

[BCubedReg]

He does need a clearance. I had a TS/SCI when I was working in SATCOM and even I couldn't just stroll around the white house.

[shel3364]

I've filled out a numer of SF-86 forms over the years. This article is correct. You list YOUR family member, YOUR history, have YOU ever been a member of a group that wishes to overthrow the government.

Todd's elistment in that group would be detrimental to his clearance.

Obama's association with a pastor and a professor would not.

[PDXKevin]

His membership in AIP would, or SHOULD, preclude Palin from getting a secret clearance, never mind TS or above.

[Michale32086]

There are almost 20 states in the union that have fringe secessionist groups. One of the more well known is one that is in the most liberal state in the country.. Most, if not all of the groups are simply social organizations that have family picnics and BBQs...

And, I can assure you from personal experience­.. If you were being investigated for a TS and you put on the form that you once worked and socialized with a known and proven terrorist, you would NOT get that clearance. And that would be the LEAST of your worries...

Michale...­..

[Dystopic]

The president automatically gets clearance. I doubt he will even have to fill out a SF form.

[LeftRight]

Not always true. FDR lost part of his clearance (or maybe it was need to know....) in the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The reason? He had left classified materiel in his garbage can.

[Bettysdad]

Exactly who was it that pulled FDR's security clearance? Someone makes rules for the President. If that was the case, George Bush would have spent the past eight years drinking.

The days leading up to the attack could only have been the days leading up to the attack if FDR knew the attack was coming, which would then make you one of the right-wing conspiracists who believe he knew.

[wintermute1]

Care to produce evidence to support this statement? While need to know principles may terminate access to a particular compartment, the President can redraw those compartments through a simple executive order - as President Bush did with information about Valerie Plame.

It may have been different in the 1940s, but I am fairly certain that it was not *that* different.

I think the notion of FDR as a sitting president losing a clearance is clearly absurd.

[MajorKong]

Maybe, but that sounds awfully like an urban legend.

[BCubedReg]

Yes, he will have to fill out an SF-86 if he hasn't already. However, since he is on the Foreign relations subcommittee, I am sure he already has it on file. As President, he would be granted greater access than he currently has. But I am quite sure he already has a security clearance.

[Dystopic]

You are right, I forgot about the Foreign Relations subcommittee.

[Arachnae]

Actually whoever is elected President is de facto cleared to the highest levels by virtue of the office. The Executive OWNS the classification system. And honestly, however horrid the current administration has been, would you have it any other way? Imagine a situation in which the intelligence community decided that something was so sensitive that even the President shouldn't know it. Can you say 'Rogue Agency'?

[LeftRight]

Sounds better than "Rogue Presidency". Course, anything that's THAT classified should probably be told to the public at large.....­.