CIA Blogger Fired for Criticizing Torture Policy

PetManimal writes "A contract software developer for the CIA who had a blog on the CIA intranet was fired after criticizing torture in an entry. The title of the post: something along the lines of 'Waterboarding is Torture and Torture is Wrong.' The Washington Post reports Christine Axsmith is not the only CIA blogger -- the spy agency uses blogs to let agents and other workers share information and ideas." From the article: "Hundreds of blog posts appear on Intelink. The CIA says blogs and other electronic tools are used by people working on the same issue to exchange information and ideas. CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano declined to comment on Axsmith's case but said the policy on blogs is that 'postings should relate directly to the official business of the author and readers of the site, and that managers should be informed of online projects that use government resources. CIA expects contractors to do the work they are paid to do.'"

Snark

[Doc Ruby]

I don't get it... the CIA doesn't torture people. The USA doesn't torture people. Why should the CIA care if a contractor says torture is wrong? They must have fired her for goofing off on company time/equipment.

Overreacting

[linvir]

On Monday, Axsmith was terminated by her employer, BAE Systems, which was helping the CIA test software.

Wow, they really don't take this stuff lying down. Many bloggers died to bring us this information!

Re:Snark

[Anonymous Coward]

Read the fucking subject-line, Rainman. Parent was being sarcastic.

Well at least

[kensai]

she was only fired and not tortured for her views on torture.

Had something similar happen to me

[toupsie]

I was working for a huge meat packing company and we had internal company blogs so we could share ideas and generally make the company run better. You know, totally Web 2.0. I am a committed vegan so I posted a blog entry called "Meat is Murder and Murder is Wrong" and guess what happened to me? I was fired! Can you believe that!?!?!? Freaking fascists.

This wasn't the peoper place for her to complain

[elrous0]

Jeez, she had no right to use the CIA intranet to complain like this. She should have used the proper CIA procedure with regards to such complaints--take them to the New York Times.

-Eric

Morale equals food?

[Kuroji]

Writing as Covert Communications, CC for short, she opined in her online journal on such national security conundrums as stagflation, the war of ideas in the Middle East and -- in her most popular post -- bad food in the CIA cafeteria.

This is what happens when you tick off the CIA lunchlady. Next thing you know she'll have a mysterious heart attack, all because the world now knows the food tastes like cardboard.

In other news...

[gasmonso]

A contract software developer for the CIA was kidnapped and tortured by the CIA. Details to follow.

http://religiousfreaks.com/ [religiousfreaks.com]

Re:Torture Saves Lives

[Jhan]

[after all] we are trying to save the children. We wouldnt want these children to be harmed by terrorists just because we didnt have the fortitude to torture them.

Your ideas intrigue me. Please tell me more about how torturing children will keep them safe from terrorists. Also, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

One Question:

[tomhudson]

and the victim is unlikely to actually die if this is done by skilled practitioners.

Who'd they practice on before they became so skilled?

Gov't Torturer: I only lost 3 this week.
Superior: Good enough. Here's your "Skilled in Waterboarding" cert. And no, I don't want to know what you did with the bodies.
Gov't Torturer: Thanks. BTW, you might want to avoid the "mystery meat" at the cafeteria.

White House responds in 3...2...

[kalirion]

So when will we have a White House press release accusing Washington Post of endangering National Security by revealing that the CIA has records of using waterboarding torture?

Re:The US is absolutely civilized.

[Mister Whirly]

Or maybe it just means Canadians are horrible shots...

Re:The US is absolutely civilized.

[cayenne8]

"Finally, if you use countries that practice infanticide or honor killing as your yardstick, then something is wrong. After Abu Ghraib, I heard people like yourself pointing out that 'at least we aren't as bad as Saddam was'."

While I abhor what the US did in Abu, and think those responsible should be punished, I still gotta think when you make statements like above comparing it with what Saddam, and other countries do, I gotta say "Come On...it ain't even in the same ball park"!!

Stacking some people naked, or making them wear panties on their heads is in no way comparable to having electodes hooked to your testicles or having your tongue cut out. Hell, there people in the world that would pay good money for the stacking and panty treatment....

Re:Two things:

[Anonymous Coward]

I also agree wholeheartedly.

Re:Two things:

[Anonymous Coward]

>No wonder he is also against torture for the reason that it produces faulty intel. Whoa, there. Who said anything about getting information. Regards, CIA