Me Too: Surviving The Pentagon

As A Young Woman
Gwenyth Todd
Senior Staff Almost Exclusively
Male
Hostile Work Environment As Opposed To
Sexual Harassment:

• Humiliating Insults
• General Rude Behavior
• Screaming Abuse
• Competitive Undermining
• General Discrimination
 Sexual Harassment Defined

• Unwanted Advances From Any Colleague

Or Client
And
• If Politely Refused, Career Damage Threat
 Sexual Harassment Is Not:
• A Colleague Simply Asking For A Date
• Comments On Clothing
• Jokes, Even Off-Color Ones

Not Harassment If You Can Object Or Walk Away

Without Damaging Your Career
The Foreigners Were Supposed To Pose The
Only Problem
Iraqi Invasion Of Kuwait
No Women Allowed
Dress Like A Local Woman
Solution: Honorary Military Man
Solution: Honorary Military Man
Solution: Honorary Military Man
Through The Looking Glass
Civilized Society: Men And Women Equal
Regardless Of Dress
Be Fun, Pretty And Cheerful:
Accusations Destroy Morale
Three Types Of Predator

• The Married Fantasist

• The Ambitious Sadist
• The Opportunistic Narcissist
Married Fantasist

• Easiest To Handle

• Not Vindictive But Sensitive

• Must Be Handled Gently

 Clothing Optional

• Close Senior Colleague Acting As Mentor

• Asks Me A Small Favor
• All My Acting Skills Brought To Bear
• Tremendous Success: Harmony And Praise
 Ambitious Sadist

• Very Dangerous Domination Game

• Direct Proposition: Yes Or No
• “No” Answer Greeted With Calm
• Plots Revenge Without Mercy
• Seeks Total Destruction
Ambitious Sadist
 Ambitious Sadist
• Spent Three Years Seeking Revenge
• Switched Meeting Instructions
• Intercepted And Altered Documents
• Reported Me As A Security Risk
• When Cornered, Apologised Then Began Again
 Ambitious Sadist

• After Years, I Confided In My Boss

• After Three Attempts, He Was Caught
• Had Threatened Others Who Were Ignored
• Under Secretary Choice: Firing Or Court Martial
• Secret Retaliation Meetings Even After Dismissal
 Opportunistic Narcissist
• Powerful And Petulant

• Unpredictable Behavior If Disappointed

• Politically Vulnerable

• Comical Situations And Tantrums

 Opportunistic Narcissist

• Key West High Level Meetings

• Private Breakfast Scheduled With Top Mexican Official

• Huge, Carefully Selected Buffet For Two

 Opportunistic Narcissist

• Next Morning, Preparing For Breakfast

• 8:00 AM: Phone Rang, Mike Abused Front Desk

• 8:30 AM: Breakfast Buffet Still Not Set Up

• 8:35 AM: Called Front Desk, Told Mike Cancelled Buffet

• Mad Panic To Arrange Last Minute Breakfast For Two

 Opportunistic Narcissist

When Misbehaving Ruins Breakfast, Blame Room Service

 Situation Untenable

• Key West Fiasco Was Never Explained To Colleagues

• Under Secretary Sensed Something Was Amiss

• Confessed Real Concern Over Colleagues’ Behavior

• Transfer To More Wholesome Environment Arranged

Me Too: Pentagon Solution

Clinton White House, 1997

Haven From Sexual Harassment
Military Action To Cover White
House Scandal
Gwenyth Todd
 Clinton Sex Scandal 1997-1999
• Clinton Accused Of Harassment By Paula Jones

• Special Counsel Ken Starr Investigated

• Pentagon Employee Monica Lewinsky Involved In Affair

• Clinton Caught Lying About Relationship With Monica

• Paula Jones Filed Separate Private Lawsuit

• Republicans Calling For Impeachment Of Clinton

• Tensions In White House Very High

 Caught In The Middle

• Knew Monica: She Dated Ex-Boyfriend And Flirted With Boss

• Prosecutor Ken Starr’s Daughter Was My Mother’s Advisee

• Portfolio Included Iraq: Obvious Choice For Diversionary War

 January 1998

• News Broke About Scandal Involving Intern

• Call From Tom: Reporters Camped On Lawn

• Call From Carolyn Starr In Mother’s Office

• Work Focus On Iran And Libya Not Iraq

• Rumors Of Damning Lewinsky Dress Ignored

 Things Get Ugly: The Dress

• Rumors Of Dress With Clinton DNA Grew

• August 1998: Clinton’s DNA On Dress

• September 11, 1998: Evidence To Congress

• Iraq Suddenly Became Central Issue

 Irrelevant Iraq

• Little Had Changed In Iraq-UN Inspections

• Daily UN Video Conference More Like Dating Game

• Pressure From UK To Improve Libya Relations

• No Compelling Reason To Attack Iraq

 October 1998: Iraq Intrigue

• October 8: Congress Announced Impeachment Hearings

• Artificial Increase In Concern Over Iraq

• October 31: Saddam Took Bait, Blocked Inspectors

• Pentagon Quietly Deployed Forces To Gulf

 November 13, 1998
• US Poised To Attack Iraq: Operation Viper

• Clinton Accuser Paula Jones Suddenly Announced Clinton

Lawsuit Settlement

• Impeachment Hearings Suddenly In Question

• Timing Of Iraq Attack Now In Question

• Saddam Letter To UN Secretary General Offered Possible

Excuse To Cancel Attack
 November 14, 1998

• Impeachment In Question After Paula Jones Settlement

• Letter From Saddam Offering Cooperation Offered Plausible

Excuse To Halt Operation

• 15 Minutes Before Launch, Attack Called Off

• Retained Right To “Reinstate Operation”

 November 19, 1998

• Ken Starr Recommended Impeachment Trial

• I Am Instructed To Prepare Attack On Iraq

 Shades Of “Dr. Strangelove”

• Coordinating Saddam And Starr

• Situation Room Briefing

– Counting On Fingers
– Delaying The Moon
– Mini-Facial

• Clear There Was No Pressing Military Threat

 Operation Desert Fox

• Timed To Coincide Exactly With Impeachment Trial: December

16-19, 1998

• Empty Mission: Degrade, Not Eliminate Saddam’s Weapons

 Epilogue

• President Clinton Stayed In Office

• New Policy Announced: Iraqi Regime Change

• Hopes Of Anti-Iranian Hawks To Occupy Iraq Resurrected For

First Time Since 1992

• I Had Seen Enough: Resigned From Iraq Desk

Farewell From White House
Mistaken For a Spy: The FBI At Its
Finest
Gwenyth Todd
 The Outside World

• Left Government, Joined Private Telecommunications Firm

• Hoping To Make Latest Technology Available To US
Government
• Requirement For Company To Have Security Clearances
• National Security Agency Suggested I Reactivate Clearance To
Oversee Contract Negotiations
 Lie Detector Test (Polygraph)

• Had Held Top Clearances Without Ever Taking Polygraph

• Private Sector Required Polygraph

• Previous Boss Was CIA: Offered Useful Advice

• Looking Forward To Experience

 Good Cop, Bad Cop

• First Interviewed For 8 Hours In Large Windowless Room By

Friendly Mike
• Lots Of Gossip About Washington Figures
• Next Step: Interview In Small Windowless Room With
Humorless Pat
• Return On Third Day For Actual Polygraph Test
Lie Detector Test (Polygraph)
 Failure

• Polygrapher Pat Very Agitated

• Quickly Accused Me Of Classic Techniques To Defeat Machine

• Began Shouting Strange Accusations About Spying

• Told Me To Go Home And They Would Reschedule

• Assumed Pat Had Mental Issues: Decided To Delegate

Clearance To My Deputy
 Moving On

• Decided To Take Generous Severance Package

• Established Consulting Business

• Surprise Call From Mike To Reschedule

• Very Odd Reaction To News I Had Left: Dejection

• Agreed To Talk To Mike’s “Friend”

• Immediate Call From Laura, Inviting Me To Lunch

 International Intrigue

• Greeted At Lunch By Two FBI Special Agents

• Informed That Director Bob Mueller Set Up Task Force

• Target: Spies Passing Secrets To Israel Regarding Iran

• Key Suspect Personal And Professional Contact Of Mine

• Powerful Israel Lobbyist: I Was Also Mediator In 6th Divorce

• FBI Requested Help Identifying His US Government Source

 Blind Leading The Blind
• Weekly Dinners, Daily Computer Report

• Agreed To Wear Wire

• Scenes Out Of A B-Movie And No Map

Creepy Panel Van Bulky Bug

 14 Months Of Tedium

• Discussion Tended To Focus On Sexual Allegations

• Eye-Opening Look Into Suburban Hijinx But Not Criminal

• Support For Attack On Iran But No Obvious Espionage

• Former Colleagues Simply Carrying Out Normal Contacts

• As Divorce Settlement Reached, Next Steps In Question

 All Is Revealed
• Starbucks Meeting: I had Been Suspected Contact Until
Operation

• Others Too Frightened To Cooperate: I Was Only Source

• Investigation In Trouble: Needed More Sources

• Bread And Chocolate Meeting With Journalist

• Interview Officials At Pentagon For Fictional Article

• March 2003: Delivered Report In Four Seasons Lobby

 Operation Complete

• August 2004: CNN Announced Arrest Of Larry Franklin

• FBI Needed Help with Prosecutors: Political Suicide

• Confronted Prosecutors: Made Clear Many Lives At Stake

• Franklin Sentenced To Serve 12 Years But Only After Lobbyist

Trial Complete

• Advised On How To Bring Lobbyists To Trial

 Dithering And Danger

• My Role In Operation Was Still Secret

• Invited To Persian Gulf To Advise US Navy On War Prevention

• Agreed To Return To Testify At Trial When Needed

• FBI Grateful: Facilitated My Security Clearances

• Trial Politically Charged, Told I Would Be Anonymous For Years

• With That, I Set In Motion The End Of My US Career

 Our Philosophy: The Real Story
Behind The 2003 Invasion Of Iraq
Gwenyth Todd
 Frustration In 1991

• In 1991, US Forces Liberated Kuwait From Iraqi Occupation

• President George H.W. Bush Prevented Occupation Of Iraq

• Some In US Unhappy With Decision To Leave Iraq

• Group Called Neoconservatives Did Not Give Up

• Plan To Depose And Replace Saddam Hatched In Late 1991

 TimeStraight
For A “Do
To Over” In Iraq
The Top

• Neoconservatives Plan: Turn Back Social Clock In Iraq

• Remove Saddam And Destroy Sunni Muslim Elite

• Restore Traditional Ruling Families From Pre-1958

• Create Government To Support Israel, Challenge Iran

• Family Names Considered: Pachachi, Chalabi, Barzani,

Talabani

• Decision To Promote Shi’a Businesman Ahmad Chalabi

 Caught In The Middle

• Neocons Included Me: Assumed I Was Ally

• Clinton Won Election: Neocons Plans Put On Hold

 Iraq Placed On Hold Under Clinton
• Military Enforcement And Sanctions Preferred Course

• Lack Of US Interest Opened Door For Civil Unrest In Iraq

• Constant Lobby Pressure For Chalabi Inside Washington

• In 1999, After Clinton Impeachment, Iraq Became

Diversion

• 1999: Ahmad Chalabi Once Again Top US Choice For Iraqi

Leadership But No Money Or Might Behind Policy
 Why Invade Iraq: Because Of Iran

• Iraq Itself Of Little Interest: Staging Ground For Iran

• Since Fall Of Shah, Israel Increasingly Vulnerable

• US And Israel Determined To Restore Ally In Iran

• Resource-Rich, Powerful, Sophisticated Nation

• Camp David Poor Substitute For Iran Alliance

• Iranians Historically Counterbalance To Arabs

• Iraq Ideal Staging Ground For Iran Operations

 January 2001 George W. Bush Inauguration

• Richard Perle At Pre-Inaugural Candlelight Dinner

• Need People Who Know Of And Share Our Philosophy To

Carry Out Iraq Plans

• Wolfowitz To Set Up Special Projects Office To Create

Support For Iraq Invasion

• Join Us
 How To Sell A War
• Six Blind Men And The Elephant

• Each Blind Man Approaches Different Part And Makes

Assumption Based On Experience:
– First Runs Into The Side: Elephant Like A Wall
– Second Touches Tail: Elephant Like A Rope
– Third Encounters Trunk: Elephant Like Snake
– Fourth Bumps Into Leg: Elephant Like A Tree
– Fifth Batted By Ear: Elephant Like A Fan
– Sixth Feels Tusk: Elephant Like A Spear

• Upshot: Each One Is Partly Correct But All Are Mistaken

 The Iraqi Elephant
Condoleeza
Rice
General
Public 
President
George
W. Bush


Allies ➡

Secretary
Of Defense Vice
Rumsfeld→ President
Cheney
 What Happened
• Alarm Bells Raised Over Typical Saddam Behavior:
Rumsfeld and Bush On Board Early On

• Slow Rise In Tension: Derailed By 9/11 Attacks In 2001

• Needed To Switch Focus From Afghanistan To Iraq

• Special Plans Office Established To Convince The Rest Of

The Public: Controlled Information, Intelligence
Manipulated And Targeted

• March 2003: Iraq Invaded

• April 2003: Chalabi Flown Into Iraq By Pentagon

 Epilogue
• No Weapons Of Mass Destruction

• Chalabi Failed To Secure Top Job But Corruption Rampant

• Iran Influence Expanded In Midst Of Chaos

• Anti-Iran Drumbeat Continues But Chaos Prevents Action

• Conflict And Catastrophe In Syria And Yemen

• Shi’a-Sunni Tensions Worsening: Human Rights Abuses

• Tension Among Gulf Cooperation Council

• Strange, Temporary Israeli-Saudi Alliance Created

Sabotage: How To Prevent A War
Gwenyth Todd
 War Planning For Iran
• August 2004, Iraq Falling Apart

• Crux Point: Massive US Presence In Iraq And Persian Gulf

• Anti-Iran Sentiment High In International Press

• Timing Right: Window Open Until February 2008

Presidential Political Season Would Be Underway

• Confusion In Region Distracted From Iran Plans

• Arab Gulf States Highly Alarmed By Iranian Influence In

Iraq: Desperate For US To Drive Iran Back
 How To Justify A War With Iran

• Naval Mishap Involving US And Iranian Forces

– Serious Incident During Straits Of Hormuz Transit
– Iranian Firing To US Ship In Contested Persian Gulf Waters

• Attack Against US Ground Forces By Iranian-Backed Shi’a

Groups In Iraq

• Accidental Death Of US Citizen During Shi’a

Demonstration

• Terrorist Incident Against US Citizen Traceable To Iran

The Persian Gulf
 Optimism And Innocence

• Proposal To Avoid War: Hotline Between Iranian And US

• Cassandra Speaks: Will This Time Be Different?

• Request To Sign On As Private Contractor In Bahrain

• ”Force Protection Advisor” With No Restrictions

• Also No Protections
Flashpoint 1: Straits Of Hormuz Transit
Flashpoint 2: Shi’a Demonstrations
Hotspot 3: Ashura
Access To Forbidden Gatherings
 2006 Attempt By Washington

• Washington Ordered Huge Naval Deployment

• Public Unaware Of Scale
• Designed To Panic Iranians
• Goal: Alert The US Public And Let Them Decide
• I Was Not Involved In Planning
• Time Magazine: What War With Iran Would Look
Like
 2007: Washington Panics

• Neoconservatives In US Decide To Move Forward

• New CIA Station Chief Sent Out

• Top Admirals Replaced

• New Admiral Unaware Of My Views:

– Confides Truth: Start Conflict With Iran By Provocative Actions
 Multiple Attempts
• Force Territorial Waters Determination By International
Community

• Sail Warship Up Narrow Border Waterway And Hope Iran

Opens Fire

• Blow Up Illegal Iranian Surveillance Posts

• Refuse To Receive Advance Warning Of Demonstrations

• Massive Deployment Of Naval Asserts Without Explanation

 Last Ditch Attempt

• Plan To Create Crisis Before President Bush Visit In January 2008

• Create Video Implying Augmented Threat And Bellicose Incident

• Preparation: Remove Those Capable Of Crying Foul From Playing Field

• Result: July 9, 2008 Video

Aftermath: Life Of A Whistleblower
Gwenyth Todd
 Inevitable Unpleasantness

• For Eight Years Challenged Powerful Entities

• 2001: Tried To Warn Media And Pentagon Of Iraq Invasion

• 2001-2004: Helped The FBI Uncover Pentagon Spy

• 2005-2008: Moved To Persian Gulf To Prevent Architects Of

Iraq Invasion From Expanding War To Iran

• Simple Matter Of Time Before The Retaliation Began

 Two Biggest Threats

• Neoconservative Idealogues Still Hope For Invasion Of Iran:

– Same Arguments For Invading Iran Being Argued Today
– Same Counterarguments Against Iran Invasion Still Relevant
– Same Tactics Apply To Both Sides
– Facts Do Not Matter: Pure Theater And Political Spin

• Trial Of Israel Lobbyists Accused Of Running Pentagon Spy

Dismissed Based On Lack Of Available Witnesses
– I Remain Key Witness If I Were Able To Testify
 Retaliation Begins

• May 2007: Plans To Provoke Iran War Undermined By State

Department Call To Iran After I Alerted State To Deployment

• Admiral Forced To Call Saudi Allies And Downplay Deployment

• FBI Agents Waiting For Me Upon Leaving Admiral’s Office

• FBI Introduced Themselves As Tied To Pentagon Spy

Investigation

• Instead FBI Agents Announced I Was Needed To Testify

Against My Daughter’s Father’s Business Dealings
 Deceptive Calm
• Investigation Continued Into My Daughter’s Father: Hired Lawyers
To Ensure I was Not Dragged In

• Lawyers: Department Of Justice After Something Unrelated To

Daughter’s Father: Warned Me To Stay Out Of US

• I Am Given Increased Access To Intelligence

• Suddenly Reviewing All Intelligence And Compiling Daily Report

• Contract Until February 2008: Lobbying Within Navy Headquarters

To Draft New Contract

• Intelligence Chief Notes Strange Reaction Of Admiral: Is There

Reason Why Admiral Might Be After Me?
 December 13, 2007

• 2:30 PM Admiral Called: Very Strange Intelligence Report

• Hand-Typed, Claimed Iran Planning Operation To Kill

Americans In Bahrain

• Intelligence Chief (Called “N2”) Not Present

• Report Contained Addresses And Names Of Terror Suspects In

Diraz

• Admiral: Embassy And Navy Needed Me To Help Investigate

 Very Odd

• N2 Believed Report Came From CIA At US Embassy

– Incompetent CIA Representative Had Burned Bridges With Shi’a
– Made Sense That Only I Could Approach Shi’a

• N2 Agreed To Break Procedure And File My Report That Night

Without Showing Admiral If I Could Arrange Meeting

• N2 Very Concerned For My Safety: Mission Illegal

• Chose Public Venue To Meet Opposition Leader

Diraz
Chosen Meeting Place
 Mission Accomplished

• Shi’a Opposition Debunked Report: Concerned It Was Set-Up

• Fears Confirmed When Bahraini Interrogators Entered Café
• Parted Company, Returned To Base, Badges Not Functioning
• Guards Admitted Me Anyway, Filed Report
• N2 Came In At Midnight, Sent Report To Washington
• Next Morning: Admiral And Staff Surprised And Angry
• False Threat Report Was Set-Up By Admiral And CIA: I Was To
Be Intercepted And Arrested Or Shot In Diraz Village
 The Plan
• Remove Me Before President Bush Visit In January 2008

• CIA, Admiral Prepared False Report: N2 Never Meant To Know

• Secret Letter Claiming Security Risk Signed Pending My Arrest

• Bahrainis Told Contractor From Base Plotting With Terrorists In

Diraz And Provided With Address To Intercept Me

• Admiral Planned To Deny Sending Me Out, Produce Letter

• Immediate Cover-Up: Letter Declared Lost, CIA Report Of

Terror Threat Mysteriously Vanished, My Report Erased
Secret Letter To Set Me Up
Opposing Letters
 Danger

• Lawyers’ Advice: Go To Australia To Assess Situation

• Involved In Relationship With Australian Officer

• Turkish Client Transferred Funds: Found Shot Two Days Later

• Thief Stole US Passports: Thought Daughter’s Impossible To

Renew In Australia

• February 2011: “Arab Spring” Uprising Underway

• FBI Attempt To Lure Me To US Embassy In Canberra: “Bungling

Spy Comes In For Cold Shoulder”
 New Approach

• US Senator Demanded Explanation: Told Contractors Not

Provided Whistleblower Protection

• Lawyers Advised International Publicity As Protection

• Government Advised Me To Keep Low Profile Inside Australia

• Over 6000 Pages Of Redacted Files Uncovered By Investigators

• Australian Federal Police Very Supportive

• Moved To Remote Area: Documented And Secured Proof

Occasional Threats And Reminders