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{{Short description|American intelligence director}}
'''Vincent Cannistraro''' was Director of ] Intelligence Programs from November 1984 to January 1987 <ref> Vincent] Cannistraro went on to serve as chief of operations for the CIA's Counterterrorism Center and to lead the CIA's investigation into the bombing of Pan Am 103...” -- From a PBS interview that may be read here:
'''Vincent Cannistraro''' was Director of Intelligence Programs for the ] (NSC) from 1984 to 1987; Special assistant for Intelligence in the ] until 1988; and Chief of Operations and Analysis at the ]'s (CIA) ] until 1991.<ref name=PBS1>, ''PBS Frontline'', undated, retrieved April 18, 2006.</ref><ref name=senate> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528124542/http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing5/packet.pdf |date=2010-05-28 }} (pdf), Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, October 24, 2003</ref>
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/interviews/ </ref>. He was Special Assistant for Intelligence in the office of the ] (January 1987-October 1988). Prior to 1984, he was a ] officer active in the ], ], ], and ], where he was a member of the CIA's ] <ref> “Vince Cannistraro, a former member of the CIA's clandestine service and one-time director of intelligence programs at the National Security Council.” -- Associated Press, March 2, 1997, Sunday, AM cycle, Washington Dateline, 788 words. The national clandestine service manages the agency's ] center, CounterIntelligence operations, intelligence collection ] and ] operations <ref> The Washington Post, August 09, 2002, Friday, Final Edition, A SECTION; Pg. A01, 2035 words, The Slowly Changing Face of the CIA Spy; Recruits Eager to Fight Terror Are Flooding In, but Few Look the Part, Dana Priest, Washington Post Staff Writer.</ref>. Cannistraro was head of the Central American Task Force in Washington from 1983 to 1984. He was removed by DCI William Casey because he opposed the paramilitary program. <Ref: Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, Nov. 1987>. President Reagan transferred the contra program from the CIA to the NSC where it was directed by Lt.Col.Oliver North after congressional authorization for the CIA’s Contra program expired in mid 1984.”<ref: Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan opposition, April 14, 1982, the National Security Archive>.


Before 1984, he was an officer with the CIA's Directorate of Operations in the ], ], ], and ].<ref>Diamond, John. "CIA cuts off more than 1,000 informants, many for criminality", ''Associated Press'', March 2, 1997</ref><ref name=priest>Priest, Dana. "The Slowly Changing Face of the CIA Spy; Recruits Eager to Fight Terror Are Flooding In, but Few Look the Part," ''The Washington Post'', August 9, 2002.</ref>
Cannistraro is the former head of Counterterrorism Operations and Analysis at the CIA's Counterterrorism Center; he led the CIA's investigation into the ] by the Libyan government. Cannistraro ran the operation that destroyed the Abu Nidal Organization (ref: Mark Perry, ECLIPSE, published by Morrow in 1992.He left the CIA in 1991, since when he has been a consultant on global security events and intelligence issues for corporate and US government clients. He is often cited by ] media on these issues. He wrote two articles for the Mediterranean Quarterly advising the Bush Administration against invading Iraq and exposed the fabrications of a number of sources who claimed an Iraq WMD program.


After leaving the CIA in 1991, Cannistraro worked as a consultant on ] and security issues for a number of corporate and government clients, including ] and ].<ref name=senate/>
He has commented on the forged ] "]" uranium documents <ref>Ian Masters, , '']'', ], ] -- Edited transcript of interview with Cannistraro</ref>, which attempted to link ] with nuclear weapons development, and on the related disclosure of the identity of CIA agent ]. He was a charter signer of a letter to President Bush arguing for the enactment of a ban on torture by American officials.
He publishes Intelligence Brief, a global security newsletter.


He died on May 21, 2019.
⚫ ===References===
<div style="font-size: 90%"><references/></div>


==External links== ==Education and awards==
Cannistaro has a B.A. and M.A. from ]. In 1989, he received the Secretary of Defense's ]. He has also received the ].<ref name=senate/>
* , '']'' -- Biography


==Professional life==
{{US-bio-stub}}
While at the CIA, Cannistraro ran the agency's Central American task force that supervised covert action in the region, including the Nicaraguan Contras (both the left wing guerillas in the South and the right wing contras in the North). He moved to the Reagan NSC by the direction of CIA Latin American Chief ], who supported Col. ].<ref name=Ignatius>Ignatius, David. "Tale of Two White House Aides: Confidence and Motivation; North Viewed as a Can-Do Marine Who Went Too Far in Zealousness." ''The Washington Post.'' November 30, (1986): Sec. A1.</ref> The Contra program was transferred in 1984 by President ] to the NSC,<ref name=Kornbluh>Kornbluh, P., and M. Byrne. "The Iran-Contra Scandal: The declassified history." New York: The New Press. (1993): xviii.</ref> and Cannistraro was made Director of Intelligence there later that year.<ref name="PBS1"/> As director, he was responsible for monitoring the US intelligence community budget.<ref>"Walsh draws testimony from NSC officials." ''United Press International'', June 15, (1987)</ref> and coordinating the approval process for ]. He also chaired the ] Working Group at the ].<ref name=brief>, ''Intelligence Brief'', Cannistraro's website.</ref>


In 1988, Cannistraro became Chief of Operations and Analysis at the CIA's ],<ref>{{Cite book| edition = Reprint| publisher = Penguin Books| isbn = 9780143034667| last = Coll| first = Steve| title = Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001| location = New York, NY| date = 2004-12-28| pages= 140–146| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780141020808}}</ref> where he led the agency's investigation into the 1988 bombing of ] over ].
⚫ ]

]
Cannistraro also alleged that Iraqi intelligence agent ] had invited bin Laden to live in Iraq during a December 1998 meeting in ], though he maintained that bin Laden refused the invitation and did not accept support from Saddam Hussein.<ref name=NPR>"Analysis: Though Afghanistan has provided Osama bin Laden with sanctuary, it is unclear where he is now," ], February 18, 1999</ref>

He reported on the forged ] "]" uranium documents as an attempt by some Bush administration supporters to link Iraq with nuclear weapons development in order to increase public support for the ]), and on the related disclosure of the identity of CIA case officer ].<ref name=testimony> (pdf), Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, October 24, 2003.</ref>

The front company, ], apparently also was used by other CIA officers whose work now could be at risk, according to Cannistraro.

Cannistaro runs , a security and information service for private clients. The Vatican is one such client.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

On September 12, 2001, Cannistraro stated that five of the hijackers had entered the United States in Maine from Canada via Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and/or a remote border point near Jackman, Maine, several hundred kilometres southeast of Quebec City.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

⚫ ==References==
*, ''PBS Frontline''.
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528124542/http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing5/packet.pdf |date=2010-05-28 }} (pdf), Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, October 24, 2003.
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813180255/http://intelligencebrief.net/aboutvince.htm |date=2010-08-13 }}, ''Intelligence Brief'', Cannistraro's security and information service.
*Diamond, John. "CIA cuts off more than 1,000 informants, many for criminality", ''Associated Press'', March 2, 1997.
*Ignatius, David. "Tale of Two White House Aides: Confidence and Motivation; North Viewed as a Can-Do Marine Who Went Too Far in Zealousness." The Washington Post. November 30, (1986): Sec. A1.
*Kornbluh, P., and M. Byrne. "The Iran-Contra Scandal: The declassified history." New York: The New Press. (1993): xviii.
*Priest, Dana. "The Slowly Changing Face of the CIA Spy; Recruits Eager to Fight Terror Are Flooding In, but Few Look the Part," ''The Washington Post'', August 9, 2002.
*Santos, Lori. "Walsh draws testimony from NSC officials." United Press International, June 15, (1987)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannistraro, Vincent}}
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Latest revision as of 00:07, 28 December 2024

American intelligence director

Vincent Cannistraro was Director of Intelligence Programs for the United States National Security Council (NSC) from 1984 to 1987; Special assistant for Intelligence in the Office of the Secretary of Defense until 1988; and Chief of Operations and Analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Counterterrorist Center until 1991.

Before 1984, he was an officer with the CIA's Directorate of Operations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Central America.

After leaving the CIA in 1991, Cannistraro worked as a consultant on terrorism and security issues for a number of corporate and government clients, including ABC News and The Vatican.

He died on May 21, 2019.

Education and awards

Cannistaro has a B.A. and M.A. from Boston College. In 1989, he received the Secretary of Defense's Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. He has also received the CIA Medal for Distinguished Service.

Professional life

While at the CIA, Cannistraro ran the agency's Central American task force that supervised covert action in the region, including the Nicaraguan Contras (both the left wing guerillas in the South and the right wing contras in the North). He moved to the Reagan NSC by the direction of CIA Latin American Chief Duane Clarridge, who supported Col. Oliver North. The Contra program was transferred in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan to the NSC, and Cannistraro was made Director of Intelligence there later that year. As director, he was responsible for monitoring the US intelligence community budget. and coordinating the approval process for covert action. He also chaired the Afghanistan Working Group at the White House.

In 1988, Cannistraro became Chief of Operations and Analysis at the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, where he led the agency's investigation into the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie.

Cannistraro also alleged that Iraqi intelligence agent Farouk Hijazi had invited bin Laden to live in Iraq during a December 1998 meeting in Afghanistan, though he maintained that bin Laden refused the invitation and did not accept support from Saddam Hussein.

He reported on the forged Niger "yellowcake" uranium documents as an attempt by some Bush administration supporters to link Iraq with nuclear weapons development in order to increase public support for the Iraq war), and on the related disclosure of the identity of CIA case officer Valerie Plame.

The front company, Brewster Jennings & Associates, apparently also was used by other CIA officers whose work now could be at risk, according to Cannistraro.

Cannistaro runs IntelligenceBrief, a security and information service for private clients. The Vatican is one such client.

On September 12, 2001, Cannistraro stated that five of the hijackers had entered the United States in Maine from Canada via Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and/or a remote border point near Jackman, Maine, several hundred kilometres southeast of Quebec City.

Notes

  1. ^ "Interview with Vincent Cannistraro", PBS Frontline, undated, retrieved April 18, 2006.
  2. ^ "Witness biographies" Archived 2010-05-28 at the Wayback Machine (pdf), Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, October 24, 2003
  3. Diamond, John. "CIA cuts off more than 1,000 informants, many for criminality", Associated Press, March 2, 1997
  4. Priest, Dana. "The Slowly Changing Face of the CIA Spy; Recruits Eager to Fight Terror Are Flooding In, but Few Look the Part," The Washington Post, August 9, 2002.
  5. Ignatius, David. "Tale of Two White House Aides: Confidence and Motivation; North Viewed as a Can-Do Marine Who Went Too Far in Zealousness." The Washington Post. November 30, (1986): Sec. A1.
  6. Kornbluh, P., and M. Byrne. "The Iran-Contra Scandal: The declassified history." New York: The New Press. (1993): xviii.
  7. "Walsh draws testimony from NSC officials." United Press International, June 15, (1987)
  8. "Who We Are", Intelligence Brief, Cannistraro's website.
  9. Coll, Steve (2004-12-28). Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Penguin Books. pp. 140–146. ISBN 9780143034667.
  10. "Analysis: Though Afghanistan has provided Osama bin Laden with sanctuary, it is unclear where he is now," National Public Radio, February 18, 1999
  11. "Witness testimony, Vincent Cannistraro" (pdf), Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, October 24, 2003.

References

  • "Interview with Vincent Cannistraro", PBS Frontline.
  • "Witness biographies" Archived 2010-05-28 at the Wayback Machine (pdf), Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, October 24, 2003.
  • "About Vincent Cannistraro" Archived 2010-08-13 at the Wayback Machine, Intelligence Brief, Cannistraro's security and information service.
  • Diamond, John. "CIA cuts off more than 1,000 informants, many for criminality", Associated Press, March 2, 1997.
  • Ignatius, David. "Tale of Two White House Aides: Confidence and Motivation; North Viewed as a Can-Do Marine Who Went Too Far in Zealousness." The Washington Post. November 30, (1986): Sec. A1.
  • Kornbluh, P., and M. Byrne. "The Iran-Contra Scandal: The declassified history." New York: The New Press. (1993): xviii.
  • Priest, Dana. "The Slowly Changing Face of the CIA Spy; Recruits Eager to Fight Terror Are Flooding In, but Few Look the Part," The Washington Post, August 9, 2002.
  • Santos, Lori. "Walsh draws testimony from NSC officials." United Press International, June 15, (1987)
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