[...]Its author, Paul Kengor, unearthed a sensational document from the Soviet archives. That document is a memo regarding an offer made by Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts via former Senator John Tunney, both Democrats, to the General Secretary of the Communist Party, USSR, Yuri Andropov, in 1983. The offer was to help the Soviet leadership, military and civilian, conduct a PR campaign in the United States as President Ronald Reagan sought re-election. The goal of the PR campaign would be to cast President Reagan as a warmonger, the Soviets as willing to peacefully co-exist, and thereby turn the electorate away from Reagan. It was a plan to enlist Soviet help, and use the American press, in unseating an American president.
Un-fucking-real.
I don’t expect the press to pursue this. Verification is needed. If any aspect is true,at the very least he needs to expelled from the Senate. If it can all be verified…prosecute him for treason.
Update: An interesting related post by Dr Sanity
Update: More at HotAir.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: History
Hi P.
I’m usually the first in line to kick Senator Kennedy in the groin, rhetorically speaking, but having looked at my share of documents from this period, American as well as Soviet, I would treat this one with caution until we get independent confirmation of authenticity. It certainly merits investigating though.
The Soviets had reached a point in the early 80’s where they were burning themselves with their own disinformation campaigns with the KGB foreign intel guys reporting back home the crap that the KGB special tasks department were spreading overseas. This was done partly out of ignorance ( compartmentilization left them in the dark) and partly out of fear – a certain “line” had to be towed in cables to fit the Politburo’s expectations, even in intel reporting.
I hope it is not true.
More:
http://twitter.com/ThunderPig/status/3553911576
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/10/25/audio-the-kennedy-kgb-connection/
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/kgb-letter-details-ted-kennedys-offer-to-help-ussr
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TEXT OF KGB LETTER ON SENATOR TED KENNEDY
_________________________________________
Special Importance
Committee on State Security of the USSR
14.05. 1983 No. 1029 Ch/OV
Moscow
Regarding Senator Kennedy’s request to the General Secretary of the Communist Party Comrade Y.V. Andropov
Comrade Y.V. Andropov
On 9-10 May of this year, Senator Edward Kennedy’s close friend and trusted confidant J. Tunney was in Moscow. The senator charged Tunney to convey the following message, through confidential contacts, to the General Secretary of the Center Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Y. Andropov.
Senator Kennedy, like other rational people, is very troubled by the current state of Soviet-American relations. Events are developing such that this relationship coupled with the general state of global affairs will make the situation even more dangerous. The main reason for this is Reagan’s belligerence, and his firm commitment to deploy new American middle range nuclear weapons within Western Europe.
According to Kennedy, the current threat is due to the President’s refusal to engage any modification on his politics. He feels that his domestic standing has been strengthened because of the well publicized improvement of the economy: inflation has been greatly reduced, production levels are increasing as is overall business activity. For these reasons, interest rates will continue to decline. The White House has portrayed this in the media as the “success of Reaganomics.”
Naturally, not everything in the province of economics has gone according to Reagan’s plan. A few well known economists and members of financial circles, particularly from the north-eastern states, foresee certain hidden tendencies that many bring about a new economic crisis in the USA. This could bring about the fall of the presidential campaign of 1984, which would benefit the Democratic party. Nevertheless, there are no secure assurances this will indeed develop.
The only real threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American relations. These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important of the election campaign. The movement advocating a freeze on nuclear arsenals of both countries continues to gain strength in the United States. The movement is also willing to accept preparations, particularly from Kennedy, for its continued growth. In political and influential circles of the country, including within Congress, the resistence to growing military expenditures is gaining strength.
However, according to Kennedy, the opposition to Reagan is still very weak. Reagan’s adversaries are divided and the presentations they make are not fully effective. Meanwhile, Reagan has the capabilities to effectively counter any propaganda. In order to neutralize criticism that the talks between the USA and the USSR are non-constructive, Reagan will grandiose, but subjectively propagandistic. At the same time, Soviet officials who speak about disarmament will be quoted out of context, silenced or groundlessly and whimsically discounted. Although arguments and statements by officials of the USSR do appear in the press, it is important to note the majority of Americans do not read serious newspapers or periodicals.
Kennedy believes that, given the current state of affairs, and in the interest of peace, it would be prudent and timely to undertake the following steps to counter the militaristic politics of Reagan and his campaign to psychologically burden the American people. In this regard, he offers the following proposals to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Y.V. Andropov:
1. Kennedy asks Y.V. Andropov to consider inviting the senator to Moscow for a personal meeting in July of this year. The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA. He would also like to inform you that he has planned a trip through Western Europe, where he anticipates meeting England’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President Mitterand in which he will exchange similar ideas regarding the same issues.
If his proposals would be accepted in principle, Kennedy would send his representative to Moscow to resolve questions regarding organizing such a visit.
Kennedy thinks the benefits of a meeting with Y.V.Andropov will be enhanced if he could also invite one of the well known Republican senators, for example, Mark Hatfield. Such a meeting will have a strong impact on American and political circles in the USA (In March of 1982, Hatfield and Kennedy proposed a project to freeze the nuclear arsenals of the USA and USSR and pblished a book on the theme as well.)
2. Kennedy believes that in order to influence Americans it would be important to organize in August-September of this year, televised interviews with Y.V. Andropov in the USA. A direct appeal by the General Secretary to the American people will, without a doubt, attact a great deal of attention and interest in the country. The senator is convinced this would receive the maximum resonance in so far as television is the most effective method of mass media and information.
If the proposal is recognized as worthy, then Kennedy and his friends will bring about suitable steps to have representatives of the largest television companies in the USA contact Y.V. Andropov for an invitation to Moscow for the interview. Specifically, the president of the board of directors of ABC, Elton Raul and television columnists Walter Cronkite or Barbara Walters could visit Moscow. The senator underlined the importance that this initiative should be seen as coming from the American side.
Furthermore, with the same purpose in mind, a series of televised interviews in the USA with lower level Soviet officials, particularly from the military would be organized. They would also have an opportunity to appeal directly to the American people about the peaceful intentions of the USSR, with their own arguments about maintaining a true balance of power between the USSR and the USA in military term. This issue is quickly being distorted by Reagan’s administration.
Kennedy asked to convey that this appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union is his effort to contribute a strong proposal that would root out the threat of nuclear war, and to improve Soviet-American relations, so that they define the safety of the world. Kennedy is very impressed with the activities of Y.V. Andropov and other Soviet leaders, who expressed their commitment to heal international affairs, and improve mutal understandings between peoples.
The senator underscored that he eagerly awaits a reply to his appeal, the answer to which may be delivered through Tunney.
Having conveyed Kennedy’s appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Tunney also explained that Senator Kennedy has in the last few years actively made appearances to reduce the threat of war. Because he formally refused to partake in the election campaign of 1984, his speeches would be taken without prejudice as they are not tied to any campaign promises. Tunney remarked that the senator wants to run for president in 1988. At that time, he will be 56 and his personal problems, which could hinder his standing, will be resolved (Kennedy has just completed a divorce and plans to remarry in the near future). Taken together, Kennedy does not discount that during the 1984 campaign, the Democratic Party may officially turn to him to lead the fight against the Republicans and elect their candidate president. This would explain why he is convinced that none of the candidates today have a real chance at defeating Reagan.
We await instructions.
President of the committee
V. Chebrikov
http://covertradioshow.com/blog/?p=542
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The World Wide Progressive Movement has Lost its ‘Lion’, while Ted Kennedy will be lauded for his efforts to reform Health Care and Immigration let’s also remember his efforts to subvert American Foreign Policy during his decades in the Senate.
Latin America Commie Coddling
During the hottest late days of the Cold War, America was attempting to thwart the growth of communist insurgencies in Latin America. Key battlegrounds included El Salvador and Nicaragua. Ted was happy to help the effort derail the defeat of Communism in our hemisphere. On April 2, 1984, UPI reported that Ted Kennedy Threatened to Cut Aid to the Government of El Salvador UNLESS it began negotiations with Communist backed Rebels. “Sen. Edward Kennedy is leading a band of Senate liberals who are trying again to restrict President Reagan’s Central American policy and reduce his request for emergency aid to El Salvador.”
It should be noted the negotiations were to be UNCONDITIONAL on the part of the Salvadoran government.
Robert Shepard Continued, “In two attempts last week, Kennedy failed to attach restrictions to legislation providing emergency military aid to El Salvador and money for CIA-sponsored rebels fighting the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. Further attempts also are expected to fail. Kennedy plans to offer amendments this week attaching several conditions to the aid. The planned amendments would require that a verdict be reached in the trial of suspects in the 1980 slayings of four American churchwomen and prosecution of suspects in the 1981 murders of two U.S. labor advisers. Kennedy also would require the Salvadoran government to begin unconditional negotiations with opposition forces.”
Father of FISA: hamstringing Intel since the Mid 70’s!
But his wrong approach to policy in Latin America was not all. It should be remembered that Ted Kennedy was the FATHER of FISA—the legislation that effectively hamstrung our Intelligence Communities Efforts to get international bad actors!
It was rolled out on April 30, 1977, in the Washington Post and was described this way.
“The Carter administration unveiled proposed legislation yesterday that would require a federal judge’s permission to use wiretapping or bugging in investigations of foreign intelligence activities within the United States. The bill marks the administration’s first attempt at revising the rules for intelligence investigations. In requiring a judicial warrant for electronic surveillance, the legislation, if enacted, would end the long debate about whether the President has the right under his “inherent constitutional powers” to authorize wiretapping in foreign intelligence cases. The administration’s proposal states that the new law would take supremacy over assertions of this disputed presidential prerogative and that the executive branch cannot reserve to itself any right to conduct warrant less electronic surveillance.”
Ted Kennedy led much of the effort along with Birch Bayh
“Aides to Kennedy and Bayh said yesterday that the senators had questions and reservations about certain provisions and would probably ask for changes in the bill before committing themselves to its support. The bill’s main thrust would be to substitute the judicial warrant requirement for the controversial present system under which the President, asserting the “inherent powers” claim, delegates to the Attorney General the decisions on when the FBI and other federal police agencies can use electronic surveillance.”
Effectively granting protections to targets of American Intelligence Operations!
The Post provided this background, “In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that a warrant is required for wire-taps in security cases where a purely domestic threat is involved. But it has left unanswered the question of whether the President’s “inherent powers” permit the use of warrant less wiretaps against foreign agents. The proposed legislation would require the Attorney General or a designated high-level deputy to review all requests by federal policy agencies for electronic surveillance in foreign intelligence cases and then direct the agencies to apply for a warrant.”
Finally this brand spanking new legislation would work thusly. “In applying for a warrant, the government would have to demonstrate “probable cause” for the surveillance under one of two standards; a criminal standard alleging that the target is engaging in espionage, sabotage or terrorism that is a violation of U.S. law, or a lesser standard alleging that the target is involved in clandestine activities likely to harm the security of the United States. The second of these standards is likely to draw fire from civil liberties forces on the grounds that it would not prevent eavesdropping on the conversations of persons who have committed no crimes. Again, putting adversaries first and always!
Remember as the world mourns Ted that these are but a few examples of his wrong headed approach to national security.