Nexus - 0702 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Gunderson has written his own summary of the facts in The was also framed to conceal ClA/military drug trafficking. Tyree Doctor Jeffrey R. MacDonald Investigation (contact Gunderson says that, as early as 1975, drugs were flown into Panama and International, PO Box 18000-259, Las Vegas, NV 89114, USA). were subsequently shipped to Mena, Arkansas—a state described Evidence, such as fingerprints, was intentionally destroyed by as the CIA's own "banana republic” inside the United States. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division). Other evidence, According to Rodney Stich, author of Defrauding America, the like a bloody syringe, bloody clothing and boots, was lost. More CIA utilised the Army Intelligence Agency in Operation crucial evidence was never collected. Then allegations of FBI Watchtower which began in the mid-1970s. US Colonel A. J. Crime Lab corruption surfaced through FBI whistleblower Baker was ordered to oversee part of Watchtower, and turned the Frederick Whitehurst. operation over to Colonel Edward P. Cutolo who also commanded Michael P. Malone, an FBI forensic specialist who testified in the 10th Special Forces based at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. the MacDonald case, was exposed by the Inspector-General's ",..Cutolo, who had been ordered by the CIA to supervise report. "Mr Malone has indeed testified falsely and outside his Operation Watchtower, grew increasingly concerned about its fla- expertise,” reported the Wall Street Journal grant illegality, and conducted an investiga- of April 16, 1997. "In 1987 and 1988, tion in an attempt to bring it to a halt," Florida appellate courts overturned guilty writes Stich. "Fearing he might be killed verdicts—citing insufficient evidence—in because of the investigation, he prepared a cases in which Mr Malone had testified for fifteen-page, single-spaced affidavit dated the prosecution," the article continues. Cutolo, who had been March 11, 1980, describing the CIA drug In addition, an internal FBI memo writ- . trafficking and other activities... Cutolo ten in 1989 alleged that Mr Malone had ordered by the CIA to supervise | was killed, as were several other people given 27 instances of false or misleading Operation Watchtower, grew | working with him to expose the drug traf- testimony in the 1985 proceedings that led increasingly concerned about ficking operations... to the impeachment and ouster of former "The affidavit described the installation US District Judge Alcee L. Hastings. its flagrant illegality, and and operation of the radio beacon towers Was it just sloppy work or outright conducted an investigation [to guide airplanes bringing in drugs] and fraud? The evidence shows that FBI Crime in an attempt to bring it several of the drug flights in which he par- Lab work cannot be trusted. In ticipated." to a halt... MacDonald's case, Malone's testimony alone should have been grounds for a mistrial. In Psychic Dictatorship in the USA (Feral House, 1995), author Alex Relevant to the Tyree case itself: "The Cutolo affidavit described the killing of an Army servicewoman, Elaine Tyree, who had knowledge of Operation Watchtower which she "Cutolo was killed, as were Constantine also weighs in on the several other people working described in her diary. To shift atten- MacDonald case. "Fatal Vision is a with him to expose tion from the actual killer and his the drug trafficking political hit piece," he writes. "The connection to the ongoing drug oper- paperback indictment of MacDonald . " ation, the military charged Tyree's has reinforced the public perception operations... husband with the killing," Stich of MacDonald's guilt, and kept dor- writes. mant one of the most unconscionable This affidavit stated: "It was too scandals in American military history. risky to allow a military court to "Three suspects in the murders review the charges against Pvt have confessed. MacDonald's version Tyree..." of events has been confirmed by some "At the first military hearing, the 40 witnesses... Fatal Vision is presiding judge found no reason to myopic in its exclusion of any evidence that might clear bind Pvt Tyree's husband over for trial for the murder of his wife," MacDonald. McGinniss's claim to impartiality eroded completely continues Stich. "This decision risked further investigation and in his flat refusal in 1980 to even look at the 1200-page report possible exposure of the corrupt operation. Army pressure caused compiled by MacDonald's defense attorneys. The report, taken the county prosecutor to indict the husband for murdering his together with the sworn depositions of witnesses, press accounts wife, even though the Army knew the actual killer was someone and interviews with investigators, combines in a case sharply at else. The Cutolo affidavit stated: odds with the government's. ‘On 29 February 1980, Pvt Tyree was convicted of murder and "MacDonald passed a polygraph," writes Constantine. "He will spend the duration of his life incarcerated. I could not dis- submitted to five independent forensic examinations. The gov- seminate intelligence gathered under Operation Orwell [a surveil- ernment's own lab specimens link Fort Bragg's body-bag [drug- lance operation directed against US politicians] to notify civilian smuggling] ring to the crime scene, including a long, synthetic authorities [of] who actually killed Elaine Tyree." blonde strand corroborating MacDonald's contention that Murder at Fort Devens featured Judge James Killam, who ini- Stoeckley wore a blonde wig the night of the murders. A bloody tially dismissed the case against Tyree, saying: "I didn't believe a syringe found in his home was 'lost' by the prosecution." word the prosecution's chief witness said. He had the skills to do a decapitation." The judge was referring to Green Beret Earl lhe case of William Tyree is just as complex, convoluted and Michael Peters, who was present when the murder was commit- byzantine. Tyree was in the Army Special Forces and also ted. Forensic evidence and witness testimony show that Tyree convicted of his wife's murder. An Arts & Entertainment channel __ was not present, and that Peters was probably the real killer. documentary, Murder at Fort Devens, revealed evidence that he The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Bill Tyree by his attorney, Ray "Cutolo was killed, as were several other people working with him to expose the drug trafficking operations..." lhe case of William Tyree is just as complex, convoluted and byzantine. Tyree was in the Army Special Forces and also convicted of his wife's murder. An Arts & Entertainment channel documentary, Murder at Fort Devens, revealed evidence that he 38 = NEXUS FEBRUARY — MARCH 2000