John L. Helgerson

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John L. Helgerson is a long-time official of the United States' most senior intelligence agency, the CIA.[1][2][3] Helgerson was the CIA Inspector General from 2002-2009.[4] Helgerson is a graduate of Saint Olaf College. His Masters and PhD are from Duke University in Political Science.

Before joining the CIA Helgerson was a research associate at the University of Zambia and a Professor at the University of Cincinnati.

Helgerson's tenure since he joined the CIA, in 1971, has been on the research-analytical side, rather than the operational side. His most recent post was Inspector General.

Helgerson drafted a critical review of former director George Tenet's tenure, delivered to the United States Congress in September 2005, that recommended "punitive sanctions".[5][6]

In December 2005 press reports quoting unnamed CIA sources state that Helgerson is investigating "erroneous extraordinary renditions" -- that is the extrajudicial kidnapping, for the purpose of extreme interrogation, of suspected enemies, like Maher Arar and Khalid El-Masri, who turned out to be completely innocent.[7][8][9]

In October 2007 it was reported that CIA director Michael Hayden had launched an inquiry into Helgerson's conduct as Inspector General of the CIA.[10]

In 2009, a report John Helgerson had written on CIA interrogations was ordered released by a US judge. That reported described, and strongly criticized the use of harsh interrogation techniques against detainees.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Tenet Names Chairman of the National Intelligence Council; Other Senior Intelligence Posts Announced". CIA. 2001-08-03. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  2. ^ Tenet, George (2002-02-28). "Statement By Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet on the Nomination of John L. Helgerson as CIA Inspector General". CIA. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  3. ^ "CIA Briefings of Presidential Candidates: John L. Helgerson". CIA. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  4. ^ Panetta, Leon (2009-02-18). "Message from the Director: Inspector General’s Retirement". Retrieved 2009-08-25. 
  5. ^ Fickling, David (2005-08-26). "Tenet could face 9/11 reprimand". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-10-10. 
  6. ^ "CIA panel: 9/11 failure warrants action". China Daily. 2005-08-26. Retrieved 2007-10-10. 
  7. ^ Dana Priest (December 4, 2005). "Wrongful Imprisonment: Anatomy of a CIA Mistake: German Citizen Released After Months in 'Rendition'". Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  8. ^ "CIA probes renditions of terror suspects". China Daily. December 20, 2005. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  9. ^ Brendan Coyne (December 28, 2005). "CIA Self-investigation Only Known Renditions Inquiry". The NewStandard. Retrieved 2007-04-27. 
  10. ^ Mark Mazzetti, Scott Shane (October 12, 2007). "C.I.A. Internal Inquiry Troubling, Lawmakers Say". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  11. ^ Tom Reid (August 26, 2009). "Ex-CIA official John Helgerson says agents lost control after torture go-ahead". Times. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 

[edit] Bibliography


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