The CIA, Afghanistan and assassination

How the killing of a CIA squad in Afghanistan led to deep divisions back home in America…

 

Tribal elders gather in Khost, Afghanistan © dvidshub

In 2009 seven CIA personnel were killed in a suicide bombing at Foward Operating Base Chapman, in Khost, Afghanistan. The bombing was carried out by Jordanian double-agent Humam Khalil al-Balawi, and one of those killed was base chief Jennifer Matthews.

  • It was revealed after the deaths that al-Balawi, an al-Qaeda agent who the CIA believed had ‘turned’, was allowed onto the base without being searched
  • In the years following the bombing Matthews’ family has spoken out as allegations surfaced that she failed to follow procedures for vetting informants, allowing al-Balawi to carry out the bombing
  • Her own uncle has been deeply critical of Matthews’ conduct, saying to her husband that “if Jenny followed tradecraft rules, this wouldn’t have happened…she wasn’t trained”
Jennifer Matthews’ uncle, Dave Matthews, on the failures that led to the bombing:
When you look at the history of this guy, he was flipped in a matter of days, which is ridiculous…Why wasn’t he checked in transit to the base?

Read more at The Washington Post