Former FBI Tells Of Dispute

Correction: Former FBI tells of dispute

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism...5-032233-9387r

11/15/2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds, in an interview with Turkey's Vatan newspaper, discussed further details of her dispute with the investigative agency.

The dispute, involving alleged infiltration of the U.S. government by Turks with possible terrorist connections, led to her dismissal.

According to a report on balkanalysis.com, Edmonds began working for the FBI shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, translating top-secret suspected terrorist documents, but was fired in the spring of 2002 after reporting her concerns about alleged sabotage, intimidation, corruption and incompetence.

In October 2002, Edmonds appeared on "60 Minutes" on CBS television and charged that Turks suspected of ties to terrorism had infiltrated the FBI, State Department and Department of Defense. On Oct. 18, 2002, following a request from FBI Director Robert Mueller, Attorney General John Ashcroft imposed a gag order on Edmonds, citing possible damage to diplomatic relations or national security.

In her Vatan interview, Edmonds asserted that, "the criminal activities which I complained about were also threatening the Turkish people's interest and Turkish national security."

Edmonds was specifically referring to a Turkish-born, former FBI colleague, Melek Can Dickerson, who was married to Air Force Maj. Douglas Dickerson. Edmonds claimed that the duo had threatened her after failing to recruit her into an international criminal ring that had infiltrated U.S. security organizations.

Edmonds added that the pair deliberately obstructed FBI investigations into Turks suspected of involvement in what Edmonds labeled a "semi-legitimate" organization. According to Edmonds, the group was involved in arms and drug smuggling and relied on a complex web of governmental and private figures in several countries.

"... Both of them (the Dickersons) were committing crime against the U.S., against the U.S. military and U.S. intelligence secrets," she said. "We can describe these activities as clearing of black money, smuggling drugs, weapons and nuclear material and seizing information.

"... We are talking about millions of dollars here."

Edmonds also claimed that the "semi-legitimate" organization's operations were compromising Turkey, noting, "I like Turkey very much. ...The Turkish government absolutely must investigate the people who I have complained about."