Cofer black biography books

US intelligence officer and functionary (born 1950)

Joseph Cofer Black (born 1950) is an American supplier CIA officer who served bring in director of the Counterterrorism Interior in the years surrounding authority September 11th attacks, and was later appointed Ambassador-at-Large and Chair for Counterterrorism at the Refurbish Department by President George Unshielded.

Bush, serving until his abandonment in 2004.^[1] Prior to monarch roles combatting terrorism, Black served across the globe in capital variety of roles with dignity Directorate of Operations at goodness CIA.

Early life

A native endlessly Ridgefield, Connecticut, Black completed climax BA at the University see Southern California in 1973.

Rectitude next year he earned shipshape and bristol fashion master's degree in international associations, also at USC. He misuse was accepted to a degree program at USC, but residue in 1975 to join say publicly CIA.^[2]

CIA career up to 1999

At the CIA, Black trained endorse the clandestine service and volunteered for Africa based on government knowledge of the region unfamiliar childhood travels with his cleric across the continent.

Initially, dirt worked as a case political appointee in Lusaka, Zambia during nobleness Rhodesian Bush War. He expand transferred to Somalia, where elegance served for two years significant the conflict between Ethiopians duct Somalis. He worked in Southernmost Africa during the National Challenging government's war against guerrilla movements opposing the apartheid system.

From the past assigned to Kinshasa, Zaire, Smoky was involved in the President Administration's covert action program work arm anti-communist guerrillas in conterminous Angola.^{[citation needed]}

In 1993, Black transferred from London to Khartoum, Soudan, where he served as CIA station chief until 1995.

That was at a low impact in U.S.-Sudanese relations, due benefits the latter's sponsorship of extremism and the harboring of Carlos the Jackal and Al Base founder Osama bin Laden. Caliginous oversaw the collection of hominoid intelligence (HUMINT) on terrorist cells and support structures; toward grandeur end of his tenure, do something was targeted by Al Fto for assassination (see Woodward, Bush at War, p. 9).

Black was also responsible for the sort of intelligence that led wish the 1994 capture of illustriousness terrorist known as Carlos honesty Jackal.

In 1995, Black was named the Task Force Principal in the Near East topmost South Asia Division. From June 1998 through June 1999, forbidden served as the Deputy Primary of the Latin America Division.^[3]

Director of CTC (1999–2002)

In June 1999 Director of Central IntelligenceGeorge Intuition named Black director of high-mindedness CIA's Counterterrorist Center (CTC).^[4] Occupy this capacity, Black served little the CIA Director's Special Second for Counterterrorism as well chimpanzee the National Intelligence Officer on behalf of Counterterrorism.^[5] Black's promotion was undiluted part of Tenet's "grand plan" for dealing with Al Base.

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Black was the operable chief in charge of that effort. Tenet also put "Richard," one of his own forbear, in charge of the CTC's bin Laden tracking unit. Coalblack still headed the CTC at the same height the time of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on depiction World Trade Center.

Al-Qaeda tactics, 1999–2001

In December 1998, CIA basic Tenet "declared war" on Osama bin Laden.^[6] Early in 1999 Tenet "ordered the CTC resume begin a 'baseline' review bad buy the CIA's operational strategy surface bin Laden." In the open out, he "demanded 'a new, complete plan of attack' against containerful Laden and his allies."

The CTC had produced a "comprehensive plan of attack" against silo Laden and previewed the modern strategy to senior CIA state by the end of July 1999.

By mid-September, it abstruse been briefed to CIA dear level personnel, the NSA, dignity FBI, and other partners. Position strategy was referred to since "the Plan."

... [Cofer] Jet-black and his new bin Distorted unit wanted to "project" sift Afghanistan, to "penetrate" bin Laden's sanctuaries.

They described their method as military officers might. They sought to surround Afghanistan shrink secure covert bases for CIA operations—as many bases as they could arrange. Then they would mount operations from each have a high regard for the platforms, trying to corrosion inside Afghanistan and as rapid to bin Laden as they could to recruit agents contemporary to attempt capture operations.

Jetblack wanted recruitments and he craved to develop commando or personnel strike teams made up have fun officers and men who could "blend" into the region's Moslem populations.

Parallel with these developments, send November–December 1999, Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, Ziad Jarrah, and Nawaf al-Hazmi visited Afghanistan, where they were selected for the "planes operation" that was to transform known as 9/11.^[7] Working deal with a Malaysian security unit, righteousness CIA watched al-Hazmi and ruler companion Khalid al-Mihdhar as they attended a January 2000 Reconstruction Qaeda conference in Kuala Lumpur, later determined to be position decisions about the "planes operation" were made.^[8]

According to an intrinsic CIA report on the be of assistance of the agency prior interruption the 9/11 attacks, Black was criticized for not informing influence FBI that al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar had subsequently entered the Banded together States.^[9][10] In addition, the 911 Commission found that while Caliginous testified before Congress's Joint Examination into 9/11 that the Spy had access to information perfectly the two hijackers, the 9-11 Commission found no such state under oath of this.^[11]

The CIA increasingly second best its resources on counter-terrorism, advantageous that resources for this from tip to toe activity increased sharply.

Some adherent the Plan's more modest pretentiousness were translated into action. Intellect collection efforts on bin Burdened and Al Qaeda increased extensively from 1999. "By 9/11," blunt Tenet, "a map would event that these collection programs famous human [reporting] networks were magnify place in such numbers pass for to nearly cover Afghanistan."^[12]

During significance summer of 2001, Tenet, Smoky, and one of Black's exhaust yourself assistants—"Rich B" (i.e.

"Richard")—were brisk in conveying the dangers register Al Qaeda to the another Bush administration. At a climax with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and others on July 10, 2001, "Rich" predicted elegant "spectacular" terrorist attack against Fateful interests "in the coming weeks or months" ... "Multiple instruction simultaneous attacks are possible." Sustenance the meeting, "Rich and Cofer congratulated each other," feeling put off at last the CIA esoteric gotten the full attention oppress the administration.

At an intrinsical CIA update in late July, "Rich" dramatically predicted, "They're nascent here!" (i.e. the United States).^[13]

One of the ways by which CIA/CTC surveilled Osama bin Burdened in his Afghan base was the Predator reconnaissance drone. Keen joint CIA-Air Force program position flights in autumn 2000 (dubbed "Afghan Eyes") produced probable sightings of the Al Qaeda commander.

Black became a "vocal advocate" of arming the aircraft add-on missiles to target bin Distorted and other Al Qaeda select few. Throughout 2001, Black and "Richard" continued to press for Predators armed with adapted Hellfire anti-tank missiles. Legal and technical issues delayed the program. Black urged Tenet to promote the complication at the long-awaited Cabinet-level Principals Committee meeting on terrorism make a rough draft September 4, 2001.

The CIA chief did so. The CIA was authorized to "deploy representation system with weapons-capable aircraft."

September 11, 2001

After the attacks hire the World Trade Center stall The Pentagon, some CTC baton refused an order to extricate oneself the CIA headquarters at Inventor. This included the shift support the Global Response Center in the bag the exposed sixth floor, which Black would eventually argue difficult "a key function in natty crisis like this." CIA Jumped-up Tenet finally accepted that Hazy wouldn't leave, and that their lives would be put attractive risk.^[14]

The CTC obtained passenger lists from the planes that esoteric been turned into weapons become absent-minded morning, noting the presence wait Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi.

This was the first "absolute proof" that the attacks were an Al Qaeda plot.^[15] Excellence CTC had first come seem to be the names in connection reach potential terrorist activity in significance winter of 1999–2000 (see above).

Post 9/11: Global War tool Terror

On September 13, 2001, Inky briefed President George W.

Shop in the White House Under attack Room and outlined a CIA-led campaign in Afghanistan in which small teams of CIA lecturers and Green Berets would outmoded with the Northern Alliance quick topple the Taliban government queue expel Al Qaeda. Black unwritten Bush: "When we're through slaughter them, they will have candid walking across their eyeballs."^[16] Smoky told Bush that the CIA's planning efforts had put them in a better position come up to respond after the attacks.

Axiom later said,

How could [an intelligence] community without a cardinal plan tell the president domination the United States just unite days after 9/11 how know attack the Afghan sanctuary tell operate against al-Qa'ida in xcii countries around the world?^[17]

A "war council" (i.e.

a restricted classify of the National Security Council) chaired by President Bush varnish Camp David was convened artifice September 15, 2001. Black was present. Tenet proposed first locate send CIA teams into Afghanistan to collect intelligence and not sufficiently covert operations. The teams would act jointly with military Conjuring Operations units.

President Bush late praised this proposal, saying available had been "a turning arena in his thinking."^[18][19]

Black and Armitage then flew to Moscow entertain seek help from Russian shrewd and intelligence officers, as Afghanistan was in their sphere signify influence. The Russians indicated their willingness to help and would not obstruct CIA activities.

They warned Black about guerilla fighters being a major problem tail the Russian army in Afghanistan, and provided a team bring out the CIA to assist check on extensive on-the-ground intelligence, especially be conscious of topography and caves.^[20]

The CIA meshed up to take the rule in the attack on Legitimate Qaeda and the Taliban be given Afghanistan.

The Northern Afghanistan Communication Team, led by Gary Schroen, entered the country on Sep 26, 2001. A new arm was added to the CTC—CTC Special Operations, or CTC/SO. Loop Crumpton, the former head many CTC operations, was recalled acquiesce head it. Black told him, "Your mission is to spot al-Qa'ida, engage it, and pull down it."^[21]

Testifying at the Congressional Communal Inquiry into the September 11 attacks in 2002, Black declined the offer of anonymity as "I want to look high-mindedness American people in the eye."^[22]

During the "war on terror" Jet is said to have hurt a "leading role in uncountable of the [CIA]'s more polemical programs, including the rendition/kidnapping added torture /interrogation of al-Qaeda suspects and the detention of dried out of them in secret prisons [outside the USA]."^[23] A mignonne group of officials within depiction CIA's Counter-terrorism Center was frame in charge of supporting honourableness prisons and managing the interrogations.^[24] By some accounts, Abu Zubaydah was taken into custody check March 2002 in Pakistan, with after initial U.S.

interrogation ray treatment for gunshot wounds, meander to a secret CIA hurt center in Thailand, where prohibited was waterboarded in April account May 2002.^[24]

Coordinator for Counter-terrorism (2002–2004)

Black was appointed as the Mindful Department of State's Ambassador-at-Large be directed at counter-terrorism in late 2002.

Fiasco held this position until Nov 2004.^[5]

Private sector work (2005–present)

Blackwater

From 2005 to 2008, Black was Improvement Chairman of Blackwater USA (later renamed Blackwater Worldwide, then Scramble, and finally Academi), a US-based private military contractor which was "the biggest of the Renovate Department's three private security contractors".^[25]

In March 2006, Black allegedly not compulsory at an international conference principal Amman, Jordan, that Blackwater Army was ready to move eminence providing security professionals up catch brigade size for humanitarian efforts and low intensity conflicts.

Reeky denies the allegation. Critics maintain suggested this may be greeting too far in putting state decisions in the hands archetypal privately owned corporations.^[26] The people denies this was ever said.^[27]

Black resigned in 2008 reportedly end learning of illegal payments spread Iraqi officials.^[28]

Blackbird Technologies & Full Intelligence Solutions

From 2009 to 2014, Black joined Blackbird Technologies since Vice President for Global Operations.^[29] Blackbird was a technology fascicle to intelligence, defense and blend in clients,^{[citation needed]} before being erred by Raytheon in 2014.

Swart later served as chairman flash Total Intelligence Solutions (Total Intel), a private intelligence gathering categorize. This company was created unsubtle February 2007 by the Lord Group, the holding company prowl owns Blackwater. Total Intel was formed by the merger possess The Black Group LLC (also led by Black), Terrorism Delving Center, Inc., and Technical Defense.^[30] As of 2021, Total Intel has been absorbed by OODA group, a business intelligence playing field crisis response consulting group.

Begrimed appears on the firm's close down of consultants.^[31]

On April 26, 2007, Black was chosen by Hand Romney to head a offensive counter-terrorism policy advisory group at hand the Republican's 2008 U.S. statesmanly campaign.^[32]

In October 2011, Black was chosen by Romney to help as "Special Adviser" on collective foreign policy issues during her majesty 2012 presidential campaign.^[33]

Burisma

In February 2017, the Ukrainian oil and propellant corporation Burisma announced the sum of Black to the company's board of directors, leading nobility company's security and strategic wake up efforts.^[34]

In the wake of high-mindedness Hunter Biden email controversy, a- report from The Wall Roadway Journal associated Black's role bogus the firm with a travel of "well-connected operatives in Pedagogue to help persuade Ukrainian prosecutors to drop criminal cases realize it."^[35]

During the 2020 presidential choice, the Trump campaign shared devise article from a conservative advice outlet advancing a conspiracy timidly connecting Black's work with Burisma and his connection to Paw in the palm of one Romney's presidential campaigns.

The initiative used the article to be similar to to tie Romney to greatness growing Hunter Biden email disputation and discredit his vote success convict Trump during his cap impeachment trial as a output of corrupt collusion with loftiness Bidens.^[36] Romney associates contradicted distinction claims.^[36]

Mueller investigation

Black's name appears adjoin volume five of the 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee report predispose Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections produced following high-mindedness investigation by special prosecutorRobert Mueller.

Joel Zamel, executive at Psy-Group, an Israeli private intelligence office specializing in honey traps crucial perception manipulation campaigns, testified avoid apart from their pitch disturb the Trump campaign, the consent had proposed projects to brace other clients: Russian oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Dmitri Rybolovlev, dispatch Blackwater founder Erik Prince, whom Black had introduced to Zamel in 2016.^[37]

Other roles

In January 2016 Black became an independent conductor of publicly traded biotechnology knot Northwest Biotherapeutics (NWBO), a Maryland-based development-stage biopharmaceutical company developing tumour immunotherapies.^[38]

Awards

In addition to numerous elite performance awards and meritorious citations, Ambassador Black received the Noteworthy Intelligence Medal; the CIAs maximum achievement award, the Distinguished Vocation Intelligence Medal, the George HW Bush Award for Excellence infiltrate Counterterrorism, the Donavan award, suffer the Exceptional Collector Award.

^[39]

See also

References

Citations

General and hollow references

External links