Jonathan Idema

Jonathan Keith "Jack" Idema (born 1957 in Poughkeepsie, New York) is an American self-proclaimed vigilante and independent security contractor who is currently serving a sentence in the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Afghanistan for crimes committed there. For several years, Idema represented himself to the American and international media, members of the military, and Afghani nationals as a U.S. government-sponsored special forces operative. The validity of Idema's assertions, however, is in dispute, with the U.S. government denying his claims. Some of his more vociferous critics, including those formerly associated with him during his controversial activities in Afghanistan, believe that his behavior indicates that Idema is either a con artist, delusional, or both. Others accept the veracity of his claims, believing that he is being unjustly punished for actions condoned, if not officially sanctioned, by the U.S. military.

Idema is known to be litigious and has filed numerous law suits, or has threated legal action against his detractors. Perhaps his most bold legal action was when he sued Steven Spielberg over the 1997 film The Peacemaker.). Idema charged that the Special Forces operative played by George Clooney was modeled on him. A judge dismissed Idema's claim and ordered him to pay US$267,079 in attorney fees.).

Military service

There is some controversy surrounding Idema's military career, specifically his experience as a Green Beret and a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. Officially, Idema's military career was short-lived and fairly unexemplary. Army records note that Idema served three years on active duty where he trained and qualified for Special Forces in 1977, then switched to reserve status where he remained until he exited the military in 1984.

Despite having twice failed to qualify for the Special Forces, initially as a communications specialist, Idema was readmitted (recycled) a third time in 1977 and trained as a weapons specialist. It is believed that Idema's father, a former U.S. Marine and World War II veteran, used congressional influence to pressure the Army to reinstate him. Idema was assigned as a reservist for the 11th Special Forces Group, and in 1981 re-enlisted in the Individual Ready Reserve.

His evaluations indicate that his performance while in the Army was at best average, and one superior officer, Capt. John D. Carlson stated that Idema "is without a doubt the most unmotivated, unprofessional, immature enlisted man I have ever known."

There is no record of Idema acquiring any combat service.

According to a site supportive of Idema, in addition to Special Forces training, Idema also completed military scuba and airborne training. The blog contains many low resolution pictures of certificates and pictures that it claims are evidence of Idema's training and special forces experience. While the scuba training remains unverified, the airborne training is likely true since every Special Forces soldier is airborne-qualified.

Lithuania and nuclear weapons smuggling

Idema was contracted to train police forces in the former Soviet republic of Lithuania. In 1993 Idema claimed to have learned about a Russian Mafia plot to smuggle nuclear material out of the country. He briefed contacts at the Pentagon and the FBI about the conspiracy, but refused to provide them with the names of his sources. According to Idema's supporters, he refused to reveal his sources because the FBI was infiltrated by KGB agents that would have killed Idema's sources if he revealed them. These supporters also claim that the wire fraud charges that resulted in Idema spending 4 years in federal prison were fabricated by Earl Edwin Pitts who they say supervised the case.)

Domestic activities

Idema was active in paintball in the late 80s and early 90s. During the 1990s, Idema owned and operated a paintball supply store in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which he gradually turned into a paramilitary equipment store. Paintball vests with the name "Idema Combat Systems" were produced. Around this time Idema founded CounTerr-Group in Fayettville, a consultancy which supposedly specialized in expert training for counter-terrorism, assault tactics and other security-related services. Idema was able to parlay this background into becoming a consultant to the media on counter-terrorism issues.

In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Idema has acquired a substantial criminal record. Over the years Idema has been charged with impersonating an officer, conspiracy, passing bad checks, assault, possession of stolen property, and discharging a firearm into a dwelling. In January 1994, Idema was arrested and charged with defrauding 58 companies of about $260,000. The fraud charges, for which Idema served three years in prison, revolved mostly around Idema's fund-raising activities for his paintball store. He served three years in prison for these charges.

Activities in Afghanistan

According to Gary Scurka, a reporter for CBS, Idema called him a few weeks after the terror attacks and announced he was going to Afghanistan to do humanitarian-aid work. Idema was intending to work with Knightsbridge International and the Partners International Foundation, two aid groups run by former military personnel.

In Afghanistan, Idema was known for wearing a kaffiyeh and prescription sunglasses. He led a group he called "Task Force Sabre 7" which contained two other Americans and several Afghanis. Idema frequently interacted with reporters from American media, often going to great lengths in his interviews to stress to journalists his connections with the CIA and Special Forces, without being able to elaborate further. Some supporters suggest that he was a former member of Black Ops, reactivated and positioned in Afghanistan to hunt for Osama Bin Laden under operation Alec Station. Any relationship to the Northern Alliance was denied by their official representative in the United States.

Some critics of Idema claim that his attempts to create a high profile with the media make it unlikely that Idema was officially connected with any branch of the military; covert operatives go to great lengths to avoid public appearances and media, and are barred from unauthorized contact. Idema was operating in Afghanistan with independent financial backing, most likely seeking the US$25 million bounty posted bin Laden based on his time spent in Tora Bora; though not part of the team which found Laden in 1991 or 1994.

It has been recorded that Idema did frequently contact the Defense Department through General William G. Boykin, and that the intelligence was duly acknowledged. However all of those contacts were outside the US Military operating channels and were all one-sided calls. While the US government was aware of Idema's activities in Afghanistan, they stated there was no relationship between them.

The United States Central Command stated that Coalition forces received one detainee from Idema on May 3, 2004. Idema claimed that the individual was associated with the Taliban. Once in US custody, however, the detainee was determined not to be who Idema claimed, and was released in the first week of July.

He allegedly captured several hours of al-Qaeda training videotape in Afghanistan in 2001 and sold it to Dan Rather at CBS for US$50,000. He also allegedly attempted to sell interrogation tapes and still photographs to other media outlets. The media has been criticized for distributing untrustworthy material because of Idema's fradulent domestic history, and dubious activity in Afghanistan. On July 4, 2004 the United States Central Command released a media advisory that read:

U.S. citizen Jonathan K. Idema has allegedly represented himself as an American government and/or military official. The public should be aware that Idema does not represent the American government and we do not employ him.

In perhaps the most terse assessment of Idema's alleged involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom, Billy Waugh, senior CIA covert operative and decorated former Green Beret who was a member of the Agency team in-country said, "We only had 80 guys involved in our [Afghanistan] operations and Idema wasn't one of them."

Arrest, trial and sentencing

Idema and his associates Brent Bennett and Edward Caraballo were arrested on 5 July 2004 by Afghan police during a raid in which they found eight Afghani men (some hanging from their feet) bound and hooded in detention. The arrest of Idema occurred only about three months after 60 Minutes II broke the story about the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal. Idema claimed to have had private contact with US Pentagon claiming he was in phone, fax, and email contact with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's office; Lieutenant General Boykin and several other senior Pentagon officials. He claimed his group had prevented assassination attempts on Education Minister Yunus Qanooni and Defense Minister Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim. He also claimed the FBI interrogated several militants captured by his group. Idema also stated that after his arrest, the FBI removed from his premises hundreds of videos, photos and documents. Some of the pieces were later returned to Idema and his defense team. One of the videotapes shows Afghanistan's former education minister Yunus Qanooni thanking Idema for the arrest of two people, and offering his full cooperation in future raids. The US military received a detainee from Idema, although he was later released.

The Defense Department admitted having contact with Idema, but added his offer to work together in capturing terror suspects in Afghanistan was declined. In early 2004, Idema was in contact with Heather Anderson, the Pentagon's Acting Director of Security. Anderson was under the supervision of the chief official responsible for intelligence matters in Donald Rumsfeld's office. Idema told the Afghan court that Anderson commended his work and suggested making a contract, although she later withdrew the offer. Idema continued to contact Anderson's office in hopes of establishing a relationship. Bringing out this information is a blatant violation of the NSA security protocol.

Idema, Edward Caraballo and Brent Bennett were charged with enterning the country illegally, running a private prison, and torture. Idema's American attorney was John Tiffany. During the trial, Idema charged that he, Carabalo, and Bennett were being beaten while in Afghan custody, however, US authorities, stated the men were being treated humanely.

On 15 September 2004, a three-judge Afghan panel headed by Judge Abdul Baset Bakhtyari sentenced both Idema and Bennett to a ten year prison term, while Caraballo received eight years. Idema and Bennett's sentences were later cut to five and three respectively. Caraballo claimed he was filming Idema and Bennett for a documentary on counterterrorism. Four Afghanis working with Idema were sentenced to between one and five years imprisonment.

Caraballo was later pardoned by President Hamid Karzai and later returned to the United States. Bennett was freed early for good behavior on September 30, 2006.

Relationship with the media

Prior to his incarceration, Idema was able to secure media apperances and other attention from news outlets. He has been interviewed as a counter-terrorism expert and his videos have been broadcast on international television networks. Because of Idema's questionable history, the news media has been criticized for its willingness to distribute Idema's information. Below is a summary of widely distributed information from him.

Lithuania

• It was while awaiting sentencing for fraud charges that Idema agreed to provide information to CBS about nuclear material being smuggled out of Russia. Gary Scurka produced a 60 Minutes piece in 1996 called "The Worst Nightmare" based, in part, on information Idema had provided.
  • The 60 Minutes report and US News and World Report story based off of the same information recieved the Renner Award.
  • CBS decided not to include any references to Idema in the broadcast, this resulted in Idema receiving little credit for any information he provided. Scurka maintains that Idema played a very important part in the investigation, whereas, Edwards(a CBS spokesperson) claims that the story took 6 months to investigate and ended up being very different from Idema's initial story.
  • Because of lack of credit given to Idema, Scurka and Edward Caraballo started work on a film called Any Lesser Man, "the Real story of one lone Green Beret's private war against KGB Nuclear Smuggling, Soviet spies, Arab terrorists, and the FBI" it was never completed.

Colonel George Marecek

• Idema and Gary Scurka worked together as consultants for the 48 hours story about a highly decorated special forces operative accused of murdering his wife. The two were fired from the project because they were determined to be taking an advocacy role for the defense. They opened a "Free Marecek" office in the town where the trial was taking place. In December 2000, 48 Hours ran the story on Marecek which included material from Idema, and Scurka's research.
  • Idema took a leading part in the formation of Point Blank News (PBN) to support George Marecek.
  • At his first trial he was found guilty, his appeal was accepted and he was retried. He was also found guilty during the retrial, but he appealed a second time and was given one more chance. At his final trial he was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison, but because of good behavior he spent less than five years in prison and was released in 2003.

September 11th

• The day after the September 11th attacks Idema was broadcast by KTTV, Los Angeles's Fox affiliate, as an expert in counterterrorism. Idema said that three Canadian jetliners might have been hijacked, along with four US planes.

Afghanistan

• Sold tapes to many publishers that he claimed showed an Al Qaeda training camp in action. The tapes showed men in camoflauged tunics and ski masks storming buildings, practicing drive-by shootings, and attacking golf courses. CBS bought the right to broadcast the tapes before any other network, they were used in a 60 Minutes II episode called, "Heart of Darkness" in 2002. CBS presented Idema and the tapes he supplied as reliable.
  • Sold The Boston Globe, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, the BBC, and others rights to rebroadcast the Al Qaeda training camp footage with still pictures.
  • The authenticity of the several hours of tape is disputed. Some are critical of the tapes because Al Quaeda utilizes bombing and has not been known for tactics demonstrated in the videos. Because of Idema's lack of credibility, some outlets did not broadcast the tapes including NBC Nightly news, CNN. The men who were shown in the footage occasionally communicated in English, and laughed.

• Told news outlets about links between many Middle-Eastern countries and Al Qaeda.
  • Told MSNBC that the link between Iraq and Al Qaeda was “common knowledge” on the ground in Afghanistan.
  • Claimed in an interview with WNYC radio’s Leonard Lopate that “Iraq has been involved in supporting Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations with money, with equipment, with technology, with weapons of mass destruction.”
  • Told journalists that there was ample evidence linking “Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia to Al Qaeda and to the attacks on September 11.”
  • Claimed to have firsthand knowledge of nuclear weapons being smuggled from Russia to Iraq, Iran, and North Korea.

Media coverage

File:TFdagger cover.jpg

Cover of Robin Moore's now-discredited account of Task Force Dagger. Pictured is Idema (center) with two Afghan fighters.

• Robert Young Pelton, in his book about private security contractors, Licenced to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror (ISBN 1-4000-9781-9), devotes a chapter to Idema's exploits in Afghanistan, including his controversial involvement in Robin Moore's book Task Force Dagger: The Hunt for bin Laden.
• Mariah Blake, "Tin Soldier: An American Vigilante In Afghanistan, Using the Press for Profit and Glory," Columbia Journalism Review, January/February 2005.
• Stacy Sullivan, "Operation Desert Fraud: How Keith Idema marketed his imaginary Afghan war," New York Magazine, October 25, 2004.
• Peter Bergen's article published in Rolling Stone, "Jack Idema: Shadow Warrior," examines Idema's military career.
• Eric Campbell's book on reporting in war zones, Absuridstan (ISBN 0-7322-7980-1), has a few chapters on Idema.
• Barry Farber, "The Case Against Keith Idema, an article supportive of Idema's claims.
• Robin Moore's best selling book Task Force Dagger: The Hunt for bin Laden (ISBN 0-375-50861-9) included a picture of John Idema on the middle of the front cover. The book included material supportive of John Idema's actions in Afghanistan; Moore has since disavowed Idema's involvement and the book is no longer in print.
• Newsweek had a short section on Idema called "An Afghan Mystery" by John Barry and Owen Matthews in the July 26, 2004 edition.

External links

• Idema Super Patriots, Idema's website.
• Rogue Radio Live at Wide Awakes Radio (WARadio), a talk show on which Idema is a frequent guest.
• Cao's Blog, a site supportive of Idema, with coverage of his current situation.
• The Stupor Patriots, a blog highly critical of Idema, particularly of his claims to be a former special forces operator.
• Mediawatch from ABC, Australian ABC website with the transcript to an episode of "Mediawatch" it includes many images marked as "not for release" under the Links and Resources section of the site. This section also includes emails to Dan Rather. The transcript is from a television show which criticizes John Idema as being a fraudulent, it also criticizes the media for treating his information like it was credible.
• US Bounty Hunter Trial, General material about his actions and information about the Al Qaeda training videos he found. Describes the arrest and trial.
• CounTerr-Group, Website of company founded by Idema.
• "Jonathan Idema: Our Man in Kabul?, from crimelibrary.com.