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{{Short description|American CIA officer}}
⚫
'''Gary Berntsen''' is a former [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) career officer who served in the [[National Clandestine Service|Directorate of Operations]] between October 1982 and June 2005. During his time at the CIA, he served as a CIA Station Chief on three separate occasions and led several of CIA’s most important counterterrorism deployments including the United States’ response to the East Africa Embassy bombings and the 9/11 attacks. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Intelligence Medal]] in 2000 and the [[Intelligence Star]] in 2004.
{{distinguish|Gary Berntson}}
{{Infobox spy|birth_date=July 23, 1957|allegiance={{flag|United States}}|agency=[[CIA]]|serviceyears=1982–2005|operation={{tree list}}
*[[United States invasion of Afghanistan|Invasion of Afghanistan]]
**[[Battle of Tora Bora]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}
⚫
'''Gary Berntsen''' (born July 23, 1957) is an American former [[Central Intelligence Agency]] career officer. During his time at the CIA, he served as a Station Chief on three occasions and led several counterterrorism deployments including the United States’ response to the East Africa Embassy bombings and the 9/11 attacks. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal in 2000 and the Intelligence Star in 2004.


He ran for the [[US Senate]] in 2010 for Chuck Schumer's seat, but lost the Republican primary to [[Jay Townsend]], who in turn lost the general election.
He later ran for the [[US Senate]] in 2010 for Chuck Schumer's seat, but lost the Republican primary to [[Jay Townsend]], who in turn lost the general election.

== History ==
⚫
Berntsen grew up in [[Smithtown, New York|Smithtown]], [[Long Island]], a suburb of [[New York City]]. When Berntsen was seventeen, he tried to join the [[United States Army]] but his parents would not sign the enlistment contract. He waited until his eighteenth birthday when he decided to enlist in the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]. Berntsen served for four years as a Crash Firefighter in the Air Force, including tours in [[Alaska]] and [[Korea]]. During his time in the [[United States Air Force]] he became obsessed with educating himself, which he did by reading biographies and enrolling in the Air Force's self-study program, acing several courses. Berntsen also spent much of his time in the gym or skydiving. After Berntsen's time as a firefighter he became a full-time college student where he majored in Political Science and minored in Russian Studies. He attended the U.S. Marine Corps [[Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)#Platoon Leaders Class|Platoon Leader Class]] for two summers. However, before he was commissioned in the Marine Corps, he was recruited into the CIA.<ref>Berntsen & Pezzullo 2005, p. 28-31</ref><!-- Citation is invalid, as it is a primary source. -->


== Early life and education ==
⚫
Berntsen grew up in [[Smithtown, New York|Smithtown]], [[Long Island]], a suburb of [[New York City]]. When he was seventeen he tried to enlist in the [[United States Army]], but his parents refused to sign the enlistment contract. He instead joined the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] after turning eighteen. During his Air Force enlistment, Berntsen served for four years as a Crash Firefighter, including tours in [[Alaska]] and [[South Korea]]. After completing his enlistment in the Air Force, he became a full-time college student, graduating from the [[University of New Mexico]] with a Bachelor of Arts in [[Political science|Political Science]] and a minor in Russian Studies. He attended the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] [[Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)#Platoon Leaders Class|Platoon Leader Class]] for two summers. However, before he was commissioned in the Marine Corps, he was recruited into the CIA, joining the organization in 1982.<ref>Berntsen & Pezzullo 2005, p. 28-31</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=FRONTLINE |date=2006-06-20 |title=the dark side |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/interviews/berntsen.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.pbs.org |language=en}}</ref>
== CIA career ==
== CIA career ==
In August 1998 Berntsen led the response team to the U.S. Embassy in [[Dar es Salaam]]. The subsequent investigation led to the capture of some 21 individuals involved with the planning and execution of the attacks.<ref name="indictment">[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011110104742/http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/pdfs/binladen/indict.pdf Copy of indictment] USA v. Osama bin Laden et al., Center for Nonproliferation Studies, [[Monterey Institute of International Studies]]</ref>
Berntsen started his career in the East Asian division and soon after transferred to the Middle East division a few days after the [[1983 United States embassy bombing in Beirut|1983 bombing]] of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.<ref name=":0" /> He ran a group in the newly created Counterterrorist Unit starting in 1986 where he recruited informants. After the end of the Cold War, Berntsen was stationed in [[Kathmandu]] where he monitored Islamic extremists. He and his team had captured multiple extremist groups from Pakistan who were attempting to smuggle weapons into India.<ref name=":0" /> In August 1998 Berntsen led the response team to the [[1998_United_States_embassy_bombings|bombing of the U.S. Embassy]] in [[Dar es Salaam]]. The subsequent investigation led to the capture of some 21 individuals involved with the planning and execution of the attacks.<ref name="indictment">[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011110104742/http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/pdfs/binladen/indict.pdf Copy of indictment] USA v. Osama bin Laden et al., Center for Nonproliferation Studies, [[Monterey Institute of International Studies]]</ref>


Berntsen went to Afghanistan in March 2000 as a part of a CIA team that planned on capturing a senior [[Al Qaeda]] leader. Berntsen writes that though leaders at the CIA, particularly [[Cofer Black]] and [[Henry A. Crumpton]] "had shown a willingness to plan and execute risky missions,"<ref>Berntsen & Pezullo, p. 43-64</ref> top US government leadership including President [[Bill Clinton]] and CIA Director [[George Tenet]] were unprepared to take the increased risks. It is recognized that the environment for covert CIA operations in areas of Central Asia significantly shifted after the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001 on New York City and Washington, D.C. The legitimacy for conducting such operations received widespread recognition and the actions carried out by CIA personnel after the attacks allowed for greater efficacy in targeting Al Qaeda personnel planning and conducting operations against US interests. Furthermore, Berntsen's mission was also undermined by a CIA station chief in a neighboring country, dubbed Lawrence, who contacted CIA Headquarters calling for the mission to be called off. The mission was never executed and the CIA's indecision would lead the Northern Alliance's leader [[Ahmad Shah Massoud]] to conclude that the US was "not serious"<ref>Miniter, p. 197-198</ref> about fighting the Taliban.
In 2000, Berntsen was recruited to serve on a mission to capture a key [[Al-Qaeda]] lieutenant. He was one of the two Persian speakers on the team which was flown into the [[Panjshir Valley]] by the [[Northern Alliance]]. Soon after they had arrived, there were reports that bin Laden had known of the presence of Americans in Afghanistan and was offering a bounty for their capture. The mission was cancelled and the team was recalled by CIA headquarters, a move that Berntsen was critical of.<ref name=":0" /> In his book [[Jawbreaker: The Attack on bin Laden and al-Qaeda|''Jawbreaker'']], Berntsen wrote that though leaders at the CIA, particularly [[Cofer Black]] and [[Henry A. Crumpton]], "had shown a willingness to plan and execute risky missions," top US government leadership including President [[Bill Clinton]] and CIA Director [[George Tenet]] were unprepared to take the increased risks.<ref>Berntsen & Pezullo, p. 43-64</ref> The mission was never executed and the CIA's indecision would lead the Northern Alliance's leader [[Ahmad Shah Massoud]] to conclude that the US was "not serious" about fighting the Taliban.<ref>Miniter, p. 197-198</ref>


Berntsen was serving in Latin America when the attacks on September 11 happened, after which he volunteered for the Counterterrorism Units response. He joined the Northern Alliance Liaison Team, codenamed Jawbreaker, and arrived in Afghanistan a few weeks after [[Gary Schroen]] had led the team into the Panjshir Valley.<ref name=":0" /> Together with [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Special Forces]] and Afghan militias opposed to the [[Taliban]] and Al-Qaeda, Berntsen lead the Jawbreaker team. In early November 2001, Berntsen and his team entered into Kabul to secure hostages after the Taliban and Al-Qaeda were [[Fall of Kabul (2001)|pushed out]]. They had also learned that bin Laden had retreated into the [[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar province]], near the border with Pakistan. Berntsen sent the Jawbreaker team scout the area, aided by a local Afghan warlord they had paid off, where they eventually tracked Al-Qaeda and bin Laden hiding out in the [[Tora Bora]] mountain range.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Sarah |date=2023-06-24 |title=CIA's Bin Laden hunter to reveal near miss raid |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cia-s-bin-laden-hunter-to-reveal-near-miss-raid-pjzrd7h5lqq |access-date=2023-06-24 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref name="indictment" /> Berntsen had begun calling in airstrikes on the cave complex, using [[Daisy cutter (fuse)|daisy cutter bombs]], and was later joined by the Northern Alliance and the Special Forces.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Malkasian |first=Carter |title=The American War in Afghanistan: A History (1st ed.). |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=June 15, 2021 |pages=76–77}}</ref>
In December 2001, Berntsen served as the Commander of all CIA forces in Eastern Afghanistan and led the agency’s Jawbreaker team in [[Tora Bora]].<ref name = Times>{{cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article555079.ece | title = CIA’s Bin Laden hunter to reveal near-miss raid | first = Sarah | last = Baxter | date = 2005-08-14 | work = Sunday Times | location=London}}</ref> With a new President and the United States rattled by 9/11, Berntsen returned to Afghanistan with significantly different instructions. On September 19, 2001, [[Cofer Black]], head of the CIA’s [[Counterterrorist Center]] told Berntsen, "You have one mission. Go find the al-Qaeda and kill them. We’re going to eliminate them. Get bin Laden, find him. I want his head in a box.… I want to take it down and show the president."<ref>{{cite web|title=CIA Led Way With Cash Handouts|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3105-2002Nov17.html|date=November 18, 2002|accessdate=November 23, 2016|website=''washingtonpost.com''}}</ref>


After the [[Battle of Tora Bora]] began on December 1, Berntsen had requested 800 [[United States Army Rangers|Army Rangers]] be sent to the back of the mountain range to block off an escape route, but General [[Tommy Franks]] denied this request.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bergen |first=Peter |title=The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2021 |pages=173–174}}</ref> On December 12, Al-Qaeda had called for a cease-fire with the Afghan militias in order to surrender their weapons, but which some, including Berntsen, saw as device to allow for Al-Qaeda leadership, including bin Laden, to escape. When he heard of the cease-fire, Berntsen responded by screaming into his phone "No cease-fire! No negotiation! We continue airstrikes!"<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bergen |first=Peter |date=2009-12-30 |title=The Account of How We Nearly Caught Osama bin Laden in 2001 |magazine=The New Republic |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/72086/the-battle-tora-bora |access-date=2023-06-24 |issn=0028-6583}}</ref> In early December, Berntsen was replaced as the CIA lead in Afghanistan, and sent back to his station in Latin America.<ref name=":0" /> He retired from the agency in June 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-28 |title=CIA Sued Over Bin Laden Book - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cia-sued-over-bin-laden-book/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
In his 2005 book, ''[[Jawbreaker: The attack on bin Laden and al-Qaeda|Jawbreaker]]'', he alleges that [[Osama bin Laden]] could have been captured at Tora Bora if the US military (specifically [[United States Central Command]]) had devoted more resources to the operation. This claim gained substantial traction due to a Senate Report on the circumstances of bin Laden's escape. According to both Berntsen's account and the Senate Committee's report, "Bin Laden and bodyguards walked unmolested out of Tora Bora and disappeared into Pakistan's unregulated tribal area."<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Report: Bin Laden Was Within Grasp|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-report-bin-laden-was-within-grasp|date=November 29, 2009|accessdate=November 23, 2016|website=''cbsnews.com''}}</ref>

⚫
In his 2005 book, ''Jawbreaker'', he alleges that [[Osama bin Laden]] could have been captured at Tora Bora if the US military (specifically [[United States Central Command]]) had devoted more resources to the operation. This claim gained substantial traction due to a Senate Report on the circumstances of bin Laden's escape. According to both Berntsen's account and the Senate Committee's report, "Bin Laden and bodyguards walked unmolested out of Tora Bora and disappeared into Pakistan's unregulated tribal area."<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Report: Bin Laden Was Within Grasp|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-report-bin-laden-was-within-grasp|date=November 29, 2009|access-date=November 23, 2016|website=cbsnews.com}}</ref>


== Recent activities ==
== Recent activities ==
Line 19: Line 27:
Gary released his first piece of fiction in August 2008. The book is titled ''The Walk-In'' and tells the story of an American CIA case officer dealing with an Iranian defector from the [[Quds Force]]. The defector claims that a catastrophic attack is imminent and the American case officer must decide what to believe.
Gary released his first piece of fiction in August 2008. The book is titled ''The Walk-In'' and tells the story of an American CIA case officer dealing with an Iranian defector from the [[Quds Force]]. The defector claims that a catastrophic attack is imminent and the American case officer must decide what to believe.


In November 2008, Berntsen published ''Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide''. This book was written to serve as a manual for the incoming president and [[White House]] staff and includes highly specific recommendations and policy prescriptions for [[human intelligence (espionage)|human intelligence]] and counterterrorism operations.
In November 2008, Berntsen published ''Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide''. This book was written to serve as a manual for the incoming president and [[White House]] staff and includes highly specific recommendations and policy prescriptions for [[human intelligence (espionage)|human intelligence]] and [[counterterrorism]] operations.

Berntsen continues expressing his opinions and analysis to the news media and several government entities including police departments and federal agencies.


== Campaign for US Senate ==
== Campaign for US Senate ==
{{main|United States Senate election in New York, 2010}}
{{main|United States Senate election in New York, 2010}}


On May 23, 2010, Berntsen officially announced his candidacy for the New York Senate Seat currently held by [[Chuck Schumer]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://capitaltonight.com/2010/05/berntsen-to-announce-against-schumer-self-funding-maragos-delays/ | title = Berntsen To Announce Against Schumer, Self-Funding Maragos Delays | date = 2010-05-20 | work = Capitol Tonight on YNN }}</ref> Berntsen's political campaign believes his national stature, his current ability to effect public policy, and his experience as a clandestine CIA operative make him a strong candidate for elected office. On June 1, 2010, with considerable support from the New York Tea Party movement, Berntsen was named the Republican designee for [[US Senate]] against incumbent US Senator [[Chuck Schumer]] from New York and faced a Republican primary against [[Jay Townsend]] who received the Conservative party designation.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=936822&category=region | title = Tea Party pick wins Senate nod | date = 2010-06-02 | work = Times Union }}</ref> After the GOP designation, personal endorsements from Republican leaders in New York began accumulating for the Berntsen campaign, including Representative [[Peter T. King|Peter King]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/peter-king-backing-berntsen-schumer-fight | title = Peter King Backing Berntsen in Schumer Fight | date = 2010-06-08 | work = The New York Observer }}</ref> In addition to the Republican nomination, [[Carl Paladino]] declared Berntsen his nominee for Senate on his "Taxpayers Party" line.<ref>Benjamin, Elizabeth (2010-07-07). [http://capitaltonight.com/2010/07/paladino-berntsen-malpass-team-up/ Paladino, Berntsen, Malpass team up] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815184528/http://www.capitaltonight.com/2010/07/paladino-berntsen-malpass-team-up/ |date=2011-08-15 }}. ''State of Politics.'' Retrieved 2010-07-07.</ref>
On May 23, 2010, Berntsen officially announced his candidacy for the New York Senate Seat which was held by [[Chuck Schumer]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://capitaltonight.com/2010/05/berntsen-to-announce-against-schumer-self-funding-maragos-delays/ | title = Berntsen To Announce Against Schumer, Self-Funding Maragos Delays | date = 2010-05-20 | work = Capitol Tonight on YNN | access-date = 2010-06-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120419001833/http://www.capitaltonight.com/2010/05/berntsen-to-announce-against-schumer-self-funding-maragos-delays/ | archive-date = 2012-04-19 | url-status = dead }}</ref> On June 1, 2010, with considerable support from the New York Tea Party movement, Berntsen was named the Republican designee for [[US Senate]] against incumbent US Senator [[Chuck Schumer]] from New York and faced a Republican primary against [[Jay Townsend]] who received the Conservative party designation.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=936822&category=region | title = Tea Party pick wins Senate nod | date = 2010-06-02 | work = Times Union }}</ref> After the GOP designation, Berntsen was endorsed by representative [[Peter T. King|Peter King]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/peter-king-backing-berntsen-schumer-fight | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100610095718/http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/peter-king-backing-berntsen-schumer-fight | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2010-06-10 | title = Peter King Backing Berntsen in Schumer Fight | date = 2010-06-08 | work = The New York Observer }}</ref> In addition to the Republican nomination, [[Carl Paladino]] declared Berntsen his nominee for Senate on his "Taxpayers Party" line.<ref>Benjamin, Elizabeth (2010-07-07). [http://capitaltonight.com/2010/07/paladino-berntsen-malpass-team-up/ Paladino, Berntsen, Malpass team up] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815184528/http://www.capitaltonight.com/2010/07/paladino-berntsen-malpass-team-up/ |date=2011-08-15 }}. ''State of Politics.'' Retrieved 2010-07-07.</ref>


[[Jay Townsend]] defeated Berntsen in the September 14, 2010 primary, 55 percent to 45 percent.<ref>"2 GOP Senate candidates in NY face uphill fight," Associated Press, September 15, 2010 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/201009152_gop_senate_candidates_in_ny_face_uphill_fight/</ref>
[[Jay Townsend]] defeated Berntsen in the September 14, 2010, primary, 55 percent to 45 percent.<ref>"2 GOP Senate candidates in NY face uphill fight," Associated Press, September 15, 2010 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/201009152_gop_senate_candidates_in_ny_face_uphill_fight/</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Osama Bin Laden]]
*[[Afghanistan]]
*[[Counterterrorism]]
*[[Gary Schroen]]
*[[Gary Schroen]]
*[[Battle of Tora Bora]]
*[[Battle of Tora Bora]]
*[[Cofer Black]]


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
Line 50: Line 52:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.garyfornewyork.com GaryforNewYork.com] Gary Berntsen for US Senate - Official Gary Berntsen for Senate website, providing information about his Senate campaign
* (Link inactive) Berntsen National Security Review – Official Gary Berntsen Blog on National Security Issues
* (Link inactive) Berntsen National Security Review – Official Gary Berntsen Blog on National Security Issues
* [http://www.berntsengroup.com BerntsenGroup.com] Berntsen Group- Official Website of Gary Berntsen's Company
* [http://www.berntsengroup.com BerntsenGroup.com] Berntsen Group- Official Website of Gary Berntsen's Company
* {{C-SPAN|Gary Berntsen}}
* {{C-SPAN|1018232}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081126201158/http://www.mideasti.org/event/human-intelligence-counterterrorism-and-national-leadership-a-practical-guide Middle East Institute Book Launch with Gary Berntsen] - ''Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide'' (October 17, 2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081126201158/http://www.mideasti.org/event/human-intelligence-counterterrorism-and-national-leadership-a-practical-guide Middle East Institute Book Launch with Gary Berntsen] - ''Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide'' (October 17, 2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081129160345/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=hsnews-000002981826 More Troops Are Nice, but More Intelligence Needed to Save Afghan War] – Jeff Stein writing for CQ Politics (October 31, 2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081129160345/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=hsnews-000002981826 More Troops Are Nice, but More Intelligence Needed to Save Afghan War] – Jeff Stein writing for CQ Politics (October 31, 2008)
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8853000/site/newsweek/ CIA Commander: U.S. Let bin Laden Slip Away] - Michael Hirsh writing for Newsweek (August 15, 2005)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050809003402/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8853000/site/newsweek/ CIA Commander: U.S. Let bin Laden Slip Away] - Michael Hirsh writing for Newsweek (August 15, 2005)


{{Cold War}}
{{Cold War}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Berntsen, Gary}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berntsen, Gary}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American spies]]
[[Category:American spies]]

Latest revision as of 06:21, 23 September 2024

Not to be confused with Gary Berntson.
Gary Berntsen
BornJuly 23, 1957
Espionage activity
Allegiance United States
AgencyCIA
Service years1982–2005
Operations

Gary Berntsen (born July 23, 1957) is an American former Central Intelligence Agency career officer. During his time at the CIA, he served as a Station Chief on three occasions and led several counterterrorism deployments including the United States’ response to the East Africa Embassy bombings and the 9/11 attacks. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal in 2000 and the Intelligence Star in 2004.

He later ran for the US Senate in 2010 for Chuck Schumer's seat, but lost the Republican primary to Jay Townsend, who in turn lost the general election.

Early life and education

[edit]

Berntsen grew up in Smithtown, Long Island, a suburb of New York City. When he was seventeen he tried to enlist in the United States Army, but his parents refused to sign the enlistment contract. He instead joined the Air Force after turning eighteen. During his Air Force enlistment, Berntsen served for four years as a Crash Firefighter, including tours in Alaska and South Korea. After completing his enlistment in the Air Force, he became a full-time college student, graduating from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Russian Studies. He attended the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leader Class for two summers. However, before he was commissioned in the Marine Corps, he was recruited into the CIA, joining the organization in 1982.[1][2]

CIA career

[edit]

Berntsen started his career in the East Asian division and soon after transferred to the Middle East division a few days after the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.[2] He ran a group in the newly created Counterterrorist Unit starting in 1986 where he recruited informants. After the end of the Cold War, Berntsen was stationed in Kathmandu where he monitored Islamic extremists. He and his team had captured multiple extremist groups from Pakistan who were attempting to smuggle weapons into India.[2] In August 1998 Berntsen led the response team to the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam. The subsequent investigation led to the capture of some 21 individuals involved with the planning and execution of the attacks.[3]

In 2000, Berntsen was recruited to serve on a mission to capture a key Al-Qaeda lieutenant. He was one of the two Persian speakers on the team which was flown into the Panjshir Valley by the Northern Alliance. Soon after they had arrived, there were reports that bin Laden had known of the presence of Americans in Afghanistan and was offering a bounty for their capture. The mission was cancelled and the team was recalled by CIA headquarters, a move that Berntsen was critical of.[2] In his book Jawbreaker, Berntsen wrote that though leaders at the CIA, particularly Cofer Black and Henry A. Crumpton, "had shown a willingness to plan and execute risky missions," top US government leadership including President Bill Clinton and CIA Director George Tenet were unprepared to take the increased risks.[4] The mission was never executed and the CIA's indecision would lead the Northern Alliance's leader Ahmad Shah Massoud to conclude that the US was "not serious" about fighting the Taliban.[5]

Berntsen was serving in Latin America when the attacks on September 11 happened, after which he volunteered for the Counterterrorism Units response. He joined the Northern Alliance Liaison Team, codenamed Jawbreaker, and arrived in Afghanistan a few weeks after Gary Schroen had led the team into the Panjshir Valley.[2] Together with U.S. Special Forces and Afghan militias opposed to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Berntsen lead the Jawbreaker team. In early November 2001, Berntsen and his team entered into Kabul to secure hostages after the Taliban and Al-Qaeda were pushed out. They had also learned that bin Laden had retreated into the Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan. Berntsen sent the Jawbreaker team scout the area, aided by a local Afghan warlord they had paid off, where they eventually tracked Al-Qaeda and bin Laden hiding out in the Tora Bora mountain range.[6][3] Berntsen had begun calling in airstrikes on the cave complex, using daisy cutter bombs, and was later joined by the Northern Alliance and the Special Forces.[2][7]

After the Battle of Tora Bora began on December 1, Berntsen had requested 800 Army Rangers be sent to the back of the mountain range to block off an escape route, but General Tommy Franks denied this request.[7][8] On December 12, Al-Qaeda had called for a cease-fire with the Afghan militias in order to surrender their weapons, but which some, including Berntsen, saw as device to allow for Al-Qaeda leadership, including bin Laden, to escape. When he heard of the cease-fire, Berntsen responded by screaming into his phone "No cease-fire! No negotiation! We continue airstrikes!"[9] In early December, Berntsen was replaced as the CIA lead in Afghanistan, and sent back to his station in Latin America.[2] He retired from the agency in June 2005.[10]

In his 2005 book, Jawbreaker, he alleges that Osama bin Laden could have been captured at Tora Bora if the US military (specifically United States Central Command) had devoted more resources to the operation. This claim gained substantial traction due to a Senate Report on the circumstances of bin Laden's escape. According to both Berntsen's account and the Senate Committee's report, "Bin Laden and bodyguards walked unmolested out of Tora Bora and disappeared into Pakistan's unregulated tribal area."[11]

Recent activities

[edit]

Gary released his first piece of fiction in August 2008. The book is titled The Walk-In and tells the story of an American CIA case officer dealing with an Iranian defector from the Quds Force. The defector claims that a catastrophic attack is imminent and the American case officer must decide what to believe.

In November 2008, Berntsen published Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide. This book was written to serve as a manual for the incoming president and White House staff and includes highly specific recommendations and policy prescriptions for human intelligence and counterterrorism operations.

Campaign for US Senate

[edit]
Main article: United States Senate election in New York, 2010

On May 23, 2010, Berntsen officially announced his candidacy for the New York Senate Seat which was held by Chuck Schumer.[12] On June 1, 2010, with considerable support from the New York Tea Party movement, Berntsen was named the Republican designee for US Senate against incumbent US Senator Chuck Schumer from New York and faced a Republican primary against Jay Townsend who received the Conservative party designation.[13] After the GOP designation, Berntsen was endorsed by representative Peter King.[14] In addition to the Republican nomination, Carl Paladino declared Berntsen his nominee for Senate on his "Taxpayers Party" line.[15]

Jay Townsend defeated Berntsen in the September 14, 2010, primary, 55 percent to 45 percent.[16]

See also

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Berntsen, Gary & Pezzullo, Ralph. (2005). Jawbreaker: The attack on bin Laden and al-Qaeda: A personal account by the CIA's key field commander. Crown. ISBN 0-307-23740-0.
  • Berntsen, Gary & Pezzullo, Ralph. (2008). The Walk-In. Crown. ISBN 978-0-307-39481-1.
  • Berntsen, Gary. (2008). Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide. Potomac Books Inc. ISBN 978-1-59797-254-3.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Berntsen & Pezzullo 2005, p. 28-31
  2. ^ a b c d e f g FRONTLINE (2006-06-20). "the dark side". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  3. ^ a b Copy of indictment USA v. Osama bin Laden et al., Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies
  4. ^ Berntsen & Pezullo, p. 43-64
  5. ^ Miniter, p. 197-198
  6. ^ Baxter, Sarah (2023-06-24). "CIA's Bin Laden hunter to reveal near miss raid". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  7. ^ a b Malkasian, Carter (June 15, 2021). The American War in Afghanistan: A History (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 76–77.
  8. ^ Bergen, Peter (2021). The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden. Simon & Schuster. pp. 173–174.
  9. ^ Bergen, Peter (2009-12-30). "The Account of How We Nearly Caught Osama bin Laden in 2001". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  10. ^ "CIA Sued Over Bin Laden Book - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2005-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  11. ^ "Senate Report: Bin Laden Was Within Grasp". cbsnews.com. November 29, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  12. ^ "Berntsen To Announce Against Schumer, Self-Funding Maragos Delays". Capitol Tonight on YNN. 2010-05-20. Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  13. ^ "Tea Party pick wins Senate nod". Times Union. 2010-06-02.
  14. ^ "Peter King Backing Berntsen in Schumer Fight". The New York Observer. 2010-06-08. Archived from the original on 2010-06-10.
  15. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (2010-07-07). Paladino, Berntsen, Malpass team up Archived 2011-08-15 at the Wayback Machine. State of Politics. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  16. ^ "2 GOP Senate candidates in NY face uphill fight," Associated Press, September 15, 2010 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/201009152_gop_senate_candidates_in_ny_face_uphill_fight/

References

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  • Berntsen, G & Pezzullo, R (2005). Jawbreaker, Crown Publishing
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