Jonathan Idema

Jonathan Keith "Jack" Idema (born 1957 in Poughkeepsie, New York) is an American con man, convicted mail fraudster, serial litigator, self proclaimed vigilante and currently a prisoner in Pul-e-Charkhi prison east of Kabul, Afghanistan for crimes committed there. For several years, Idema falsely represented himself as a US government-sponsored military operative, to the American and international media, members of the military, and Afghani nationals. The validity of his claim is unknown.

He once 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

Idema served at Fort Bragg, the US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) base, in 1977 where he received basic training, as well as Special Forces, scuba, and airborne duty training. Idema falsely reports to be the youngest soldier to earn Green Beret ranking to date. Idema was repeatedly recycled just to get through training group and failed 05B training twice and was then recycled into 11B training. Idema was assigned as a reservist for the 11th Special Forces Group, and in 1981 re-enlisted in the Individual Ready Reserve. Idema's father, a man of means, used congressional influence to pressure the Army to recycle him for a third time, and would not have made it through without his father's influence. Idema was discharged in 1984 for continued poor fitness reports and was discharged with the rank of sergeant. During the 1990s, Idema owned and operated a paintball supply store in Fayetteville, NC, which gradually merged with a paramilitary equipment store. He also started CounTerr-Group in Fayettville, which specializes in the expert training for counter terrorism, defensive and offensive assault tactics for both national and international security, public and private. In January 1994, Idema was arrested and charged with 58 counts of wire fraud, as well as conspiracy and impersonation of an officer; these charges were primarily related to fund-raising activities for his store. Part of the confusion was related to his charitable work with Christian Youth Groups who estabished a weekly activity program using the paintball format, which is now nationally recognized.

Unverified Claims

Idema claims to have been active within the Army Special Forces during the early years of the civil war in El Salvador. He was part of Operation Quicksilver and aided in training the El Salvadoran troops. It was reported that Idema was in El Salvador at the time but, it was reported that he was in the country as a civilian and not operating with any military unit.

He claims to have served several tours as an officer in the special forces of which is not true, having captured an al-Qaeda training videotape in Afghanistan in 2001 and selling it to Dan Rather at CBS for US$50,000, having discovered a Lithuanian nuclear arms smuggling ring, as well as to having provided continual information to the US government concerning al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan most of which was later found to be inaccurate. It has been recorded that Idema did frequently contact the Defense Department through now Lieutenant-General William 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.

In the past, Idema did in fact take part in a Senate Hearing on the Nuclear briefcase delivered by two Agents to the Whitehouse. Idema, claims to be explosive ordinance expert though his training was rudimentary at best, showed how the isotopes could be used as a weapon along with a well respected nuclear physicist. It is their combined opinion of use which validated the possibility of using the isotopes as a WMD. Afghani press reports indicating Idema, and other Special Operation Forces were in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1990s, during the Soviet Invasion, occupation and subsequent retreat were found to be in error as far as Idema's participation is concerned.

Idema was bounty hunting in Afghanistan and was never on the US government's payroll as presumed or made claim to. Idema has made claim that his operation was known to the US government and his arrest was a set up by the FBI all of which is unfounded. Idema's arrest in Afghanistan was propelled by another Green Beret operating covertly. It is also purported that Idema made 'lever' payments in the past, via a false, illegal Federal Court Edit in North Carolina, his home state. Idema claims it to be a legal suit settlement.

Activities in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Idema was known for wearing a desmal and prescription sunglasses 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, which, in context, might 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 Northen Alliance was denied by their official representative in the United States.

It is precisely his attempts to create a high profile with the media that makes it unlikely 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.

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. 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.

Idema, Edward Caraballo and Brent Bennett were charged with torture, kidnapping and running a private jail.

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.

Former prisoners of Idema's detention facility have testified to being tortured with boiling water while being held.

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. 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.

Idema is now voicing his opinions on the talk show RAGE, available over the Internet. Caosblog.com has coverage of Idema's present situation. [1]. The Anti-Idema website which counters the spin of Cao's blog is known as Stupor Patriots [2] which parodies Idema's Super Patriots. The book Licensed to Kill [3] by Robert Young Pelton, provides a chapter on Idema and his exploits in Afghanistan.