Woman who wrote op-ed cited in Syria hearing fired for lying about credentials

The woman whom Secretary of State John F. Kerry cited for evidence that the rebels aren’t infiltrated by al Qaeda-linked fighters has been fired from her think tank job for lying about her academic credentials, her employer said Wednesday.

The Institute for the Study of War said Elizabeth O'Bagy, who billed herself as the think tank’s Syria expert, didn’t have a doctorate from Georgetown University, “contrary to her representations.”

“ISW has accordingly terminated Ms. O'Bagy’s employment, effective immediately,” the institute said.

Ms. O'Bagy did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

The 26-year-old found herself at the center of a brewing media storm last week after two congressional hearings in which Mr. Kerry and Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, cited an Aug. 30 opinion article she had written for The Wall Street Journal.

Rather than citing official U.S. intelligence assessments, both men pointed to Ms. O'Bagy’s work as their best evidence that the Syrian opposition trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad is not rife with al Qaeda-linked extremists.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/11/woman-wrote-wsj-oped-syria-fired-lying-credentials/#ixzz2egpjp36u
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...somehow, this is Bush's Fault...

This administration is in over their head. They reach for the smallest straw to try and prove their points. I wonder why they never checked their source?

...and we thought the descriptor "Manchurian Candidate" was a "reach".

 

I saw that article last night, fsh and wanted to post it, but was in a hurry. Glad you did. Yes, this administration is in way over it's head.

Wilcow interviewed a man last night and they were talking out this O'Bagy woman. I couldn't believe what I heard. O'Bagy, who is only 26 not only lied about having her doctorate, among other things, but she went right from an intern into this huge job. Wilcow asked the guy how she did this-was it a Monica Lewinsky type thing? See, I remember the important things. This Institute for the Study of War, which I had never heard of, is apparently very fond of wars anyway. This woman took McCain to one of those Arab countries and had him meet with rebels who are known for KIDNAPPING. There were so many things this guy reported it was just amazing. This country is so screwed up. How could someone like this be advising Kerry???? I wish I could remember more, maybe you can find a link, fsh.