Much more than just global arms trade
Published on Thu, Apr 29, 2010 by John OwenRead More Owen at Large
If somebody at the Creative Retirement Institute had a flair for hyperbole, they might have introduced a guest lecturer in a spring quarter class as:
"The Most Dangerous Man in America."
"Terrorist and Death Merchant."
Or "The Great Gatsby of the Spook World."
All of those titles have been used to describe Edmonds' resident Ed Wilson, which might surprise those who sign up for the lectures and discussions described modestly as "The Global Small Arms Trade."
As a former Marine officer, active in Naval Intelligence and eventually serving the CIA, Wilson is certainly qualified to lecture on the subject. After he officially retired from the CIA, he remained active in the exchange of military equipment and intelligence, with the encouragement of the CIA.
Much of his activity was with Libyan officials, who were also receiving military equipment from the Soviet Union, an area of intense interest to the CIA.
But after one deal, the U.S. government branded Wilson a renegade arms merchant, brought him to trial, and he was convicted after the executive director of the CIA testified that, with one exception, "Wilson was not asked or requested, directly or indirectly, to perform or provide any service" for U.S. government intelligence.
After his conviction, Wilson spent 22 years in federal prison, the first 10 in solitary confinement. While he was in prison, the IRS swooped in and claimed all his savings and real estate.
He repeatedly petitioned for a rehearing, and his wish was finally granted. After examining all the evidence, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes determined that the CIA had more than 80 contacts with Wilson after he left the agency and had authorized him to trade weapons or explosives for sophisticated Soviet military equipment.
Judge Hughes found that two dozen government lawyers were involved in hiding information from Wilson's defense team.
After he was released from prison, Wilson moved to Edmonds with two goals: to successfully sue the government attorneys and officials involved in the cover-up, and to clear his name.
A few months ago, Wilson and his attorney were informed that most of the government people involved were immune from prosecution and that even if they were not, that the statute of limitations had expired.
And so Edmonds residents, like me, are signing up for two June lectures on the global small arms trade conducted by "The Great Gatsby of the Spook World."
You can just call him "Ed."
"The Most Dangerous Man in America."
"Terrorist and Death Merchant."
Or "The Great Gatsby of the Spook World."
All of those titles have been used to describe Edmonds' resident Ed Wilson, which might surprise those who sign up for the lectures and discussions described modestly as "The Global Small Arms Trade."
As a former Marine officer, active in Naval Intelligence and eventually serving the CIA, Wilson is certainly qualified to lecture on the subject. After he officially retired from the CIA, he remained active in the exchange of military equipment and intelligence, with the encouragement of the CIA.
Much of his activity was with Libyan officials, who were also receiving military equipment from the Soviet Union, an area of intense interest to the CIA.
But after one deal, the U.S. government branded Wilson a renegade arms merchant, brought him to trial, and he was convicted after the executive director of the CIA testified that, with one exception, "Wilson was not asked or requested, directly or indirectly, to perform or provide any service" for U.S. government intelligence.
After his conviction, Wilson spent 22 years in federal prison, the first 10 in solitary confinement. While he was in prison, the IRS swooped in and claimed all his savings and real estate.
He repeatedly petitioned for a rehearing, and his wish was finally granted. After examining all the evidence, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes determined that the CIA had more than 80 contacts with Wilson after he left the agency and had authorized him to trade weapons or explosives for sophisticated Soviet military equipment.
Judge Hughes found that two dozen government lawyers were involved in hiding information from Wilson's defense team.
After he was released from prison, Wilson moved to Edmonds with two goals: to successfully sue the government attorneys and officials involved in the cover-up, and to clear his name.
A few months ago, Wilson and his attorney were informed that most of the government people involved were immune from prosecution and that even if they were not, that the statute of limitations had expired.
And so Edmonds residents, like me, are signing up for two June lectures on the global small arms trade conducted by "The Great Gatsby of the Spook World."
You can just call him "Ed."