Congressman/Counterspy as Movie Critic: Candidate Klock Gives 'Thumbs Up' to Charlie Wilson's War

Congressman/Counterspy as Movie Critic: Candidate Klock Gives 'Thumbs Up' to Charlie Wilson's War

HOUSTON, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Brian Klock, the naval counterintelligence officer running in the Republican Primary to represent Texas 22nd District in Congress, gives an overall "thumbs up" to Charlie Wilson's War, the new film about the efforts of former Texas Congressman Wilson to obtain U.S. aid for guerrillas fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Klock is an experienced, proven leader, a Commander in the U.S. Navy reserve with 27 years of active-duty and reserve intelligence and counterintelligence/counterterrorism experience. He was twice deployed to the Balkans in support of NATO operations and was recalled to duty after the September 11 attacks to support U.S. forces in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The only candidate from either party with direct counterintelligence experience in the Global War on Terror, said, "As goofy as Wilson was, he had a Top Secret clearance and knew about the Mujahideen (resistance fighters) in Afghanistan. He also knew that the 'black budget' for operations was small and could be increased relatively easily, but not enough to make it an important budgetary item."

Klock gives the movie a "thumbs down" for the scene in which Wilson and an aide tell a Marine Embassy guard they are there to see the Chief of Station, meaning the top CIA officer. "That is never done," Klock says. "The COS is a closely held secret; you have to have a Top Secret, Specialized Compartmentalized Intelligence clearance to know who the COS is ... no exceptions. Had Wilson said that, he would have been shown the door."

A slight "thumbs down" for the portrayal of the Soviet Mi-24 HIND helicopter as the ultimate weapon in Afghanistan: Klock says, "It was formidable, but had its weak points: Its size alone made it extremely vulnerable. Unlike our Apache and Cobra attack choppers, the HIND could carry passengers and therefore made a big, fat target. The Russians' latest generation of assault helicopters are smaller platforms, in the same class as ours."

"Thumbs down" for most of the aircraft shoot-downs in the movie. "I was annoyed that they passed off footage of crashing American aircraft -- an F-4 Phantom, and F-16 and a Huey helicopter -- as Soviet. Most people don't know the difference, but I do. With computer graphics, they ought to be able to get that right."

Klock feels the depiction of mines and horrific damage they inflict is realistic. "They tend to blow off limbs, and it is usually civilians who suffer most. Wounding versus killing ties up more troops. We saw the same thing in Bosnia; mines are horrendous weapons."

Klock says, "Overall, I give the movie high marks. I was struck by the fact that we spent billions arming the Afghan fighters but wouldn't contribute even a million dollars toward building schools in that country. Radical madrassas (Islamic religious schools) filled the gap and we ended up with the Taliban and bin Laden planning 9/11 from Afghanistan."

The longtime Naval officer is passionate about pursuing the war to victory. "The War on Terror is as grave a threat to the nation as we have ever faced, yet Congress keeps playing political games. We have a lot of issues -- from the war, to the economy, to taxes, to illegal immigration -- that are not being addressed because of partisan gridlock. It's time to lead! That's why I'm running for Congress."

For more information on Klock for Congress, visit http://www.klockforcongress.com/ or to contribute to the campaign or otherwise help, contact: Charles Sena at 281-486-KLOCK.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Brian Klock

CONTACT: Charlie Sena, Campaign Manager for Brian Klock,
+1-281-486-KLOCK, +1-281-486-5562, charles.sena@klockforcongress.com

Web site:

http://www.klockforcongress.com/

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