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2004-11-13 Home Front: WoT

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-11-13 12:04:00 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 When a dynfunctional bureaucracy squeals like a proverbial stuck pig, the right people are probably in charge. Faster please.

Posted by AzCat 2004-11-13 1:56:26 AM|| 2004-11-13 1:56:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 A housecleaning is long overdue -- as long as the right people are being cleaned out.

Posted by someone 2004-11-13 2:39:21 AM|| 2004-11-13 2:39:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 If McLaughlin was a happy Tenet guy, then he should be gone. Same for the rest who've been voyeurs and hand-wringers. I'd go through the files of those who resigned during the Clinton era, were disciplined by Tenet, fired by Tenet, resigned and request exit interviews to clear their consciences, etc. There will be some jewels in that lot... hard chargers and hard-ballers that we need. Recover all the experienced people we can who did not fit or were passed over during the feel good era. We need cold-blooded people up to the task of a war.

Posted by .com 2004-11-13 3:25:07 AM|| 2004-11-13 3:25:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 We need cold-blooded people up to the task of a war.

Hmmm, maybe I should apply.

Posted by AzCat 2004-11-13 3:29:33 AM|| 2004-11-13 3:29:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 If the way you purge the CIA is "treating senior officials disrespectfully" those senior officials probably don't belong at the CIA. They should peddle their fragile f'n egos to KBR. Almost makes one respect the KGB.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-11-13 8:12:37 AM|| 2004-11-13 8:12:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 many of those being treated disrespectfully should've tendered their resignations already and are just getting the message less diplomatically. Deadwood makes terrific tinder

Posted by Frank G 2004-11-13 9:43:49 AM|| 2004-11-13 9:43:49 AM|| Front Page Top

Michael V. Kostiw, who was Gossâs first choice for executive director â the agencyâs third-ranking official â withdrew his name after The Washington Post reported that he had left the agency 20 years ago after having been arrested for stealing a package of bacon.

What the fuck? What is this, the Caine Mutiny?

Posted by Mitch H. 2004-11-13 9:50:44 AM|| [http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/] 2004-11-13 9:50:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Seems to me that the people that are leaving the agency are those that think that they are the ones that should make policy. They have become so self-centered that they can not accept any direction from above. I have always said that my loyality is to the man that signs my paycheck. That does not mean that I won't argue with him on technical grounds that are within my area of expertise. I will accept his direction as to the scope of work and not feel that I am belittled by it. These people can't be divas who walk off the stage in a snit because they were furnished with Evian instead of Perrier. So goodbye and don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

Posted by Old Fogey 2004-11-13 10:12:47 AM|| 2004-11-13 10:12:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Seems I remember that after 9/11, the numbers of new recruits/trainees were up. With these removal, plenty of places for new folks, with new thoughts, and open to different/new techniques. And they have the memory of 9/11 as a reason for serving.

These are the same generation as those Marines, soldiers, airmen and seamen now serving. Bet they will be great! Let's hope they are allowed to do their jobs.

Posted by Sherry 2004-11-13 1:45:37 PM|| 2004-11-13 1:45:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Hosuecleaning? Hell, this agency should have been shut down years ago. Botched the fall of the Soviet Empire, botched 9/11, no real assets in the middle east.... Best to start over with new blood. Or at least purge the top ranks.

Posted by lex 2004-11-13 4:56:34 PM|| 2004-11-13 4:56:34 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 I believe Old Spook, Fred, and I all have similar experiences, and quite a bit of it dealing with the CIA. My personal experience is that the mid-ranks and lower ranks were filled with sharp, dedicated people. I still turn down a yearly request to join one of my former bosses in Washington. I hate the town, and won't go back. If they moved the CIA to Colorado Springs, I'd join Chuck in a heartbeat, but I won't hold my breath for that to happen.

The biggest problem with the CIA is that it's in (or near) Washington, and politics plays a major role in EVERYTHING in that city. Politics interferes heavily in the operation of a spook outfit, regardless of who's in charge. Until they can eliminate (or at least reduce) the politics in our intelligence agencies (it's there everywhere), we won't have the kind of intelligence we really need in war. Putting Goss in charge of the CIA was a necessary first step. Now the President needs to show he's really the boss, and start cleaning house elsewhere. ALL the Clinton appointees need to be purged, from every office, at every level of government. Their entire job was to politicize the office they held, and make sure it supported the Democratic Party line, regardless of the needs of our nation.

Posted by Old Patriot 2004-11-13 4:59:06 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2004-11-13 4:59:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 "Itâs the worst roiling Iâve ever heard of," said one former senior official with knowledge of the events. "Thereâs confusion throughout the ranks and an extraordinary loss of morale and incentive."

And that's just because they couldn't keep Bush from being re-elected!

(Hmmm... interesting rumor to plant: Moore is an agent of a rogue, anti-democracy element in the CIA. His role has been to create and popularize propaganda intended to damage confidence in the Constitutional system.)

Posted by Robert Crawford 2004-11-13 4:59:41 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2004-11-13 4:59:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 "...competence will go down"

Suprised by Soviet collapse.
Was completely wrong on Soviet economy.
Couldn't identify a Chinese Embassy.
Still can't be sure if plant in Sudan was bio/chem weapons lab.
Claimed couldn't infiltrate Al-Q when British jaibirds and US teens had no problem getting recruited.
Completely missed Oil for food scandal.
Missed how Oil for food money was buying off French and Russians.
Had no idea of status of Saddam's weapons programs.
Can't tell us if N.Korea has nukes or not.
Didn't know how far Libya had progressed on nukes.
Didn't know about the Pakistani nuke-knowledge pipeline.
Had no clue as to Saddam's plan to fight guerilla war after defeat.
Couldn't find Saddam.
Can't find Osama.
Can't find Zarawi.
9/11.

Posted by Stephen 2004-11-13 10:20:59 PM|| 2004-11-13 10:20:59 PM|| Front Page Top

00:06 True German Ally
00:03 True German Ally
00:02 mojo
00:00 BigEd
23:57 True German Ally
23:48 BigEd
23:45 Frank G
23:44 Frank G
23:43 Beau
23:41 True German Ally
23:36 lex
23:31 lex
23:19 True German Ally
23:18 True German Ally
23:15 Dishman
23:09 Frank G
23:08 Frank G
23:07 Frank G
23:03 True German Ally
22:59 Dave D.
22:59 .com
22:57 Robert Crawford
22:50 Sherry
22:45 .com