Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The CIA vs. Scarborough
Human Events Online ^ | July 27, 2007 | Jed Babbin

Posted on 08/25/2007 10:12:07 AM PDT by ChessExpert

On July 20, the CIA issued the most extraordinary press release. Director of Public Affairs Mike Mansfield wrote:

We generally don't comment on books, but we have departed from that on occasion, and have decided to do so in connection with Rowan Scarborough's new book, "Sabotage: America's Enemies Within the CIA."

(Excerpt) Read more at humanevents.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bookreview; cia; jedbabbin; roguecia; rowanscarborough; sabotage; treason; wot
The column author is a former deputy undersecretary of defense, who made the career change to journalism. He says "the great preponderance of the evidence is on Scarborough’s side, not on Mansfield’s."

Good discussion of CIA leaks and their effects.

1 posted on 08/25/2007 10:12:07 AM PDT by ChessExpert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

You know the CIA must be the least effective, least secret agency in the history of the world.


2 posted on 08/25/2007 10:14:50 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Donate to Vets For Freedom! http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
You know the CIA must be the least effective, least secret agency in the history of the world.

And yet the conspiracy nuts attribute the CIA with everything from the Kennedy assassination to the destruction of the Twin Towers and everything in between.

I saw an interview with a CIA (former) agent once and he said "If we could do everything people think we can do it would require the combined efforts of every human being on the planet and all of it would be common knowledge."

L

3 posted on 08/25/2007 10:17:39 AM PDT by Lurker (Comparing moderate islam to extremist islam is like comparing small pox to ebola.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie

To quote Jim Traficant.

“They’re so stupid they could throw themselves at the ground and miss.”


4 posted on 08/25/2007 10:18:50 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

Sabotage is a great read!


5 posted on 08/25/2007 10:19:36 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Considering how leaky the CIA is, how corrupt the US Congress is and how inept FEMA is, one has to wonder just WHY anyone thinks giving the Goverement anymore control over anything would be a good idea.

Outside the US Military, can anyone show me a Govt bureacracy this is efficent, well run and effective?


6 posted on 08/25/2007 10:21:17 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Donate to Vets For Freedom! http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Traficant does have a way with words even if he is in the slammer. lol


7 posted on 08/25/2007 10:22:07 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

Nothin will be done about the CIA leaks. The Democrats want them.


8 posted on 08/25/2007 10:29:56 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

His one liners alone were worth keeping him around. Also he was pretty conservative on most issues.


9 posted on 08/25/2007 10:30:13 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
Considering how leaky the CIA is, how corrupt the US Congress is and how inept FEMA is, one has to wonder just WHY anyone thinks giving the Goverement anymore control over anything would be a good idea.

The gov't has failed us on every level.

The borders are not secure.

Illegal aliens are turned back into society even when they commit crimes.

Drugs are rampant even after a 40 year "war on drugs"

Crime goes unnoticed and excused. Convicts are given sentences that are laughable.

Our bridges and infrastructure are falling apart even though tax revenues are at all-time highs.

Our roads are clogged as expansion is blocked.

Our skies are clogged as changes are blocked.

And it goes on and on and on........

10 posted on 08/25/2007 10:31:15 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (The Democratic Party will not exist in a few years....we are watching history unfold before us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
Outside the US Military, can anyone show me a Govt bureacracy this is efficent, well run and effective?

I don't know about efficient or well run, but the IRS is effective.

That fact alone speaks volumes about the priorities of government.

11 posted on 08/25/2007 10:32:39 AM PDT by Logophile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie

Course the Bordernuts think the gummit can solve that problem. Incoming!!

Pray for W and Our Troops


12 posted on 08/25/2007 10:33:36 AM PDT by bray (Member of the FR President Bush underground)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert
From the article:

"We don’t know who leaked the CIA secret terrorist prisons in Eastern Europe, the NSA terrorist surveillance program, or the cooperation of the Belgian “SWIFT” consortium in tracing and disrupting terrorist financing. But those leaks -- as Cong. Pete Hoekstra (former chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and now ranking Republican on one of its subcommittees) told me Thursday -- have damaged our capabilities in the war against the terrorist groups and the nations that support them. The damage is enormous, resulting in changed behavior of nations who -- before the leaks -- were cooperating secretly with us and can no longer because the cooperation was revealed."

Well, here's one suggestion - Mary O. McCarthy.
13 posted on 08/25/2007 10:34:52 AM PDT by khnyny (The best minds are not in government. If they were, business would hire them away. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert
One point which Jed didn't cite, but I will:

Since the objective of these leaks has been to discredit the Bush Administration and Republicans, I conclude that those responsible are doing so benefit DEMOCRATS in gaining control of the government to push a socialist agenda. Thus, the GREAT HARM which has been suffered by our national security was caused by Democrats and Democrat sympathizers within the CIA.

Sarborough and Babbin: 1

Mansfield: 0

14 posted on 08/25/2007 10:36:34 AM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Elections have consequences.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie

I served 20 years in the AF and I hesitate to call the military eficient. It just so happens that a military’s performance is graded against other countries military forces which are also govt sponsored. Given that criteria the US military is outstanding.


15 posted on 08/25/2007 10:40:24 AM PDT by saganite (Billions and billions and billions----and that's just the NASA budget!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi
The gov't has failed us on every level.

Yeah, but they sure know how to spend money.

The FdGov Motto should be: "You may find better quality, but you will never spend more"

16 posted on 08/25/2007 10:41:00 AM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Elections have consequences.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert
From the column:

The Democrats’ call for a special counsel to investigate Gonzales’ statements to Congress is, mostly, political puffery. The real problem in the Justice Department is not the firings of US attorneys. Ask yourself: why haven’t the leakers of the CIA secret prisons, the SWIFT program’s cooperation, and the NSA terrorist surveillance program been discovered and prosecuted?

An excellent question. Why hasn't the administration been more aggressive at finding and prosecuting the leakers?

17 posted on 08/25/2007 10:42:05 AM PDT by Logophile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

“I don’t know about efficient or well run, but the IRS is effective”
They are not very effective in policing the underground economy produced by employers using illegal aliens. There are billions of dollars in Texas alone going unreported by the illegal employment of Mexicans in homes and businesses. Collection of those taxes could support the government for a long time and perhaps help out in impact that the illegals have here.


18 posted on 08/25/2007 10:44:00 AM PDT by ArtyFO (I love to smoke cigars when I adjust artillery fire at the moonbat loonery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

Scarborough was on C-SPAN a few days ago talking about his book. A hostile questioner in the audience, who said he had served in the CIA (probably retired), claimed that 80% of the people in the CIA were Republicans. I would guess the guy was a Democrat who was unhappy that everyone there wasn’t of his way of thinking...but even 20% would mean a lot of potential leakers able to cause trouble for a Republican administration.


19 posted on 08/25/2007 10:55:26 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Looks like I missed this on my summer reading list- will remedy this week:)


20 posted on 08/25/2007 10:57:58 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet -Fred'08)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ArtyFO; ChessExpert
They are not very effective in policing the underground economy produced by employers using illegal aliens. There are billions of dollars in Texas alone going unreported by the illegal employment of Mexicans in homes and businesses. Collection of those taxes could support the government for a long time and perhaps help out in impact that the illegals have here.

I think your post was meant for me; I was the one who mentioned the IRS.

You are of course right that the IRS misses the underground economy. But collecting taxes from committed lawbreakers is difficult and expensive. It is much easier (and more cost-effective) to go after law-abiding citizens.

Consider an analogous situation. I am told that the police in many cities do not even bother to investigate thefts that do not involve violence. But those same police departments are the model of diligence when it comes to issuing parking tickets.

21 posted on 08/25/2007 10:57:58 AM PDT by Logophile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie

This is follow-up article to “SABOTAGE: Rowan Scarborough Talks About his New CIA Book” posted at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886459/posts


22 posted on 08/25/2007 10:59:25 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Reagan dismantled the Russian empire of 21 conquered nations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert
Just for CIA Director of Public Affairs Mike Mansfield:


23 posted on 08/25/2007 11:02:04 AM PDT by frithguild (The Freepers moved as a group, like a school of sharks sweeping toward an unaware and unarmed victim)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: khnyny

The career people at all levels of the CIA are for the most part Dem. hacks, with their favorite media person identified to receive his/her “leak.” The Rep.appointed officers don’t have a chance.


24 posted on 08/25/2007 11:07:09 AM PDT by elpadre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Just read some of his quotes. Must give him credit for sense of humor. Did he ever produce the tape on Janet Reno?


25 posted on 08/25/2007 11:10:07 AM PDT by Jane Austen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
...one has to wonder just WHY anyone thinks giving the Goverement anymore control over anything would be a good idea.

You mean like health care?

26 posted on 08/25/2007 11:13:37 AM PDT by Dilbert56 (Harry Reid, D-Nev.: "We're going to pick up Senate seats as a result of this war.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: elpadre
The career people at all levels of the CIA are for the most part Dem. hacks, with their favorite media person identified to receive his/her “leak.” The Rep.appointed officers don’t have a chance.

So, in effect, politics trumps national security and their oath? That's treason.

Bush should have cleaned house.
27 posted on 08/25/2007 11:19:08 AM PDT by khnyny (The best minds are not in government. If they were, business would hire them away. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Jane Austen

I don’t know about a tape on Reno but he sure did have some choice things to say about her. She wasn’t one of his favorite people. :)


28 posted on 08/25/2007 11:20:13 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Logophile
"I don't know about efficient or well run, but the IRS is effective. That fact alone speaks volumes about the priorities of government."

I'm with you on that. Inept as our govt. can be at these things, they do rather well on keeping track of we the citizens.

29 posted on 08/25/2007 11:28:42 AM PDT by VR-21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: khnyny

career employees are protected by their government union


30 posted on 08/25/2007 12:22:48 PM PDT by elpadre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

The fix is easy - get rid of the CIA.


31 posted on 08/25/2007 12:30:32 PM PDT by spanalot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

I saw him on c-span’s book review last week. Great guy. Really knows his stuff.

With patriots like the CIA who needs traitors???

John


32 posted on 08/25/2007 12:34:04 PM PDT by Diggity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: spanalot; Dilbert56
I rather like the suggestion of Dilbert56:

“What needs to happen is for the CIA, NSA & FBI to be turned into training commands. They can offer services like fingerprint analysis, domestic surveillance, overseas surveillance, assassination, eavesdropping, hacking, etc. Then various joint commands responsible for threat areas, such as the southern border, the northern border, homegrown terrorism, etc. would draw on these services as needed to address their threat areas. This would get the CIA management out of the policy arena altogether. How much demand do you think there would be for CIA analysis capabilities?”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886459/posts?page=5#5

33 posted on 08/25/2007 12:36:05 PM PDT by ChessExpert (Reagan dismantled the Russian empire of 21 conquered nations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

Let’s see, the CIA conceived and executed an op against the President of The United States. It didn’t work out the way they hoped, they only took down Scooter Libby, but any rational person can see that it was a serious attempt to bring about America’s defeat in Iraq, and President Bush’s defeat in the next election.


34 posted on 08/25/2007 12:58:24 PM PDT by 3niner (War is one game where the home team always loses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

agreed


35 posted on 08/25/2007 1:08:58 PM PDT by spanalot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: elpadre
career employees are protected by their government union

That just proves my tagline.
36 posted on 08/25/2007 1:12:03 PM PDT by khnyny (The best minds are not in government. If they were, business would hire them away. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: khnyny

and, as to treasonist acts by government persons, lets start with the Church Committee in the 70’s. Their work completely neutered the CIA and other intelligence agencies involved in foreign espionage. My recollection is that they are responsible for the complete break-down and cessation of our operatives and the deaths of several dozen agents and collaborators working overseas. The Senate should never be excused for probably the worst case of treason in US history. And all in the hollowed halls of Congreee!


37 posted on 08/25/2007 2:15:33 PM PDT by elpadre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Verginius Rufus
A hostile questioner in the audience, who said he had served in the CIA (probably retired), claimed that 80% of the people in the CIA were Republicans.

I not only doubt him, I think this impossible.

38 posted on 08/25/2007 3:03:31 PM PDT by freespirited (The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop. -- P.J. O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: freespirited
Yes, I thought the guy's claim sounded very dubious.

Scarborough pointed out the extremely damaging impact of leaks on the CIA's ability to gain inside information in places like Iran--anyone who might be willing to help us is afraid to do so, because their identity could well be leaked, and they'd wind up dead.

The 'Rats in the permanent government have a "rule or ruin" outlook--if the administration is Republican, anything they can do to hurt it is OK, even if the country is seriously harmed in the process.

39 posted on 08/25/2007 8:01:28 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: elpadre

Thanks for bringing up that most important historical point. Thirty years later, and the CIA and the country still haven’t recovered.


40 posted on 08/26/2007 6:33:01 AM PDT by khnyny (The best minds are not in government. If they were, business would hire them away. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: khnyny

and the friendly intelligence agencies in other countries are still reluctant to share intelligence because of our unsavory history from Sen. Church, and since. The world knows many in Congress would sacrifice their country before their careers, and handle our requests at arms length.


41 posted on 08/26/2007 10:31:34 AM PDT by elpadre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson