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Gina Haspel is a great choice for CIA director
Wash. Examiner ^ | 3/13/2018 | Tom Rogan

Posted on 03/13/2018 3:56:40 PM PDT by Signalman

Don't listen to those (like this CNN editorial masquerading as reporting) complaining that she was too tough on terrorists. Gina Haspel is a great choice to replace Mike Pompeo as CIA director.

First off, she knows the nuts and bolts of human intelligence from the inside out. As a career CIA officer in the agency’s operations (or spying) arm, Haspel spent the early part of her career recruiting agents in the field to give their secrets to the U.S. But after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Haspel played a supervisory role at a CIA black site in Thailand and later, was a crucial leader in offensive counterterrorism operations under CIA clandestine service legend, Jose Rodriguez.

Haspel’s courage in taking the fight to the enemy and extracting high grade human intelligence speaks to an all too rare kind of public servant: one who matches high skill to a willingness to take politically toxic risks to serve U.S. interests. Haspel could have left the CIA for a highly lucrative private sector job that offered far better hours and far less stress. Instead, she chose to keep serving the country.

But in her willingness to take risks for the nation, Haspel makes a natural replacement for Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo’s tenure at CIA has been positively defined by his encouragement to operations officers to take greater risks in the pursuit of higher value intelligence gains. As deputy director under Pompeo, it is likely that Haspel shares Pompeo's affinity for high-risk enterprising. If not, Pompeo would not likely have recommended her to the president.

And in that, President Trump also deserves credit here. After all, Trump is often accused of politicizing the intelligence process, and sometimes does so, as with his comments on Russia at various times. Yet here, he has appointed a career professional rather than a lackey. The distinction is crucially important in an era in which the U.S. faces a diversity of threats from terrorism to state instability to rising challenges from China and Russia.

Ultimately, it is telling that former CIA directors from John Brennan to Mike Hayden are lining up behind Haspel’s nomination. They recognize that Haspel retains the trust of her workforce and the competency to objectively represent its products and interests at the White House.

While Democrats will regurgitate their fake news torture report in order to oppose Haspel’s nomination, Trump and Republicans should reach out to nonpartisan patriots like Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and give Haspel their full support.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cia; gina; ginahaspel; haspel
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1 posted on 03/13/2018 3:56:40 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: Signalman

I like that a woman has a SPINE....and not just about KILLING THEIR OWN KIDS IN UTERO!


2 posted on 03/13/2018 4:01:19 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Signalman

Sounds like a very good choice.

I think water boarding is torture, albeit not the worst one can imagine. One of the chief terrorists endured it 83 times so he must have been used to it. And one should remember these were murderous terrorists, not innocent bystanders.


3 posted on 03/13/2018 4:03:15 PM PDT by luvbach1 (I hope Trump runs roughshod over the inevitable obstuctionists, Dems, progs, libs, or RINOs!)
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To: Signalman
I wish CNN could explain how we can be too tough on terrorists. A terrorist by definition has resigned from the human race and deserves no mercy.
 
4 posted on 03/13/2018 4:05:35 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (CNN is fake news.)
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To: Signalman

She sounds like a real patriot. I love my President and my Republic, and appreciate all who serve to protect our Liberty.


5 posted on 03/13/2018 4:06:10 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Signalman

Brennan likes her?

Uh oh.


6 posted on 03/13/2018 4:14:25 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Demographics destroys cultures more completely than thermonuclear war.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Brennan is not going to immediately criticize the first female CIA director. (He’s way too PC to do that right away!) She is a Jose Rodriguez protégée so she’s a good pick.


7 posted on 03/13/2018 4:17:52 PM PDT by Reily
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To: luvbach1

I think we need input from the black OPS guys.


8 posted on 03/13/2018 4:20:31 PM PDT by Lumper20
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To: Signalman
Zero Dark Thirty meets the real world......
9 posted on 03/13/2018 4:30:13 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: luvbach1

If water-boarding saves the life of one US service member, it’s worth it.

GWB was too much of puss to defend it.


10 posted on 03/13/2018 4:31:22 PM PDT by Arm_Bears (Hey, Rocky--Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!)
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To: Signalman

Brennan supports her... not a great sign.

Hope she is as advertised.


11 posted on 03/13/2018 4:33:50 PM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: luvbach1

Ultimately, it is telling that former CIA directors from John Brennan to Mike Hayden are lining up behind Haspel’s nomination. They recognize that Haspel retains the trust of her workforce and the competency to objectively represent its products and interests at the White House.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brennan support is a red flag.

Proceed with caution


12 posted on 03/13/2018 4:45:16 PM PDT by thinden
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To: Uncle Miltie

“Gina Haspel, probably hates Obama and Brennan”:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-selects-new-head-of-clandestine-service-passing-over-female-officer-tied-to-interrogation-program/2013/05/07/c43e5f94-b727-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html?utm_term=.973069946c2e

Thanks to Helicondelta for finding the above.


13 posted on 03/13/2018 4:57:32 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Dems are having trouble with their MAMA campaign (Make America Mexico Again) versus MAGA!)
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To: marktwain

So does Clapper.

Sigh.

Why can’t we have Rudy?


14 posted on 03/13/2018 5:10:21 PM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: Ann Archy

I have always advocated you need a line agent, someone who has been in the trenches, who has gained the respect of rank and file to command wild stallions. It is true in the Marine Corps, and true in law enforcement.


15 posted on 03/13/2018 5:17:55 PM PDT by iontheball (lLL)
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To: Lumper20
I think we need input from the black OPS guys.

Agreed, but it is probably not readily forthcoming for at least two obvious reasons.

But we can measure the screeching and outrage from the left. And for balance, there is this from John McCain who lambasts Trump for the appointment: "...she participated in 'one of the darkest chapters in American history.'” Some would say he was thinking of his own history when he uttered that thought.

16 posted on 03/13/2018 5:19:34 PM PDT by frog in a pot (Obama's "Remaking of America" continues apace in the absence of political opposition.)
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To: Intolerant in NJ

Such a shame that in real life Jessica chastain is a blazing libtard.


17 posted on 03/13/2018 6:40:38 PM PDT by Newtoidaho (All I ask of living is to have no chains on me.)
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To: luvbach1

So we use torture on our own soldiers during SEER training?

Methinks you need to do do some research on how water boarding is actually done.


18 posted on 03/13/2018 6:57:52 PM PDT by jazminerose (Adorable Deplorable)
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To: marktwain

Is she wearing a hijab?


19 posted on 03/13/2018 7:00:43 PM PDT by morphing libertarian (Build Kate's Wall)
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To: jazminerose
Methinks you need to do do some research on how water boarding is actually done.

I know how it's done. I've seen video of it. That is simply my opinion.

20 posted on 03/13/2018 7:17:51 PM PDT by luvbach1 (I hope Trump runs roughshod over the inevitable obstuctionists, Dems, progs, libs, or RINOs!)
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