MARK STEYN: Lack of intelligence-What's behind the outing of a CIA spy?

Jerusalem Post ^ | 10-21-03 | MARK STEYN

[leadpenny]

Some answers may be found in this thread:

What's Wrong with the CIA? (October Imprimis)

Note that Mr. Meyer gave this speech before Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became big news.

[G.Mason]

"Dark Continent"? "heart of darkness"?

I have been befouled by this author.

To think that, in this day and age of political correctness, I should be subjected to this blatant racists terminology is preposterous!

[goldstategop]

From the media tumult, it sounded like a gay had been outed from the closet! Under normal circumstances the media would be celebrating the news. Not this time.

[WHBates]

The problem is that surely the president understands how inept the agency is. The question is why isn't he trying to address the problem?

Well maybe they are in there own way.

[Galtoid]

This is a brilliant article. I have had serious doubts about the efficacy of the CIA . . . and have even entertained thoughts that there are figures within the agency that are actively trying to destroy Bush's credibility, as well as his chances for '04. That theory then logically evolves into this one concept: what if there are some suits at the CIA who are terrified they will be outed? What if there are CIA people who are afraid Americans will learn just how much neglect, laziness, and downright ineptitude permeates the CIA--particularly starting with those golden Clinton years?

[Galtoid]

And . . . one other thing: don't forget that Bush I was the head of this same agency years ago. I would surmise that Bush II knows a whole lot more than meets the eye, and is just playing a little Texas poker with Mr. Wilson and Ms. Plame.

[G.Mason]

"From the media tumult, it sounded like a gay had been outed from the closet! Under normal circumstances the media would be celebrating the news. Not this time."

Yea. What's that all about?

Anyone listening to Wilson for five minutes can tell he's a moronic, self serving flunky.

Mark Steyn is dead on here.

I would like the full and honest "investigation" published, however with enemies within and without, I won't hold my breath.

[wayoverontheright]

Two years after 9/11, the CIA is still not up to the job of human intelligence.

I'm sure that the CIA is possessed of some very good people, true Americans, trying to do a good job, however, it has become obvious that its middle mangement at the very least is infested with a political agenda which is anathema to what this president is trying to accomplish.

As Laurie Mylroie explains in her book Bush Against The Beltway, the CIA has been in full CYA mode as relates to uncovering state sponsorship of any terror event. Evidence is piling up that they missed definite ties to state sponsorship of the 1993 WTC bombing (Iraq), and possible ties in the Oklahoma City bombing, the anthrax mailings post 9-11, maybe others.

Under Clinton, their mission seemed to be to make damned sure these things could not be blamed on a foreign political entity, as this would require a forceful response, something which would disrupt Bill's little utopia, and prevent him from blaming it on the 'radical right wing'.

[wayoverontheright]

The FBI is similarly infested, IMHO.

[xzins]

The president must appoint new leadership for the CIA. Also, he must allow that leadership to appoint directorates and wire-diagram in ways that get around the entrenched bureaucracy of the CIA.

Essentially, the problem statement is: "How does a Republican President get around an entrenched Liberal Leadership in his primary intelligence agency AND begin receiving substantive intelligence?"

Realignment.
Alternative to the CIA, Reliance on DoD intel estimates and collection efforts.
Institution of a new "OSS" that operates outside the bureaucracy and reports directly to him.

[wayoverontheright]

The problem is that surely the president understands how inept the agency is. The question is why isn't he trying to address the problem?

I have been asking why he hasn't fired George Tenet for some time now.

It's entirely possible that he sees Tenet as part of the solution, we don't know that the problem people aren't being weeded out, the goings on at the agency traditionally not being very public.

[leadpenny]

I think the "poker" analogy is very interesting.

Also, we still see former director Woolsey as a network (forget which one) analyst. IMO he knows a lot more than he is saying. Clinton ignored him after appointing him to the post. Subsequently, I believe, Woolsey actively worked to get some Republicans elected.

[larryjohnson]

The CIA has good people taking pictures at least BUT with help from the USAF.

[Thebaddog]

Remember that Tenet was the guy sending in the bombs early in the war that never got Saddam several times. It all about their best guesses which aren't very good.

[rudypoot]

Ping

[gaspar]

Tenet is also the guy who OKs the CIA press releases that claim the Agency is almost almost almost 95% sure that it is actually Bin Ladin speaking to Al Gazeera. They said it about the 12 November 2002, 11 February 2003, and the most recent broadside. You will note they never explain WHY they believe it is OBL; one must simply take CIA on face value. The only problem is that today's CIA itself has the ring of a wooden nickel.

[Thebaddog]

If their "agents" can be married to dopes like that Wilson goof, you can always trust their judgement to be off.

[The Right Stuff]

Think Conrad

[justshutupandtakeit]

She is no "agent" just an analyst. But your point is still well taken. Apparently she is unable to analyze sufficiently to know that Wilson is an anus.