[Lazamataz]

On "Meet the Press" back in November, Clark described intelligence as "a sort of gray goo as you look at it. You can't see through it, exactly, and if you try to touch it, it gets real sticky and you might actually interfere with the information that you're getting back. So you have to draw inferences from it."

I don't deny that Weasely Clerk is a loon, but this is a bad quote to infer it from. This quote actually tells me that Clerk has/had a good intuitive feel for military/civilian intelligence reporting.

[cricket]

"Clark described intelligence as "a sort of gray goo as you look at it. . ."

Can only imagine a conversation between Clark and say. . .Ross Perot.

[G L Tirebiter]

I don't deny that Weasely Clerk is a loon, but this is a bad quote to infer it from. This quote actually tells me that Clerk has/had a good intuitive feel for military/civilian intelligence reporting.

You're right that the quote has the ring of basic insight into the problems with intel analysis. The problem with Clark is his assertion that he, somehow, can cut through the opacity and get the "right" answer.

[IndyMac]

You missed the point of her arguement.

She is saying that Clark is inconsistent when, on one day, he says that intelligence is "gray goo" from which you can only draw inferences and then, on the next day, says he will guarantee that he can prevent future terrorist attacks through use of intelligence.

[alnick]

I don't deny that Weasely Clerk is a loon, but this is a bad quote to infer it from. This quote actually tells me that Clerk has/had a good intuitive feel for military/civilian intelligence reporting.

Yes, but Ann got a good joke out of it. Besides, it contradicts Wesley's promise that if he were president, there would be no terrorist attacks on US soil, since how could he be 100% sure he could prevent it if intelligence is so murky.