Posted on 11/14/2004 5:15:52 PM PST by blam
Spies rise up against CIA chief
By Marcus Warren in New York
(Filed: 15/11/2004)
The CIA was in turmoil last night as supporters and critics of its new director fought a bitter and very public war of words over his efforts to overhaul America's main intelligence service.
The brash management style of Porter Goss, a controversial appointment when President George W Bush picked him for the job this summer, was under unprecedented scrutiny amid reports of spies' morale sinking to its lowest point in 25 years.
Many senior CIA insiders abandoned the cloak-and-dagger tactics of their craft to launch a direct assault on the agency's chief only two months after he took over.
Former officials made damning statements at the weekend, apparently acting as mouthpieces for disgruntled serving officers.
"It's the worst roiling I've ever heard of," one "former senior official with knowledge of the events" told the Washington Post. "There's confusion throughout the ranks and an extraordinary loss of morale and incentive."
"There's no clear direction from Goss," a former official complained to the New York Times.
Four former deputy directors of operations reportedly warned Mr Goss of a possible in-house rebellion.
Mr Goss's number two, John McLaughlin, resigned last week and Stephen Kappes, the head of espionage, was said to be clearing his office over the weekend.
Senator John McCain backed his Republican colleague last night, praising Mr Goss's campaign to improve the CIA's performance against terrorism and denouncing the agency as in need of reform.
"This kind of shake-up is absolutely necessary," the influential Arizona congressman said.
"This is a dysfunctional agency and in some ways a rogue agency."
so quit.
The agency obviously needs a good shaking up. Goss seems to be having an effect.
Give 'em hell Porter!
Here's another for your library.
in-house rebellion?
So they are going to quit and all write books for the NY Times??
he's got to drain the swamp quickly - 30 days. and get some new people he can trust into those positions.
Spies or entrenched upper level professional bureaucrats?
He got confirmed by the Senate without any fight by the Dems. Why are they saying he is/was controversial?
As a former head of the CIA, I would not doubt that he has kept tabs on the ins&outs at the agency and may have been offering advice.
My thoughts exactly -- "spies" rise up against new CIA chief? Please -- if these guys were "spying" then how come we had 9/11.
They weren't spying. Don't know exactly WHAT they were doing. What has the CIA been doing since '93?
I am waiting for what tomorrow brings.
Just keep flushing, Mr. Goss. Eventually they'll go down the drain.
He's only been there a short time and hasn't done much. When you read the articles the complaint is they are all worried but don't know what he wants yet, and boo hoo he hasn't become buddies with the complainers. Something tells me this is all about parking spaces.
Just a symbolic gesture...unless some of them insist on offering a more real trophy.
Their morale is the lowest ever after a few weeks of a new boss who hasn't decided anything yet? Now mind you, these complainers are saying their morale was not this low after they missed the 9/11 attacks or when they got Iraq's WMDs wrong. I think I want them all fired.
GO GOSS !!
Get Rid of the Clinton Socialists !! Make sure there are none left at the CIA!! State is NEXT -- CLEAN House !!
chuckling here... this is exactly how it sounds, this early: brawls over parking spaces and cubicles vs window offices. I'll wager dollars to donuts he laid out some very strict and new reporting requirements. And these disgruntled members are shrieking that their freedoms are being taken away...
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