CIA DIRECTOR GOSS NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY WELCOME AT PRESIDENT’S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

Drudge Report ^ | 6/5/05 | Matt Drudge

[wagglebee]

New York –After nearly 60 years at the pinnacle of American intelligence—and at the elbow of Presidents—the CIA director is no longer automatically welcome at the President’s National Security Council (NSC) meetings. John Negroponte, the new director of National Intelligence, has taken his chair, TIME reports.

The May 2 memo, obtained by TIME and also reported last week by GovWatch.com, states that “effective immediately,” Negroponte will participate in meetings of the NSC and its domestic counterpart, the Homeland Security Council (HSC). Meanwhile, CIA director Porter Goss “will attend NSC and HSC meetings at the direction of the President.” That’s the polite Beltway equivalent of saying, “Don’t call us. We’ll call you,” reports TIME’s Tim Burger.

“It’s a clear diminution in the authority of the director of CIA,” said David Rothkopf, a Clinton Adminstration official and author of a new book on the NSC. “If you’re not in the room, you’re not playing an influential role.” CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise says Goss, who was sworn in as CIA chief last September, still attends his share of meetings—and isn’t in the game for “face time.” He “is there when he needs to be,” says Millerwise. Goss has so far ignored any suggestions that his power has been reduced. Though he is no longer in charge of the President’s daily intelligence briefing on national-security issues, aides say he is spending more time focusing on needed reforms at the agency, visiting far-flung CIA spooks in the field and looking for ways to fill in gaps in the CIA’s human intelligence and analysis, TIME reports.

[wagglebee]

CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise says Goss, who was sworn in as CIA chief last September, still attends his share of meetings—and isn’t in the game for “face time.” He “is there when he needs to be,” says Millerwise.

Time magazine doesn't seem to understand that WINNING the war on terror is more important than appearances.

[ken21]

if either the cia or the fbi had prevented 9.11, they'd still be there.

[Tangerine Time Machine]

I don't suspect Goss is letting it worry him. I'm sure Bush told him how it was going to be when he appointed him, and Goss was fine with it.

It's a definite loss of face for the career types, but they deserve some time in the wilderness the way they got owned by a clutch of terrorists.

[wagglebee]

The career CIA guys totally f*cked up before 9/11 and on Iraq.

[facedown]

TIME and Drudge? Why am I not impressed?

[Txsleuth]

If it doesn't bother Goss, it shouldn't bother us...

I gather that since Negroponte is the diplomat, Bush will use him for the communication part, and Goss for the cleaning up and out part!!!

[Chode]

the correct phrase is "No longer automatically NEEDED..."

[fso301]

DU freaks will be screaming this is because the WH thinks the CIA leaked the Downing Street Memo.

[mercy]

They are lucky there still IS a CIA. Many many heads should have publicly rolled after 9/11 and Bush should have so reordered the CIA as to make it a wholly other agency. A new name would have been good.

[maestro]

......New York ?After nearly 60 years at the pinnacle of American intelligence?and at the elbow of Presidents?the CIA director is no longer automatically welcome at the President?s National Security Council (NSC) meetings. John Negroponte, the new director of National Intelligence, has taken his chair, TIME reports. .....

Yep,.....but just wait till Bush creates the NEW President's INTERNATIONAL Security Council (ISC) meetings!!!!!

Porter Goss will be there!!!

/George Soros

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>TIME and Drudge? Why am I not impressed?

It is Sunday nite - and it's Drudge pimping his radio show...

[Guillermo]

Huge mistake not to shake up the CIA post the fall of the USSR, much less 9-11.

The CIA was built to fight the Soviets, not Mohammedan terrorists.

[alancarp]

Um, 'scuze me for saying so, but wasn't this the ENTIRE POINT of having a National Intelligence Tzar -- the position the Left DEMANDED during the 9/11 inquisit-- uh, investigations???

[GVnana]

Ouch. Looks like Bush was serious about a culture change at CIA.

[Americanexpat]

They restructured the whole Intelligence setup within the country. This is no big deal.

[Archon of the East]

Going all the way back to the OSS and Herbert Marcuse ....Can you really trust them?

[Just A Nobody]

IIRC, around the time of Negroponte's confirmation, Goss made the crack about being overwhelmed at the amount of work he had, and that Negroponte would be taking some of that load, including the daily briefings with the PRESIDENT.

Also -
“It’s a clear diminution in the authority of the director of CIA,” said David Rothkopf, a Clinton Adminstration official

I could care less what ANY of the Klintoon's "officials" have to say. Were we not subjected to those buffoons long enough?

[demlosers]

“It’s a clear diminution in the authority of the director of CIA,” said David Rothkopf, a Clinton Adminstration official and author of a new book on the NSC. “If you’re not in the room, you’re not playing an influential role.”

And how many times did Clinton see the CIA director? Once, twice? LoL!

[Mr. Jeeves]

It isn't a critique of Goss, but a well-deserved diminution in the power of the CIA (a process that Goss was put in place to oversee). And it will set a precedent that future Administrations will likely follow.

[Soul Seeker]

Saw the headline. Looked to the Source. Surprise. It's Drudge.

Goss is not being "snubbed" as Drudge animatedly is trying to paint it.

Goss is Bush's guy. He was nominated before the election to clean up the CIA and he's doing a good job judging by the screams from within.

When the position Negroponte was given was created this was the intended role. To present this as "news" is stretching it. Goss will be perfectly fine with it. Meetings cut down, more time to whip the people at the CIA into shape.