Posted on 10/08/2005 9:08:21 AM PDT by george76
CIA's spooks are in turmoil.
Fights between top CIA managers and Goss' inner circle are spilling into public view. Veterans are retiring early...
Goss...is making waves as he fulfills promises to the White House and Congress that he would make the CIA respond better to terrorism and other modern threats.
Goss said the CIA will bring in recruits who have traveled abroad and "more recent arrivals to the United States." Historically, such backgrounds would make it difficult to get a CIA job because of security risks and other concerns.
Goss also plans to reduce the bureaucracy at headquarters, send more people into the field for traditional spying, rely less on foreign allies for intelligence, take more risks and encourage employees to improve their foreign language skills.
"As we start out today in the intelligence world ... we start out a little behind the curve," ..."Not enough people speak the languages we need."
Goss' moves are known to be causing heartburn among CIA personnel, but defenders said that is to be expected with any major organizational changes.
"I am not surprised at all by a public food fight," House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., said in an interview. "In some ways, I take that as Porter doing his job."
Within weeks, CIA managers with decades of intelligence experience left after fighting with Goss' advisers. Only last month, the No. 2 official in the clandestine service, Robert Richer, quit. Details of the disputes spilled into the news.
Under Goss, the clandestine service has scored victories. It provided Pakistan with information that led to the capture of al-Qaida's No. 3 leader, Abu Farraj al-Libbi, in May. Shortly thereafter, his associate Haitham al-Yemeni was killed by a missile fired from a CIA drone aircraft.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansas.com ...
The more waves the better. When Goss took over, the CIA was a cesspool of clintonoid corruption and incompetence.
Wonderful! A great many veterans in the CIA need to leave -
Exactly there was one Washington insider, at this point I forget who, who said when you take over as president the first order of business is to get your people in at both CIA and at Justice. (I would add the State dept. but that may be a hopeless cause as it seems to have a life of its own).
Interestingly, clinton cleaned house at Justice from the outset - he may be evil but in matters such as this he's not dumb.
I hope Goss cleans out all the clintonista scum and disinfects the place so they can't grow back.
Sounds like Bush nominated a crony, someone with no experience running the CIA. Conservatives should be furious!
Cleaning the commies... er.. uh.. cobwebs, outa the place. : )
Burrowcrats hate to have the spotlight on them.
Limpiando la casa! This is what I think Rumsfield and Rice are also doing in their departments.
Goss was elected on his own, not a hangerson, also he is former CIA.
Are you furious at Goss for trying to clean up the CIA?
Wichita Eagle, kansas.com. Tenet was from Kansas, wasn't he?
Changes are certainly overdue. The agency was starting to resemble a Seattle e-startup: too many guys & gals driving minivans, punching the clock.
"The CIA, it's not an adventure, it's just a job."
No, Goss is doing a fine job. I was making a comparison to Harriet Miers.
As usual, the Left will jump to the defense of incompetent "veterans" like Richard Clarke who want to go back to Clinton ignoring terrorism.
Looks to me like this should be creating opportunities for those who are interested in some exciting jobs.
Oh, don't worry. Hillary will be giving them all jobs just like Kerry gave Wilson and Berger jobs.
Running crying to the AP. Goss was CIA and knows what he's doing.
I see your point.
Goss is effective probably coz of his CIA experience. Can't say the same about Miers' experiecne with Constitutional law.
Besides, Bush has had his hits and misses nominating close friends (cronies?) to important positions (Myers to head the Immigration agency??!!).
It would be nice to return to the days when nobody messed with the USA, and if they did, the CIA took care of it.
Where's Porter Goss now? Andrea Mitchell, quoting the NYT, who undoubtedly got it from the CIA, says Bush used information gotten from torture which subsequently proved to be false, before Bush used it to make the case for war against SADDAM.
Where's Porter Goss?? can't we plug these leaks and make some heads ROLLLLL?
We can't have the CIA using its info to topple a President!!!
I guess that is two of us watching hardball. Yuck kind of makes you sick. Know the enemy I always say.
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