Top Counterterrorism Officer Removed Amid Turmoil at CIA

wash post ^ | February 7, 2006 | Barton Gellman and Dafna Linzer

[prairiebreeze]

The CIA's top counterterrorism officer was relieved of his position yesterday after months of turmoil atop the agency's clandestine service, according to three knowledgeable officials.

Robert Grenier, who spent most of his career undercover overseas, took charge of the Counterterrorism Center about a year ago after a series of senior jobs at the center of the Bush administration's national security agenda.

When al Qaeda struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, Grenier was station chief in Islamabad, Pakistan. Among the agency's most experienced officers in southwest Asia, Grenier helped plan the covert campaign that preceded the U.S. military ouster of al Qaeda and its Taliban allies from Afghanistan.

By the summer of 2002, with President Bush heading toward war in Iraq, then-Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet recalled Grenier to headquarters and promoted him to chief of a newly created Iraq Issues Group. His staff ballooned as the administration planned and launched the invasion in March 2003.

Grenier's predecessor at the Counterterrorism Center, who remains undercover, moved on to become chief of the National Clandestine Service, the successor to the CIA's directorate of operations. Sources said the two men differ sharply in style.

Grenier, 51, is said by associates to be a polished and smooth-talking man with museum-quality mementos of his service overseas. His boss at the clandestine service, the nation's senior human intelligence officer, was said to regard him as insufficiently forceful in the battle with al Qaeda.

"The word on Bob was that he was a good officer, but not the one for the job and not quite as aggressive as he might have been," one official said.

Colleagues in the clandestine service, sources said, had been aware of the poor working relationship between the two men for some time...

[river rat]

"They joked that he was well rested during the war.

SOP for REMFs

Semper Fi

[SE Mom]

This is intriguing. Wonder if he's part of the leak-a-thon going on..

[freema]

How did the reporter know this intimate little detail?

[prairiebreeze]

Yes, or just a PC director who ends up obstructing a lot and accomplishing little.

[Peach]

I want to know who outted this guy. Did he out himself in order to sell his book or did the paper out him?

[freema]

I already asked how the reporter knew about Greiner's personal effects, and now I realized the reporter called him at home. WTF?

[freema]

You asking me?? I don't know! LOL ; )

[freema]

Ping to #78- and I think the guy that wrote the book has same name, but is dead.

[hotshotpilot]

and maybe TERM LIMITS

[Peach]

Thanks for that ping, freema.

[GOPJ]

Draining top talent? Or, cleaning out the incompetents?"

Cleaning out elitist Yaliets with more "polish" than brains? Maybe...

[freema]

You're welcome, in #86 I had to wonder how the reporter called him at home....

[GOPJ]

...you are not "relieved" from your position at Langley because you are soft on terrorism. You may get the golden parachute, but not yanked from your spot. I would not be surprised if he was found to have committed some offense, either of agency rules and reg's, or talked to someone he shouldn't have about inside operations.

You're right. But what was the reason to give this to the Post? Damning with the faintest of praise...

[GarySpFc]

I remember thinking at the time of an interview that he did...that had a lot more of the Rangers been sent into Tora Bora...I felt that they would be walking into a trap..
> The Taliban know that area, we don't....and like you, I didn't think that OBL stayed in that area...not when there is an area in Pakistan, where America isn't allowed enter, that would hide him well..

It may be that OBL left Tora Bora prior to our attack. That said, walking off the mountain through our lines would have been extremely easy. Boxing someone in on a mountain is extremely difficult, and as troops advance up large gaps appear due to the terrain, and it's very easy to walk through those gaps.

[Enchante]

"museum-quality mementos"

Most of our leading Demagogues, aka Democratic Party leaders, are indeed "museum-quality mementos" aka FOSSILS.

Perhaps this guy was just too fond of feeding the Demagogic Beast, or was too cozy with those who do so, aka LEAKERS, aka TRAITORS....

[RightWingConspirator]

I've heard that sort of thing referred to as the person's "I love me" wall/collection.

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the ping. Had been busy shoveling snow for past two days so had not visited FR. Interesting post, I shall read all responses.

[Tail Gunner John]

"Is it me or has the CIA been lacking balls since Cofer Black left"

Good God man, since you're a Freeper I seriously doubt that you are lacking any. The CIA has come up short on balls and brains lately.

[UCANSEE2]

"has to do with the supplying of WMD to Saddam Hussein (whosane to some) before 9/11."

And just what does the company Joe Wilson owns, that was in Niger, that he was going down to negotiate for, do?

[old_sage_says]

"And just what does the company Joe Wilson owns, that was in Niger, that he was going down to negotiate for, do?"


To be honest I don't know what his company does.