Clash Foreseen Between C.I.A. and Pentagon [NY Times Whines Some More!]

The New York Times ^ | May 10, 2006 | ERIC SCHMITT

[Enchante]

In one of the boldest new missions, the Pentagon has sharply increased the number of clandestine teams of Defense Intelligence Agency personnel and Special Operations forces conducting secret counterterrorism missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other foreign countries. Using a broad definition of its current authority to conduct "traditional military activities" and "prepare the battlefield," the Pentagon has dispatched teams to gather information about potential foes well before any shooting starts.

In an effort to enhance military interrogations, Mr. Cambone is also overseeing the politically sensitive task of rewriting the Army's field manual. Just last week, he and other top Pentagon officials briefed senior senators on a Pentagon proposal to have one set of interrogation techniques for enemy prisoners of war and another, presumably more coercive, set for the suspected terrorists imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, said Senate aides, who were granted anonymity because the discussions were confidential.

At the Pentagon Tuesday, Mr. Rumsfeld voiced support for General Hayden's nomination and dismissed any reported rivalries with his intelligence brethren as "theoretical conspiracies" that were "all off the mark." He added, "There's no power play taking place in Washington."

Some of the Pentagon's new initiatives have been previously disclosed. But in interviews, more than two dozen officials from intelligence agencies, the Defense Department and Congress provided new details of what they described as a strong effort by the Pentagon to assert a much broader role in the clandestine world of intelligence.

[Enchante]

NY Slimes concerned that liberal weasels in CIA and Congress might be losing control, so they spin it all as a power-grab by Rumsfeld.

[Tzimisce]

So let me get this straight - the New York Times prefers a CIA that leaks secret information putting people's lives in danger to a CIA that is actively trying to make the world a safer place? And all because they and the old CIA oppose the Bush Administration?

And we shouldn't call these people traitors because....?

[The Electrician]

said Senate aides, who were granted anonymity because the discussions were confidential

Is Sen. Rockefellar flapping his gums again?

[zerosix]

Gosh, the more I hear about how "bad it would be for the CIA to have someone in the 'military' wearing his uniform, the more I think that this would absolutely be the best thing for this pit of snakes.

[ncountylee]

Another editorial appearing as news. I'm ready to lose breakfast.

Do these "reporters" learn nothing in journalism school?

[Enchante]

Ping! NY Times is wouldn't want us to have better intel, especially if it means the DoD is in a stronger position relative to CIA and weasels in Congress..... especially if it might mean that their liberal sewing circles in the CIA and State might have less opportunity to spread malicious gossip and weaken the nation.

"In one of the boldest new missions, the Pentagon has sharply increased the number of clandestine teams of Defense Intelligence Agency personnel and Special Operations forces conducting secret counterterrorism missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other foreign countries. Using a broad definition of its current authority to conduct "traditional military activities" and "prepare the battlefield," the Pentagon has dispatched teams to gather information about potential foes well before any shooting starts.""

Marron, this sounds like elements of what you were just talking about, pushing ahead the teams and individuals that really know how to get things done and bypassing the weasels as much as possible. I would sure hope that the DoD is given great latitude to do stuff like this to win the war on jihadists!! Note the whining by Patrick Lang (VIPS clown), Jane Harmon, and Susan Collins. If they are whining then I'm sure some good things are being done!! Reporters always seem to be able to find the VIPS frauds for quotes, without EVER acknowledging that they are a far-left group led by the likes of anti-semite Ray McGovern.

[Seeking the truth]

What is a "VIPS clown"?

[Enchante]

VIPS = left-wing group of 'critics' of the current administration (stands for "Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity")

They tried hard to get John "Vichy" Kerry elected

They try hard (with some success, unfortunately) to promote leaks and leakers to undermine the WH and DoD

Closely involved with Joe Wilson and Pflamegate

Leading weasels in this group include Larry Johnson and Ray McGovern, who are constantly quoted by MSM reporters on intel issues - presented as objective 'experts' repudiating administration policies at every turn, while the MSM never lets people know that these people are Noam Chomsky acolytes with an axe to grind......

[Perdogg]

Good! Go Pentagon!

[Perdogg]

New York Times prefers a CIA that leaks secret information..

Ever hear of Sy Hersh???

[shield]

Since, you've got several websites you read first thing...then you've seen MacRanger and what he has to say about Kappas?

[pepsionice]

I think alot of people are looking for smoke...without fires. There is going to be a clash. Gen Hayden isn't going to back down to play second fiddle on intelligence operations with the pentagon. He is an absolute 4-star player in the intelligence world...and wants human intelligence kept within the boundary of the CIA. His comments last year about moving part of the imagery and mapping agency over to civilan control...got him in hot water with Rummy...and frankly...the General didn't care...he felt the best interests of those concerned...was the mapping and imagery agency under civilian control. This is a four-star general thinking this. He has numerous opinions that are quiet off-base with Rummy.

I see the next two years as an interesting period. There were 3 x 500-lb guerrillas in Bush's office providing opinion on the world at hand (Rummy, Cheney, and Rice). Rice was the only centralist figure of the group. I think Hayden was selected by Bush to be a 4th 500-lb guerrilla...and counter both Rummy and Cheney. It takes time to rebuild the agency back into what it was in the 1960s and 1970s...but this is the guy to do it. And these attempts by Rummy to build the Pentagon's own version of the CIA...are about to meet a brick wall.

[oceanview]

yes, you are correct.

But what I worry about is - which side will Negroponte be able to pull Bush towards. The NYT aside, this is a serious question.

[The South Texan]

What do expect? The Slimes and Pinch what America to lose to Islamofacists. I wonder how long they would survive in the Islamic Republic of the United States?

[Beckwith]

What's all the fuss about a military man being DCIA?

I seem to remember one Admiral Stansfield Turner as Mr. Peanuts DCIA.

Oh, I forgot, it's only wrong if a Republican does it.

Sorry!

[STARWISE]

Note the sinister wording for someone working around the clock to PROTECT US ... the evil creeps.

""whose low public profile masks his influence as one of the nation's most powerful intelligence officials."

Any staffer found to be leaking to the NYSlimes or ANY media outlet about CIA/Pentagon/national security issues should be immediately fired and penalized. Will Mary McCarthy be punished for her treason???

[Marine_Uncle]

"I still harbor concerns that some things are being done under the rubric of preparing the battlefield that I'd consider to be intelligence-collection activities, are being run separately and are feeding a planning apparatus that's not well understood by Congress," said Representative Jane Harman..."
Not to bash her on this one, but I really do not think she nor the rest of the Hill receive adequate information on how each agency operates to form a definitive point of view.

And IMHO, the less they know. The better. Recent history has shown the wisdom in this. Who wants Rockefeller blabing his mouth off as how SOCOM has stationed units at a given embassy to do such and such.
Her above statement tells me she probably is clueless in what say SOCOM is now setting up, other then the knowledge they are now starting to exercise functions once being the inclusive property of the CIA.
Likewise. She probably has little knowledge of programs such as say ABLE DANGER operating under the DIA, and why the program was put into place.
She has to understand the DIA and SOCOM as well as the Airforce,Army,Marine, and Naval intellegence units must expand and restructure where it makes sense, to better serve their branch in a totally new enviroment, that still takes into account the cold war with the Russians and Chicoms never really ended. GHB simply made a blank statement way back when for public consumption.
And no one at this site at least would doubt the need for each Intel Agency to have to re-evaluate how it will function from herein.
Some activities will by their nature have to be performed in redundancy by two or more entities. It just makes sense IMHO.
Jane probably does not realize for instance that a Marine in S-4 (either Intellegience or Counter Intellegience) each day in Iraq will when required literally perform intelligence-collection activities much like some CIA field operative may in a similiar scenario.
Sure. Different methodologies as how to perform a task may differ, but the end result is there is much reproducable functionality across the board. In this she must be educated.

[zerosix]

I certainly hope not. I really do not desire to have a clone of Rice. I'd throw my lot with Rummy and Cheney any day of the week.

The fact is that many of the wonderful CIA heads were military "Cowboys" who really understood battle, i.e. breaking things and killing people and what it takes to stay alive in a kill or be killed atmosphere.

That is the world that we live in and we need someone with that kind of attitude and gung ho methods to (as they say in the Marines) "Kick A@@ and Take Names."

[Piranha]

In an effort to enhance military interrogations, Mr. Cambone is also overseeing the politically sensitive task of rewriting the Army's field manual. Just last week, he and other top Pentagon officials briefed senior senators on a Pentagon proposal to have one set of interrogation techniques for enemy prisoners of war and another, presumably more coercive, set for the suspected terrorists imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, said Senate aides, who were granted anonymity because the discussions were confidential.

I wonder who the leaker was.

[eureka!]

Yep. Methinks they'll be having more to whine about in due course. Hehehehe...