Man, you paint with a pretty broad brush don't you? It's "increasingly difficult to take" your national security views at face value. Hastert is not a congressional expert on any of those. But, the Intel and Defense Committee regulars are solid, and in fact, a lot more so than the Administration has been on defense deployments, intel problems, readiness and minding the store. Keep in mind, that the Administration kept George Tenet, a Xlintonite, on for almost four years...because "they hit it off." He was either a wet noodle or a schill. Take your pick. Either way, the results were predictable.
Untold Disaster.
As Ronald Reagan knew, Personnel is Policy.
Getting these rats out of the CIA is absolutely necessary. I hope this means progress.