Obama warned on CIA

Washington Times ^ | 12.04.08 | Bill Gertz

[Perdogg]

A former CIA deep-cover spy says President-elect Barack Obama needs to radically reshape what he terms the "dysfunctional" CIA -- or face more strategic intelligence failures.

Ishmael Jones, the pseudonym for a former Marine and recently retired CIA case officer, said in an interview that despite intelligence reform efforts in the post-Sept. 11 era, "the CIA bureaucracy has mutated into a living creature that serves its own aims."

[swarthyguy]

>.Clinton holdovers.

What’s the shelf life on this phrase....

Are we going to be seeing Bush Holdovers too?

[rockinqsranch]

“He needs to start canning folks. Something President Bush should have done on Day 1!”

IIRC Bush could not get rid of those that Clinton had transferred their status from Presidential Appointment positions to Civil Service positions. A real slick “Slick Willy” move that entrenched many more of the Leftist Clintonista “In Crowd” into lifetime Government Bureaucracy positions.

It was Clinton’s contribution to the disaster that our Government has become. IOW there wasn’t a thing Bush could do about it.

[LomanBill]

["the CIA bureaucracy has mutated into a living creature that serves its own aims."]

"Critics speak scathingly of CIA employees sewing diversity quilts and celebrating Gay Pride Day. Tenet revealed last year that the CIA was actively recruiting homosexuals. A group called the "Agency Network of Gay and Lesbian Employees" exists at the CIA,"

 Nothing to see here... move along.

[El Gato]

the CIA bureaucracy has mutated into a living creature that serves its own aims."

What does he mean, "Mutated?". It's always been that way, or at least since the post Korean war timeframe.

Too many libs higher up, not enough former or current military. And they should stick to their knitting (national level intelligence), if force is needed, that's why we have an Army, a Navy, a Marine Corps and an Air Force.

[Ancient Drive]

don’t forget the IRS

[MNJohnnie]

O should have no trouble with the Agency since they are all part of the same ivory tower elitist Leftist clique

[AFreeBird]

Are we going to be seeing Bush Holdovers too?

They're Clintoon holdovers

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[GOPJ]

General Swartzkoph said after Desert Storm that the CIA support was so vague and general as to be useless.

That's telling.

[IrishPennant]

Obama warned on CIA

Uhhhh....is it me or is this title backwards?

[SuperLuminal]

bttt

[Valentine_W]

I think it is possible to presume that the cultures between the analytical wing and the operational wing of the Agency are different. I think one of the things Hayden always said he wanted to improve was the communication between the 2 Directorates of the Agency. I think you may also want to consider that many analysts at the Agency have academic backgrounds, where a short tour of duty is just another notch on their resume to climbing up the academic ladder. I wouldn't be surprised if these types often move on if they aren't getting good enough retention pay or if they get bored and want more variety of experience in their resume.

I don't know much about the author or about the book. I would take a close look at his background and whether he actually has good points to make, or if he's just another disgruntled ex-employee with an axe to grind. Although I will say that this statement he makes "While the CIA is unable to run effective human source operations, it has a raptorlike efficiency when it comes to defending itself and its growth," sounds like a ridiculous bit of hyperbole to me. And this idea he has: "...transferring foreign intelligence liaison carried out at U.S. embassies to the State Department. The FBI should take charge of the CIA's domestic activities..." also sound like pretty lame ideas.

[cgbg]

CIA's domestic activities

Maybe I am not up to date but isn't it illegal for the CIA to engage in domestic intelligence?

Send me the memo, please.

:-)

[LA Conservative]

There are two books that cover this subject really that I have read.
1. “Legacy of Ashes” by Tim Wright
2. “Shadow Warriors” by Ken Timmerman

Reading these books makes you wonder if we have not already entered a cold civil war period, where the government goes against the policy goals of the elected administration.

[pray4liberty]

This is funny. The finger-pointing is starting already. IMHO, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the CIA old-timers are now retiring in droves. They don’t want to be blamed when the crap hits the fan. They are going to be out of there.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Gen. Hayden is the right man for the job of Director of the CIA. He has the ‘bona fides’ and ‘gravitas’ (to use politicians favorite words) in that field to do it well."

Furthermore, he's a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan ;-)

[Valentine_W]

I think the terminology you're using is confusing and not specific enough to provide a good answer. Assuming that you're asking a serious question, I am under the assumption that the author, per his direct quotes from the article, was referring to any such activities permissible under FISA.

BTW, this was the last important piece of legislation that Bush signed into law. From what I've read, certain concessions were made in order for the bill to get passed, but I think this shows how smart and prioritized Bush actually is, especially considering his lame duck status.

[hinckley buzzard]

"the CIA bureaucracy has mutated into a living creature that serves its own aims."

All bureaucracies do this. It is a law of nature. Look at the State Department as the defining example. NASA for another example.

The fault lies with preceding presidents who had to see this happening and did nothing about it.

[fortunecookie]

Like it has been for years, before 9/11. I guess they were just waiting for the right one to come along and fix it.