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Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit (White House "Screaming Match")
ABC News ^ | 8/24/2009 | MATTHEW COLE, RICHARD ESPOSITO and BRIAN ROSS

Posted on 08/24/2009 8:45:10 AM PDT by mojito

A "profanity-laced screaming match" at the White House involving CIA Director Leon Panetta, and the expected release today of another damning internal investigation, has administration officials worrying about the direction of its newly-appoint intelligence team, current and former senior intelligence officials tell ABC News.com.

Amid reports that Panetta had threatened to quit just seven months after taking over at the spy agency, other insiders tell ABCNews.com that senior White House staff members are already discussing a possible shake-up of top national security officials.

"You can expect a larger than normal turnover in the next year," a senior adviser to Obama on intelligence matters told ABCNews.com.

Since 9/11, the CIA has had five directors or acting directors.

A White House spokesperson, Denis McDonough, said reports that Panetta had threatened to quit and that the White House was seeking a replacement were "inaccurate."

According to intelligence officials, Panetta erupted in a tirade last month during a meeting with a senior White House staff member. Panetta was reportedly upset over plans by Attorney General Eric Holder to open a criminal investigation of allegations that CIA officers broke the law in carrying out certain interrogation techniques that President Obama has termed "torture."

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bhocia; cia; obama; panetta
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To: mojito
Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. said Thursday that CIA officials who used harsh interrogation tactics on suspected terrorists would not face prosecution and that the government would provide free legal representation to any official sued for their participation in the now-banned interrogation program.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/04/holder-cia-officials-will-not-be-charged-for-harsh-interrogation-tactics.html

61 posted on 08/24/2009 9:28:04 AM PDT by McGruff (I have great health insurance and so does every member of Congress - Obama)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear
"Bet ya’ anything that the fight was with Rahm."

Probably. He's one Obamanoid who can out-F-word Panetta, that much is certain.
62 posted on 08/24/2009 9:28:13 AM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast (I love my country, but I fear it, for it does not love me.)
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To: Mr. Silverback
Part of me says, “This is a lie, it’s propaganda” but I can’t figure out what they gain by it.

If the reports are true about the WH taking over "high-value interrogations" and such, then they have to know that it places them at war with the CIA, and the Intel community as a whole.

In that case, leaking this has the effect of the WH getting in the first shot of the battle.

The effect of this leak is to stick Panetta with having to answer questions about his tirade, and so on -- but as a supposedly loyal appointee of the Executive Branch he is hamstrung in his ability to answer candidly about the nature of the controversy.

The WH spin machine is not hamstrung; they can toss out whatever they want about CIA failures, "crimes," and so on.

It's actually quite a clever strategy, in a fascist sort of way.

63 posted on 08/24/2009 9:28:42 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: McGruff

Thank you for that clarification.


64 posted on 08/24/2009 9:28:55 AM PDT by khnyny (Barack Obama and Chauncey Gardiner: separated at birth)
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To: Travis McGee
Hey, his old pals are terrorists like Ayers, what worse "secrets" can the CIA release about Obama?

More to the point, wouldn't the MSM ignore any CIA leaks that painted a negative picture of The One? And if they leaked to Fox or Rush, wouldn't The One's mouthpieces simply say the information was false and/or fraudulent?

65 posted on 08/24/2009 9:28:56 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Public healthcare looks like it will work as well as public housing did.)
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To: mojito

When are some CIA guys going to start leaking and embarrassing and sabotaging the Kenyan? He’s earned it. The American people need it


66 posted on 08/24/2009 9:31:31 AM PDT by dennisw (Free Republic is an island in a sea of zombies)
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To: Travis McGee

Where’s Angleton when we need him?


67 posted on 08/24/2009 9:34:54 AM PDT by BOBTHENAILER (,)
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To: Travis McGee
Hey, his old pals are terrorists like Ayers, what worse "secrets" can the CIA release about Obama?

His current treasonous ambitions, which apparently are growing expotentially.

Take us down in one term? Hell, he's well on his way in less than one year.

68 posted on 08/24/2009 9:35:02 AM PDT by 4woodenboats
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To: Mr. Silverback

Or much, much worse.


69 posted on 08/24/2009 9:38:46 AM PDT by twigs
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To: Da Coyote

Where the hell is J. Edgar Hoover when we really need him?


70 posted on 08/24/2009 9:38:53 AM PDT by 70th Division (I love my country but fear my government!)
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To: khnyny
Obama and Holder lied.

Obama Administration: No Prosecution of Officials for Bush-Era Torture Policy - April 19, 2009

71 posted on 08/24/2009 9:39:21 AM PDT by McGruff (I have great health insurance and so does every member of Congress - Obama)
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To: SueRae

But does Hill have anyplace else to go? She gave up her senate seat for this mockery.


72 posted on 08/24/2009 9:39:47 AM PDT by twigs
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To: MNJohnnie

At least someone else understands- Zero is a fascist.


73 posted on 08/24/2009 9:39:53 AM PDT by Rockitz (This isn't rocket science- follow the money and you'll find truth.)
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To: mojito

If Panetta had belief in his country he would be packing his office.

He can scream and threaten to quit but when push comes to shove, he’s still there.


74 posted on 08/24/2009 9:40:52 AM PDT by hattend (Sarah Palin's mob minion - Mob Name: Hatman the Hitman)
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To: Da Coyote

The problem is that both Obama and his mother worked for places that have been known to front for CIA operatives.

I am convinced the black hole in his history is due to being involved with the CIA.

In order to defend himself about his travel, etc. he might have to reveal CIA secrets...

I don’t think the info will ever come to light..I think it will be used for blackmail.

I will never understand why Rahm is so anti-Israel.

M. Begin lead Irgun (Rahm’s father is a member) and he gave away land for peace. Rahm wants Bibi to do the same thing.


75 posted on 08/24/2009 9:41:17 AM PDT by RummyChick
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To: ETL

Yikes!


76 posted on 08/24/2009 9:41:38 AM PDT by 4woodenboats
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To: MNJohnnie

They have already taken control of the media. Thats why they are silent, thats also why they are going broke, Change is in the air, but not the change zer0 was counting on.


77 posted on 08/24/2009 9:42:39 AM PDT by reefdiver (So how's that HOPE & CHANGE working out for ya ?)
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To: abb
I’m thinking the CIA has Panetta on a leash and not Obama. That’s why Panetta is staying loyal to the CIA. God knows how much stuff they have on everyone.

Just so.

Whether or not Panetta is acting out of a vestigial sense of loyalty to our country, I don't know. But the likelier explanation is that he has been backed into a corner by these onstant attacks from Holder and others, and is defending his current turf--the CIA.

78 posted on 08/24/2009 9:43:01 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: mojito
Notice how the report only mentions Panetta's name in the "screaming match," and not the Obama flunkie involved?

Another media geared plot to make Panetta look bad. Remember when Chaney dared to utter a four-letter word and the media was all over the story? But this report has not a peep about who was arguing with Panetta in this "profanity laced" match. Oh no, wouldn't want the country to know that Obama's people might use such language. It is so sickeningly obvious how "in bed" the media is with this administration.

79 posted on 08/24/2009 9:44:24 AM PDT by CitizenM ("An excuse is worse than an lie, because an excuse is a lie hidden." Pope John Paul, II)
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To: mojito
New interrogation squads: “Mr. Terrorist, are you comfortable? Can I get you anything? How's the food? Say, would you do me a teensie weensie little favor and tell me where the nuclear bomb is? I can offer you a beer with the President! Oh yeah, I forgot you don't drink. (Psst, pass the word not to have Air Force One buzz New York today, it wouldn't be safe.) . . . ."
80 posted on 08/24/2009 9:49:33 AM PDT by colorado tanker (Martha's Vineyard is great! Hey, honey, let's take a drive . . . .)
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