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Ex-Intelligence Officials Cite Low Spirits at CIA
Washington Post ^ | August 30, 2009 | Walter Pincus and Joby Warrick

Posted on 08/31/2009 8:56:33 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia

Morale has sagged at the CIA following the release of additional portions of an inspector general's review of the agency's interrogation program and the announcement that the Justice Department would investigate possible abuses by interrogators, according to former intelligence officials, especially those associated with the program.

A. B. "Buzzy" Krongard, the third-ranking CIA official at the time of the use of harsh interrogation practices, said that although vigorous oversight is crucial, the public airing of once-classified internal assessments and the prospect of further investigation are damaging the agency. "Morale at the agency is down to minus 50," he said.

At the same time, former inspector general John L. Helgerson, whose review of the program was largely declassified Monday, said that the release, though painful, would ensure that the agency confronts difficult issues head on, instead of ignoring or trying to bury them.

Helgerson also said it would be "very difficult" to mount a successful prosecution of any of the individuals who participated in the program. The Bush-era Justice Department "approved the program orally and in writing; the agency's chain of command was involved. There would be no jury appeal, and I do not believe there was any criminal intent among those involved," Helgerson said.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cia; morale
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1 posted on 08/31/2009 8:56:33 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Remember Valarie Plame (you leftist bast@rds)!


2 posted on 08/31/2009 8:58:38 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Let them, it will be another nail..


3 posted on 08/31/2009 9:02:55 AM PDT by cardinal4 (Dont Tread on Me)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

The whole point of Holder’s exercise is NOT to get the individual agents who did their jobs, but to get Bush, Cheney, and Rove.


4 posted on 08/31/2009 9:03:11 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Gee, I’d hate to think some disaffected CIA type would get ahold of the actual Birth Certificate on file in Hawaii....


5 posted on 08/31/2009 9:03:45 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie ("UPS and FEDEX are doing fine. It's the Post Office that's always having problems." - 0bummer)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
"Morale at the agency is down to minus 50," he said.

Do they have a special morale thermometer at the CIA?

6 posted on 08/31/2009 9:03:49 AM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

“Why didn’t we know this was comming?”

“Where was the intelligence on this?”

Two quotes likely to be heard after the next attack. The answers to both will or should be, we closed our eyes and plugged our ears for fear that we might violate the rights of someone who had not previously perpetrated a crime that we could prove.

We’ll get to have an investigative panel headed by Jamie try to figure out where we went wrong and whose fault it is.


7 posted on 08/31/2009 9:04:09 AM PDT by Tenacious 1 (Government For the People - an obviously concealed oxymoron)
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To: Tenacious 1

Gee, and these clowns thought that leaking against GW would buy them street cred with the Alinskyites.

Idiots.

Best,

Chris


8 posted on 08/31/2009 9:08:49 AM PDT by section9 (Major Motoko Kusanagi says, "Jesus is Coming. Everybody look busy...")
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

The CIA should live up to their oath by protecting us from our enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC.


9 posted on 08/31/2009 9:10:15 AM PDT by Lexington Green (The Weather Underground now occupies the White House.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Nothing like a little revenge to brighten one’s day...eh?

Don’t think I’d wanna get the CIA wee-weed off at me...


10 posted on 08/31/2009 9:12:53 AM PDT by moovova (More coffee please...make it a double.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Privatize the cia and then sell intel to the gov and make a profit.


11 posted on 08/31/2009 9:14:03 AM PDT by devistate one four (Back by popular demand: America love or leave it (GTFOOMC) TET68)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Didn't take long... So, now for a trip down memory lane:

"On his first visit to the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, Mr Obama said he would "vigorously" protect the agency, just as it protected the US."

"Don't be discouraged by what's happened in the last few weeks," Mr Obama told a large audience who applauded and cheered when he first appeared before them."

"Mr Obama on Thursday said he would not prosecute under anti-torture laws CIA personnel who relied in good faith on Bush administration legal opinions issued after the 11 September attacks."

Obama Reaffirms Support for CIA

CIA can now be heard cheering... from under the bus.

12 posted on 08/31/2009 9:14:11 AM PDT by justkate
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
The whole point of Holder’s exercise is NOT to get the individual agents who did their jobs, but to get Bush, Cheney, and Rove.

probably more to do with getting Obamacare off the main burner
13 posted on 08/31/2009 9:15:29 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

This is so bad and it is impossible for it to end well.


14 posted on 08/31/2009 9:18:34 AM PDT by Cheetahcat (Zero the Wright kind of Racist! We are in a state of War with Democrats)
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To: justkate

bump


15 posted on 08/31/2009 9:45:39 AM PDT by gibsosa
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

The CIA could revive itself by performing a constitutional sworn duty and release any and all of its acquired intelligence of Barack Hussein Obama to the public.

They would be heroes to America.


16 posted on 08/31/2009 9:49:09 AM PDT by Eye of Unk ("If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." T. Paine)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Virginia Ridgerunner
The whole point of Holder’s exercise is NOT to get the individual agents who did their jobs, but to get Bush, Cheney, and Rove.

Maybe - but we'll still need to keep notes. When we get back in power we might find that Holder going after the CIA (for doing their job)was an illegal act. And we'll go after Holder... to get Obama... Nice of them to show us the way...

18 posted on 08/31/2009 9:59:37 AM PDT by GOPJ (What's Socialism ??: "Envy" gussied up as a political cause...... David Horowitz)
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To: Uncle Miltie

That such a thing hasn’t happened ought to tell you something.


19 posted on 08/31/2009 10:30:35 AM PDT by El Sordo
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To: JMack

Probably better than what’s happening now at the least!

Thanks


20 posted on 08/31/2009 10:40:42 AM PDT by devistate one four (Back by popular demand: America love or leave it (GTFOOMC) TET68)
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