Eager young recruit, a father to be and man in charge among CIA dead ( Afghanistan bombing )

Times Online (UK) ^ | January 8, 2010 | Giles Whittell in Washington and Jerome Starkey in Kabul

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yet, of the Americans who died last week in the suicide bombing at the CIA’s most sensitive outpost in Afghanistan, it is the seventh whose presence has raised the most urgent questions as the US scrambles to repair — and avenge — the damage done to the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

According to a security official in Kabul with close ties to the CIA, when Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi carried out his deadly mission at Forward Operating Base Chapman, he managed to kill the agency’s deputy head of station for the whole of Afghanistan.

The senior agent was waiting at the base near Khost to meet al-Balawi, debrief him on the whereabouts of Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden’s deputy, and convey his findings directly to the White House.

“They were expecting the meeting to be of such substance that following the meeting their next directive was to call President Obama,” the official told The Times.

“There was meant to be a direct call to Washington.”

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It was going to be a glorious Moment...

But for Al-Qaeda.....

[RushingWater]

Did Paneta ever say ANYTHING about this?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Where are the old and wise hands of the CIA?

After the attacks from the Leftists...did they decide to take their retirement?

[NoRedTape]

Still saddened by Mikey Spann's killing.

BRING IN THE BIG BOMBS. BOMB THE HILLSIDES of AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN RELENTLESSLY AND OF ALL OSAMA COHORTS AND ALL TRAILS LEADING TO OSAMA BIN LADEN.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Crap....see this:

CIA, Counterterrorism Execs Managed Bomb Crisis from Afar

**********************************************

This is strike three on Obama....he doesn't want to talk about this.

[Palladin]

No. He’s too busy with his vacation, just like Obooboo was when the Christmas Day bomb plot failed. And the other guy who was on a skiing vacation.

Our enemies know exactly to strike—when all the top security people are on vacation.

This time they can’t blame George Bush for everything.

[fatima]

Obama’s ,spit on him.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Where are the old and wise hands of the CIA?"
Firstly one must establish if there where any such over the past fifty years or so. And I am not being flip. Let us go back in time to the CIA where so many Soviet plants where in place. Need I say more. As for the goons such as Paneta being present. It does not matter. If these Intel agencies where really working properly the big boss could spend 350 days a year on golf courses.
If some local problem at say a Home Depot comes up, say a customer complaint.... one does not expect the CEO of the company from dealing with it.
Sure. The top leader(s) of any organization can help lead and foster teamwork, vertically download specific concerns as well as perhaps changes in business practice they feel better streamline their organizations, that is what they are being paid the big bucks to do. But not have to micromanage their operations. For no one is capable of performing such a task with any level of efficiency It is the job of these agencies to put in place a fully experienced and competent staff and then let them manage all their operations.

[combat_boots]

But a politician can send a word through other assets in order to accomplish the opposite. Who stands to benefit from this event? Why? What’s the leverage?

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

These guys screwed up I’m sorry to say.They should have stayed spread out.I bet that will be SOP from here on out.Prayers for their families.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I contend that they were being micro managed...from afar...they were all gathered to send the word to Obama...why else have so many there...at least it seems that way from the reports.

[Marine_Uncle]

I’m sorry, but I do not understand your question.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They clearly had a lot of trust with this guy.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I don’t see how Obama benefits....

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Yes,but that wont be the case in the future.You just cannot trust those people.

[Marine_Uncle]

Zero did not know what was going on at that Intel base, so why would he benefit or not. It is just a terrible thing that happened that appears to be a total screw up by our CIA folks in not following operational procedures. I don’t buy the crap set forth that somehow the WH was directly in contact with that particular CIA base.

[combat_boots]

They’re real questions. I don’t have definitive answers.

0bama benefits as payback to the CIA & maybe taking out 1 or 2 people he wanted rid of. Or maybe it’s a Senator or Congressman. Intel looks inconpetent and must be done away with, a la Carter/Clinton.

Someone in the ISI may benefit in Pakistan for political reasons.

AQ benefits because it shows it can get to the US operatives even now.

Or maybe it’s a world player like Iran or China, looking for something, or counting coup.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

0bama benefits as payback to the CIA & maybe taking out 1 or 2 people he wanted rid of. Or maybe it’s a Senator or Congressman. Intel looks inconpetent and must be done away with, a la Carter/Clinton.

I can't buy that one,...the other points seem reasonable....