Posted on 08/11/2016 6:37:07 AM PDT by Enchante
A leading U.S. general pressured his intelligence analysts into playing down the ISIS and al Qaeda threats, according to a congressional task force.
A House Republican task force has found that officials from the U.S. military’s Central Command altered intelligence reports to portray the U.S. fight against ISIS and al Qaeda in a more positive light than lower-level analysts believed was warranted by the facts on the ground, three officials familiar with the task force’s findings told The Daily Beast.
A roughly 10-page report on the controversy is expected to be released by the end of next week, two officials said. While it contains no definitive evidence that senior Obama administration officials ordered the reports to be doctored, the five-month investigation did corroborate earlier reports that analysts felt the leaders of CENTCOM’s intelligence directorate pressured them to conclude that the threat from ISIS was not as ominous as the analysts believed, the officials said.
“The investigation is ongoing but the report substantiates the claims” that intelligence reports were altered, one official familiar with the report explained to The Daily Beast. Another official said that the investigation could remain open even after report is released.
The task force, led by members of the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees and the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, was created after The Daily Beast first reported that more than 50 analysts had filed a formal complaint alleging their reports on ISIS and al Qaeda’s branch in Syria were being inappropriately altered by senior officials. Some told The Daily Beast they felt they were working in a hostile, toxic office where they felt “bullied” to draw conclusions not supported by the facts.
Some of the intelligence made its way into briefings presented to President Obama. However, administration officials have consistently said that they have confidence in CENTCOM’s reports and that they don’t believe White House policy was guided by false or misleading analysis. The House committee cannot directly punish officials found to have acted inappropriately. But the fact that the appropriations committee was part of the investigation implies that if the military doesn’t respond to the findings, lawmakers could punish CENTCOM by curtailing funds.
CENTCOM officials told The Daily Beast they cannot comment on the report as they have yet to receive it. There also is separate Department of Defense Inspector General investigation into the claims which is ongoing and could release its findings as early as this fall, one official said. The DoD IG report could make recommendations that CENTCOM must act on.
But some of CENTCOM’s intelligence analysts already are concerned that the DoD IG report will not have as much teeth as the House Republican task force report. These military analysts told The Beast that the head of CENTCOM’s intelligence directorate, Maj. Gen. Steven Grove, and his civilian deputy, Gregory Ryckman, had deleted emails and files from computer systems before the inspector general could examine them.
Even the House Republican investigation faced obstacles to its work. Analysts told The Daily Beast, that CENTCOM officials were, at times, in the room while they spoke to House investigators, making some feel they could not speak candidly.
What remains unclear is what led CENTCOM to call for more positive conclusions. Was it a decision by Grove or Ryckman or did come from higher up?
As part of a normal deployment rotation, Grove left CENTCOM’s intelligence directorate this summer and now is stationed at the Pentagon as director of the Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office. He has been replaced by Maj. Gen. Mark R. Quantock. Ryckman remains in the same position.
After the analysts’ complaints emerged publicly, President Obama, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and current CENTCOM commander Army Gen. Joseph Votel have called for what Carter described as “unvarnished intelligence.”
this already came out a bit ago I thought?
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During Bill Clinton’s reign, the FBI agents in charge of setting fire to the Branch Davidian house in Waco, killing 82 people including over 20 children, were all promoted after the massacre. Ditto for the agents in charge at Ruby Ridge, where Randy Weaver’s 12 yr old son and Mrs. Weaver were gunned down in cold blood. We lived through the Clinton years. Who in their right minds wants a rerun of that horror show?
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Return? Maybe I missed the stories about Bush ‘cleaning house’?
And I, for SURE, don’t remember anyone in Congress, let alone the (R) ‘leadership’, saying anything *but*, “Well, the Pres. ‘deserves’ to have the people he nominates...”.
0dungheap and Hillary are only happy to help! ISIS COULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED IN ONE MONTH. This +4 year rampage of ISIS is happening because ODUNGA/HILLARY/MERKEL/HOLLANDE/etc. ARE ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.
Initially it was speculation. Now it has been confirmed. My father is rolling in his grave.
What is going to happen with this information? Gonna hear it on the 6pm All Baraq Channel - nope. Gonna read it in the NYSlimes or WaPo - nope. Anyone gonna compare this to the BIG LIE THAT GWB COOKED INTEL TO GET INTO IRAQ AND THOUSAND DIED?
Some info came out, but now a House inquiry is completing its work and a new report is about to be issued. Getting something done about it is another matter. I hope Trump is ready to hammer this issue! Depicting Obama and Hillary as the founders of ISIS is a step in the right direction!
Step 2: Replace with social engineer Generals.
Step 3: Fabricate data to show progress, something the combat Generals aren't likely to do.
-PJ
That was what my remark was in reference to but you took the time to lay it out and I didn’t...I thought people would get it and you did. It’s exactly what I think of each time I read about a Federal IG - no matter the agency! I’ve said for a long time - do away with them and save the salaries/pensions/benefits/perks/office rent, etc.
Bump!
This cooked intel started in his first administration. Intel was cooked on the orders of General Obamagabe and Comrade Hitery.
There was a Gold Star mother on Fox a couple hours ago and directly blamed Obama and Hillary Clinton for the death of her son. He was one of the team members on Seal Team 6 that took out Bin Laden. The next day O’ZERO gets on national TV, provided details of the raid and said Seal Team 6 took him out. He sentenced them to death. So let’s review what I just said. Obama told the world of a Top Secret mission involving US Special Operations and put a target on each and every one of their backs. A short time later a chopper crashed and killed the majority of the Seal team that took out Obama. For that alone this miserable SOB should have been impeached. The latest cooked numbers on the war meant that he and Clinton sent our finest into battle not knowing the strength of the enemy and thousands were killed so they both could both lie to the American public and say we had the terrorists on the run. Both are guilty of high crimes and treason against the United States and should be tried as war criminals.
“that took out Obama.”
Freudian....
S’OK
Obama Bin Laden.
A newly released Defense Department intelligence report shows that the rise of the savage terror group known as ISIS was actually deliberate policy.
U.S. Intel: Obama Coalition Supported Islamic State in Syria
http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/20943-u-s-intel-obama-coalition-supported-islamic-state-in-syria
because he was selected by Obola’s White House team, was promoted by Obola’s White House team.
Is protected by Obola’s White House team in Hillary’s press corpse.
“should be tried as war criminals.”...........
“Should be” but who is going to do it?
is that SOP - a civilian deputy to a commanding general? And is it safe to say there is a connection between the deputy and the WH?
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