[cwb]

To be honest...I don't know too many Treasury Secretaries who are in the "loop" when it comes to national security matters:)

[dk/coro]

I concur completely -- and that is part of O'Neill's problem. He was a small man in a big operation -- and it probably wrought havoc upon his ego. I saw that problem alot in DC when I was working closely with the CNO/Chairman and his minions, years ago. Some men simply cannot handle essentially functioning as a marginalized "staff puke". *S*

Further to the above, a well-known DC truism is that if you give a candid response to your boss -- and it makes him really uncomfortable -- he will probably NOT ask you another question !! (This truism is cast in iron !!)
Kindest regards, DKP