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Amid CIA Officers' Resignations, Tensions With Chief Draw Focus
Wall Street Journal ^ | November 15, 2004 | DAVID S. CLOUD

Posted on 11/15/2004 6:05:02 AM PST by OESY

The nation's new spy chief's management style is alienating some career intelligence officers, and the tensions threaten to impede rebuilding the nation's spying capabilities, current and former intelligence officials say.

Two months after taking over the Central Intelligence Agency, Porter Goss, a former Republican congressman, is perceived as a distant figure who has given wide latitude in running the agency to several aides he brought from Capitol Hill. These aides, led by Goss chief of staff Patrick Murray, have clashed with senior and mid-level managers whose support has long been considered vital for a director to gain control of the agency's clandestine wing, the directorate of operations.

The tensions spilled into view Friday when deputy director John McLaughlin announced he was retiring and deputy director for operations Stephen Kappes submitted his resignation, but was persuaded to delay a final decision on leaving, the current and former officials say. Both men had warned Mr. Goss that his aides were causing turmoil and that further resignations were possible, the officials said.

Mr. McLaughlin, a 32-year agency veteran, called his departure a "purely personal decision" and said it was time to move on to other pursuits. A CIA spokesman yesterday declined to comment on any aspect of the situation.

By several accounts, Mr. Goss's early tenure at the CIA has been rocky, in part because many agency officials fear that he is under orders from the White House to clean house. Some Bush administration officials privately are vitriolic about CIA officials, accusing the agency of pre-election leaks that put the Bush campaign on the defensive. That has led some agency defenders to criticize Mr. Goss for conducting what they describe as a partisan housecleaning....

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cia; civilwar; goss; intelligence; johnmclaughlin; kappes; patrickmurray; sulick; tenet
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I cheer the start of much needed house-cleaning at CIA.
1 posted on 11/15/2004 6:05:03 AM PST by OESY
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To: OESY

Agreed. Throw the bums out!


2 posted on 11/15/2004 6:06:42 AM PST by agere_contra
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To: OESY

Soon as Mr Goss is done at CIA, make him SOS. Foggy Bottom needs to have it's bottom kicked.


3 posted on 11/15/2004 6:07:24 AM PST by ProudVet77 (Just say NO to blue states.)
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To: OESY
"many agency officials fear that he is under orders from the White House to clean house. Some Bush administration officials privately are vitriolic about CIA officials, accusing the agency of pre-election leaks that put the Bush campaign on the defensive"

Housecleaning Alert!

4 posted on 11/15/2004 6:10:01 AM PST by Uncle Miltie (Democrat Obstructionists will be Daschled!)
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To: OESY

GO PORTER!!!! Clean house!!! We are behind you!!!


5 posted on 11/15/2004 6:10:39 AM PST by Claire Voyant ((visualize whirled peas))
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To: OESY
Yep, it's a messy job, boys---but SOMEbody's GOT to do it!

Go forth and mix it up, Mr. G!

6 posted on 11/15/2004 6:11:19 AM PST by NordP (Proud Member of God's GOTV)
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To: Claire Voyant

D-9 Cat ..... warmed up and ready to roll.... where do u want me to start......


7 posted on 11/15/2004 6:11:53 AM PST by Gibtx (Pajamahadien call to arms.....)
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To: OESY
Wonder what Wilson and Plume contributed to this story, hmmm?
8 posted on 11/15/2004 6:13:50 AM PST by gov_bean_ counter
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To: Brad Cloven
"many agency officials fear that he is under orders from the White House to clean house. Some Bush administration officials privately are vitriolic about CIA officials, accusing the agency of pre-election leaks that put the Bush campaign on the defensive"
Housecleaning Alert!


Yep, but I remember all too well what happened when JFK threatened the CIA's very existence with a "house cleaning". So I hope the Secret Service is on their toes.

9 posted on 11/15/2004 6:14:29 AM PST by Condor51 (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Gen G Patton)
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To: agere_contra

If it is bad news for the Mainstream Media, and liberal talking heads on the Sunday talk shows (which it IS), then it is EXXXXXCELLENT news for the conservative side of the house. Keep up the good news Director GOSS!!


10 posted on 11/15/2004 6:15:05 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo (Troops! Repudiation of Senator Specter is our remaining "Electoral Vote" outstanding.)
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To: OESY
" ... the tensions threaten to impede rebuilding the nation's spying capabilities, current and former intelligence officials say."

The "current" soon to be former intelligence officials.

BTW ... just how does one go about "impeding" what isn't there?

11 posted on 11/15/2004 6:15:35 AM PST by G.Mason (A war mongering, UN hating, military industrial complex loving, Al Qaeda incinerating American.)
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To: OESY

Goss was hired to clean out the joint.

He's doing it, and there's some howlin' going on because of the pain.

I'm not surprised. Is anyone?

The MSM will complain loudest because it's their liberal, back-stabbing, security-violating, quisling plants at Foggy Bottom who are getting the ax.

Go GOSS!


12 posted on 11/15/2004 6:16:58 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army and Proud of It!)
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To: OESY

It's PAST TIME!!!!


13 posted on 11/15/2004 6:16:59 AM PST by bandleader
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To: OESY

Lets get rid of those bureaucratic pansies that screwed up the C.I.A. and get some real leaders installed.

Porter Goss will get the job done in spite of the press losing all of their leakers that provided the MSM with anti-Bush trivia.


14 posted on 11/15/2004 6:17:43 AM PST by hgro
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To: OESY
This housecleaning definately needs to be done. Of course you will hear loud caterwaulling, that's to be expected. I'm sure I am not alone in expressing my absolute dismay at how the CIA engaged in active politics during this past election! CIA staffers were out and out trying to get Bush! Clean house now!

Ever hear a cat in heat? It sounds awful, but it's necessary for the species to continue. It's the same here. This is a good thing. And, I suspect you will hear CIA operatives howling even louder as the housecleaning continues. Keep up the good work. Get rid of the Clintonistas.

Now, about the State Department...

15 posted on 11/15/2004 6:18:10 AM PST by Obadiah
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To: OESY
I don't believe that a mid-level manager can buck an agency chief. Did those people ever hear of TDY, travel, and reassignments.

I could straighten out the non performers an a month or so.

16 posted on 11/15/2004 6:19:26 AM PST by Citizen Tom Paine (An old sailor has been on the wrong end of the system a time or two.)
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To: Brad Cloven
Gosh, does that mean that the Bush Administration noticed that we had our knives inserted in their backs, giving them bogus information, then leaking anlysis that charged them with incompetence, when they acted on our bogus information?
17 posted on 11/15/2004 6:20:24 AM PST by zerosix
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To: Condor51
"Yep, but I remember all too well what happened when JFK threatened the CIA's very existence with a "house cleaning". So I hope the Secret Service is on their toes."

You been talking to Oliver Stoned?

Should anything happen to President Bush, there will be a sudden and terrifying loss of places to hide for the left.

18 posted on 11/15/2004 6:20:28 AM PST by G.Mason (A war mongering, UN hating, military industrial complex loving, Al Qaeda incinerating American.)
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To: OESY
I cheer it, as well.

.......whose support has long been considered vital for a director to gain control of the agency's clandestine wing, the directorate of operations.

Looks like Mr. Goss ain't playing by the old rules, and it has bruised some tender egos. GOOD!

19 posted on 11/15/2004 6:20:46 AM PST by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)
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To: OESY
The nation's new spy chief's management style is alienating some career intelligence officers, and the tensions threaten to impede rebuilding the nation's spying capabilities, current and former intelligence officials say.

Better late than never.
An intelligence service is a joke when every delusional neurotic in it questions and challenges his superiors. Challenging the chief executive of the country particularly rankles. When did we start rewarding arrogance?

20 posted on 11/15/2004 6:21:14 AM PST by Publius6961 (The most abundant things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.)
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