The CIA's Handling of The Washington Post

[babylonsister]

http://www.pubrecord.org/commentary/605-the-cias-handling-of-the-washington-post.html

The CIA's Handling of The Washington Post
Written by Melvin A. Goodman
Thursday, 08 January 2009 16:45


On Jan. 7, the Washington Post published a front-page lead article and an oped on the nomination of Leon Panetta as CIA director; both articles exaggerated the extent of opposition to the Panetta appointment and demonstrated the weakness of mainstream media coverage of the intelligence community, particularly the Central Intelligence Agency.

The front-page article by Karen DeYoung, a seasoned reporter, and Joby Warrick, a newcomer to the intelligence beat, presented a one-sided and inaccurate account of the opposition to the naming of Panetta. The oped by David Ignatius, who has relied heavily on unnamed CIA clandestine operatives as sources for the past 25 years, argues that the CIA “has demonstrated an ability to sabotage bosses it doesn’t like.” Such balderdash!

It is particularly ironic that such senior writers as DeYoung and Ignatius would rely on the views of clandestine officers who are particularly adept at manipulating people and opinion. Indeed, that is part of their job description. The reliance on anonymous CIA sources from the clandestine community does not make for good reporting or good journalism.

It must be understood that many CIA officials, particularly in the National Clandestine Service, have never welcomed the idea of reporting to a CIA director with a reputation for liberal or progressive policies. When President Jimmy Carter was considering the nomination of Ted Sorensen as CIA director in 1977, CIA operatives were active on the Hill and in the press community making a case against Sorensen. And when President Bill Clinton nominated Tony Lake as director in 1997, CIA officials successfully engaged in clandestine efforts to undermine Lake’s candidacy. It would not be surprising for clandestine operatives to lobby against Panetta, particularly in view of his opposition to torture and abuse and secret prisons. It should also be noted, however, that there are also many CIA officers who share Panetta’s views and would welcome his leadership.

snip//

The Washington Post and the mainstream media for the most part have never understood that the CIA, like other large government entities, are complex organizations and rarely governed by one set of ideas on any issue, particularly the capabilities of their leaders. There are numerous CIA officials who support the nomination of Panetta, just as there are opponents to his candidacy. Reporters need to make sure they canvas the entire community before placing front-page articles in front of the American public. They must know that the overwhelming majority of CIA officers would not talk to the press; therefore, they should be skeptical of those who do. And when they want to deny the fact that there is a serious morale problem at the CIA because of recent intelligence failures, reporters such as DeYoung and Warrick should not consult CIA spokesman such as Mark Mansfield, a well-known agency flack, to deny such facts. You would never ask a barber if you need a haircut, and you certainly wouldn’t ask a CIA spokesman about internal problems at the CIA.


Melvin A. Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, is a 24-year veteran of the CIA’s directorate of intelligence and the author of Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA. This is the first of an occasional series on the media’s handling of intelligence issues.

[leveymg]

1. The Agency would sorta be "handling" itself with The WaPo, wouldn't it?

Employee newsletter since 1947.

[babylonsister]

2. I think the CIA has been manipulating these 'esteemed' authors.

Nice of someone to point that out.

[Bozita]

3. Agreed!

[tomp]

4. agreed. and not just the post. ref. judith miller/nyt. nt