Leon Panetta: Speaking Truth to Power

[babylonsister]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/01/leon_panetta_speaking_truth_to.html

Leon Panetta: Speaking Truth to Power
By Richard Reeves

snip//

"Washington's gain is California's loss," said Tracy Westen, director of the Center for Governmental Studies, a California think tank, when he heard that Obama intended to name Panetta director of the Central Intelligence Agency. You would think Washington might appreciate its gain. But, in fact, the intelligence establishment is already out to get Panetta. He is not one of them.

The CIA and some very good friends believe they work for themselves, not for the country. They prefer directors like George "Slam Dunk" Tenet, who came up through the ranks. The attack they will make is that appointing someone like Panetta would "politicize" the collection and interpretation of intelligence. I'm not sure what that means, since one of the problems of the last eight years has been the agency's -- or its directors' -- inclination to tell politicians whatever they wanted to hear.

The first and most important person to attack the Panetta nomination was a longtime California colleague, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The story is that she was miffed that the Obama folks had not let her know in advance about the Panetta appointment. I'm sure she was -- and had a right to be -- annoyed by that, but I don't think that was the principal reason she jumped in and suggested that her old friend was some kind of hack who had no intelligence experience.

The big reason, I think, is that members of Congress who serve on intelligence committees almost inevitably become co-opted by the "intelligence community." I've watched it happen to other senators -- Bill Bradley and Jay Rockefeller come to mind -- after they have had a secret or two whispered to them. They all adopt a small nod that apparently means, "If you knew what I know. ..."

I don't know what they know, and I don't know whether it is worth knowing. I do know that Leon Panetta is as good as it gets. I do not know whether he can get control over the nasty internal politics of the CIA, but I do know he will tell the truth to the president, and that CIA analysts and spies work not for nameless bosses but for the people of the United States. If that is politicization, I am all for it.

[RandomThoughts]

1. I like the guy, at least from what I saw from his speech.

I think what they 'know' are different doctrines on what is existence. There are a few variations, but if people get sucked into them, it can really mess them up.

Some of the doctrines can crush a soul, others can lead to total loss of empathy for others, insanity, egomania, lots of bad stuff, not all go that way, some people have better perceptions on it then others.

There are many that see it differently though, speaking of existence, and for them it is very peaceful and loving. very odd thing I guess.

oh, just for clarity and honesty, I have never been part of intelligence community, never even worked for government ever. So this is just one of those guesses.

[jaksavage]

2. CIA is out of control

Many of its staff are hard working honest good folks.
The problem is the ability of a few to do so much damage and go unnoticed because of the design of the agency. ie stovepiping.
I believe bush et al have a group of insiders that act independantly.
Lots of Bonesmen in the agency.

Good luck cleaning out that rats nest.