Why weren't people like Larry Johnson and his co-agents out in front...

[Postman]

of the cameras before the invasion of Iraq?

They didn't the see the corrupted process of intelligence handling before the war?

[blm]

1. Compartmentalization of information.

Only the overall analysts assigned would have the whole picture. Likely those more loyal to the Bushes.

[roguevalley]

2. That's not how they work.

They don't do things face on. So their coming forward now
is a VERY big deal.

[TacticalPeek]

3. Normally, their culture is such that even strong dissenters

would never go public with their objections, only (perhaps) before closed congressional hearings or the like, which I can understand. Even then, they could face career distruction, so there is a necessary calculus of cost/benefit.

But this is different. The ONLY reason we are seeing mass CIA protest is because the government, our government, their own government has deliberately compromised a covert agent. That is verboten and cannot be allowed to stand, as they see it, because it would spell the end of effective human intelligence capability, with all that portends for our national security.

And they see the maladmin continuing down this road, so they will continue the counter-attack. No choice. They either stand and resist, or their thing 'dies'. We will find no shortage of valor and fortitude as they do this, since these are their stock in trade.

[elfin]

4. As I recall

Johnson was - but not too often booked. And then fairly mild compared to now with the leak. wish I could remember when, but I did note it because I had heard him speak shortly after 9-11 and paid attention whenever he was on. Has the sort of demeanor which would ordinarily not be remembered in these days of shouting shows.