An Angry Republican Roils Intelligence Waters

[Nambe]

The New York Times

The very idea of dismantling the Central Intelligence Agency, Senator Pat Roberts concedes, is one that he could not have conceived of proposing even a year ago.

But the overhaul now being pressed by him and seven other Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee is very much the product of accumulated frustrations, Mr. Roberts said. On the issue of Iraq in particular, but also Sept. 11 and other setbacks, repeated intelligence failures have transformed even Mr. Roberts, a Kansan long regarded as a dependable defender of the C.I.A and a loyal ally of President Bush, into a vociferous critic of intelligence agencies and an impatient second-guesser of the White House's own overhaul plan.

Among the factors that Mr. Roberts, a droll former marine, cited in a conversation with reporters in his office on Monday afternoon as those that prompted his call for urgent action were a succession of "Oh my God hearings'' in which senators asked in response to one intelligence failure after another: "Oh my God, why did that happen?'' ..

The plan put forward by Mr. Roberts and other Republicans is more far-reaching than even the one endorsed by the Sept. 11 commission. It has infuriated the C.I.A., whose former director, George J. Tenet, issued a statement on Monday that denounced the plan as unwise, and it blindsided the White House. The Democratic presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry has signaled tentative support for the plan, but on Monday both President Bush and members of the Sept. 11 commission remained noncommittal about it.

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[DemWitch]

1. Shrubya non-committal?

Don't shock me like that. You can't just come out and say something that surprising... jeeesh :)

[DemWitch]

2. Shrubya non-committal?

Don't shock me like that. You can't just come out and say something that surprising... jeeesh :)

[teryang]

3. Dismantling the CIA is a last step in the purge

...which began with the 2000 coup and the 911 plot to turn the federal government upside down. Study totalitarianism.

[lottie244]

4. Hey, we peackniks have wanted the CIA dismantled since the 60's

This could be a good thing. The intrenched powerholders will have their power broken. Look on the bright side. If enough Dems go along with this suggestion, believe me it won't pass.

[leesa]

5. No, it's not a good thing. They are doing it because the CIA is the only

group that can oppose the fascists, both Dem and ALL Republicans in our government. The CIA needs to fight them and we should not go blindly along with their scam to blame 9-11 and Iraq on "intelligence failures". Creating the OSP, to fabricate lies and contradict the CIA's findings is NOT intelligencew failures, it is treason practiced by Bush and his fellow Republicans.
BushCo was involved in 9-11 and the CIA is the only group with the goods on them in this country.

[lottie244]

6. The CIA has been a part of the fascism...all over the world.

Now they are getting some of what they do to others. Disruption, deceit, dismantling, distrust, destablization. I can't wait!!

[tinanator]

11. the CIA is just a known acronym, not the root of the problem

blaming the CIA for anything is sort of like blaming GW for his puppet master's decisions. There are other intelligence agencies and crime enforcement apparatus that are the real villains, but as long as the people dont know their names, its cool.

[Algomas]

8. Agree 100% Leesa.

[DBoon]

7. No, this is an internal purge

It's not a question of eliminating the police state, just of making sure all of its agencies fall into line and do not pursue their own agendas.

Like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives

[wabeewoman]

9. I am NO fan of the CIA

and all the dirty deeds they have done in other countries but I also am suspect about how they have been the scapegoat for intelligence that bush and the neocons put out there or suppressed. So since it is being reported that bush was 'blindsided' and up is down in this new reality, then this IS what bush wants. They are succceeding in keeping people confused and off balance which makes me really appreciate blogs like TPM to clarify and analyze. BTW did you see the great piece on Jon Stewart last night with Rob Cordory as the reporter that just repeated what each side told him? Very good.

[peacetalksforall]

10. I've despised the CIA for their atorcities, but I fear the plan for their

elimination is even worse for the world.

It's like watching a 1984 type movie, but you can't just walk out of the theatre, go to bed, get up and work, and let the whole thing fade.

This is our country that they're doing this to.

Do you think people like Roberts and Dole get incentives to pimp?

[librechik]

12. Bullshit. Roberts is the Shrub's little hand puppet

That "plan" came from a total moron, not from somebody who has 20 years of work and military experience. Roberts is just fronting for the dauphin. Blindsided the WH? I DON'T BELIEVE IT!! It is exactly, insanely, what Bush wants--the total destruction of the entity he is at war with: the civil CIA.