Porter Goss & the CIA

[H2O Man]

Today's NY Times has an article which reads in part: "Mr.Goss has selected a covert officer who runs the agency's Counterterrorism Center to become the new chief of the Clandestine service, known as the directorate of operations, the officials said. They declined to name the officer, a former chief of American espionage operations in Latin America, because he is still under cover. They said he had been chosen despite having been removed from the Latin American post in 1997 after a CIA inspector general's report criticized him for 'a remarkable lack of judgement.'" (CIA Churning Continues As 2 Top Officers Resign; Douglas Jehl; A16)

For those interested, this "remarkable lack of judgement" was this CIA official trying to intervene on behalf of an individual caught trafficing narcotics in the Dominican Republic. For those who remember Porter Goss and/or the Iran-Contra Scandal(s), it comes as little surprise that this association with drug trafficing would lead to a promotion.

Compare this to Michael Scheuer, who will be on MSNBC's "Hardball" tonight .... watch it closely, folks. Who should be protecting our country? Who do you think should be in charge of the IC? People like Scheuer? Or those drug-trafficers of the old days?

[BeHereNow]

1. Astounding, is it not?

Fortunately for Bu$h Inc the American
public has the attention span of a flea.
BHN

[H2O Man]

2. It is immoral.

Can you imagine if Clinton had done this? We would have Sean Hannity doing cartwheels with indignation. And for the one and only time, I would agree with him.

[lapfog_1]

3. If these assholes thought they could get away with it

I'm sure they would nominate Oliver North to be the new NSA.

[H2O Man]

4. Please .....

don't give them any ideas.

What is sad is that you are right.

[Deja Q]

5. If Tim Allen could sell drugs and then become a hip star 15 years later,

nothing upon NOTHING would surprise me.

(allegedly, he definitely was busted for having them. )

[indigobusiness]

7. Redemption is one thing.

Retrenchment is another.

[lovuian]

6. Mafia time Lets Party!!! CIA is going to get ugly!!!

Ok Heroin Cocaine your in and Terrorists well who cares!!!

[bobthedrummer]

8. Let's not forget Mr. Goss's close ties to Pakistan's ISI and the terrorist

networks of the world either.
White House CIA nominee has Dubious Links to the Terror Network
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO407A.html

The Role of ISI in 9/11
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO111A.html

Or his "friends" in the Pentagon.
Iraq Survey Group
Donald Rumsfeld's al-Qaeda
http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/070904Stanton-Madsen/070904stanton-madsen.html

[seemslikeadream]

18. If this planet blows to pieces this year, thank Khan Labs' and Bush

You may never have heard of Khan Laboratories, but if this planet blows to pieces this year, it will be thanks to Khan Labs' creating nuclear warheads for Pakistan's military. Because investigators had been tracking the funding for this so-called "Islamic Bomb" back to Saudi Arabia, under Bush security restrictions, the inquiry was stymied. (The restrictions were lifted, the agent told me without a hint of dark humor, on September 11.)

Noam Chomsky, who read the story on page one of the Times of India, has wondered, "Why wasn't it all over US papers?

.. A top-level CIA operative who spoke with us on condition of strictest anonymity said that, after Bush took office, "There was a major policy shift" at the National Security Agency. Investigators were ordered to "back off" from any inquiries into Saudi Arabian financing of terror networks, especially if they touched on Saudi royals and their retainers. That put the Bin Ladens, a family worth a reported $12 billion and a virtual arm of the Saudi royal household, off limits for investigation.

I probed our CIA contact for specifics of investigations that were hampered by orders to back off of the Saudis. He told us that Khan Laboratories investigation had been effectively put on hold.

more
http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=312&row=0

O8)

[Wind Dancer]

9. This administration has been consistent.

They promote and appoint those who are loyal, regardless of illegal activities or qualifications.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Oh it's not regardless

You only get promoted if you have proven your loyalty to the Buhrer.

[H2O Man]

14. Even Pat Buchanan

said, while on Imus this morning, that Bush is showing "hubris" in his narrowing of the skill-range for his closest advisers.

[Me.]

10. Tweewty Described The Situation

As a house to house hunt. He was being flip but it was confirmed by Dana Priest and had an ominous feeling.

[H2O Man]

15. true

indeed.

[Me.]

11. Also, Regarding Scheuer

He said that Kappes, who resigned Mon. was the first counterintelligence chief the agency had in over a decade who "could walk the walk and talk the talk".

[H2O Man]

12. I watched the Hardball segment twice.

I think that Scheuer is someone who has better communication skills as an author than as a "talking head." I felt that Matthews, while he clearly admires Michael, did not interview him correctly. Perhaps there will be better shows for him to be on. Hardball, somewhat like the O'Reilly show on Fox, is a bit like being on the witness stand without a judge ..... more like being deposed in a civil case, actually. This might sound odd, but I think he might come off better on a Larry King-type format.

[Beetwasher]

16. We've Never Been In More Danger Than We Are Now

Just when we need the CIA the most, it is being absolutely devastated and completely corrupted even worse than it already was. All the "good guys" who were doing their jobs properly and actually trying to stop terrorists (and despite what many believe, there were some) are being purged and replaced w/ political hacks, yes-men and bag-men.

The CIA is being thrown into chaos at the absolute worst possible time. It's almost as if someone really doesn't WANT them to do their job properly and protect the country. We are being left wide open to an attack.

[H2O Man]

17. It seems like a strange

time to have an administration exposing CI operatives who specialize in deep cover work regarding the sale of WMD components, or forcing out the senior officials that know the most about bin Laden and al Qaeda.

It seems to be closely related to an effort by the neocons and cheneycons to control the Intelligence Community. The obvious risks include that the American public becomes more vulnerable.

I fully agree that we've never been in more danger.