CIA insider offered spy agency's No. 2 post (Steve Kappes)

CNN Politics ^ | May 9, 2006 | David Ensor

[LucyJo]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Steve Kappes, a recently retired CIA insider, has been offered the No. 2 slot at the spy agency, sources told CNN, to reassure the CIA operations community about Gen. Michael Hayden's appointment as director as well as ease concerns about that nominee's military ties.

The decision to tap Kappes is also seen as a move aimed at members of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee who have raised doubts about Hayden.

Kappes was a civilian operations officer who reportedly was forced out of the CIA by Porter Goss' associates after Goss became director in 2004.

Intelligence analysts and former intelligence officials said that Kappes' selection is a repudiation of Goss, who abruptly announced his resignation Friday after reported disagreements with National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.

[LucyJo]

"Kappes was a civilian operations officer who reportedly was forced out of the CIA by Porter Goss' associates after Goss became director in 2004."

[zarf]

Don't tell me......he was a Clinton boy?

[tet68]

A new broom sweeps clean. That is, unless you can manage to
break the handle first.

This smells wierd.

[tet68]

I thought Goss had worked under Negroponte at some point before his job at CIA?

[rod1]

Please tell me he is not a Clintanoid or even part of the Peanut Brigade. I am concerned we are so timid as to have to buy off Leaks-Rockerfeller with an anti-Bush staffing. Is he Valerie's good bud?

[Suzy Quzy]

This makes me sick!!

[LucyJo]

I really don't know. I'm hoping to learn more about this through input here.

This is an excerpt of info that I came across on the web @:


http://www.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2005&m=07&d=13&a=4

July 13, 2005

Mr Weldon says the CIA is trying to protect its reputation. He accused Steven Kappes, former CIA deputy director of operations, of lying by saying he would arrange for a CIA operative to meet Ali, only to learn that he was interviewed instead by French intelligence. Former senior officials say the French met Ali after he alleged that Iranians were planning to assassinate former President George Bush. Mr Murray later met Ali on several occasions.

Mr Weldon also said he threw Mr Kappes out of a meeting in Moscow in 1999 when Mr Kappes was CIA station chief because he believed embassy officials had lied about their ability to contact a source he wanted to meet. But former officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr Kappes was not present. Mr Weldon is preparing a letter to Porter Goss, CIA director, calling for an investigation.

[gov_bean_ counter]

From The Weekly Standard:

So it's no wonder that Goss was upset about leaks. Murray had told the associate deputy director of counterterrorism that the new agency leadership would not tolerate media leaks. This person reported the conversation to Michael Sulick, associate deputy CIA director for operations. Sulick, in turn, alerted his boss, Stephen Kappes, deputy CIA director for operations, and a meeting between Sulick, Kappes, Murray, and Goss was hastily arranged. Goss participated in most of the tense meeting. After he left, however, according to a source familiar with the confrontation, Murray reiterated the warning about leaks. Sulick took the advice as a threat and, calling Murray "a Hill puke," threw a stack of papers in his direction.

The following day, Goss summoned Kappes to discuss the altercation. Goss told Kappes that such behavior is unacceptable at his CIA and ordered Kappes to reassign Sulick to a post outside of the building. Goss suggested making Sulick the CIA station chief in New York City. Kappes refused to reassign Sulick and told Goss that he would resign if Sulick were removed from his post. Goss told Kappes to resign, and Kappes told Goss he intended to take the matter to the White House.

[Republican Party Reptile]

Kappes was a career field case officer who joined the CIA in 1981 and came up through the ranks to become Deputy Director of Operations before resigning in 2004.

[LucyJo]

It made me wonder what's going on too. I'm hoping to find out more about it since I haven't seen or heard much about it in the news so far.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Dated 11/29/2004

[Marine_Uncle]

Of course we do not know the reason behind his resignation. For all we know he may have been apolitical and did good work.
One could wonder when this guy joined the CIA. For all we know he may have been hired during GHB term or earlier on, which I have a hunch was the case, due to his supposed high profile work concerning Libya.
At any rate, if he is a carrot for winning Hayden's nomination so be it.

[tobyhill]

I always ha found it strange that Goss was only able to out 1 leaker out of 5 years worth of leaks. I'm going to trust Hayden knows what he's doing because it's possible that Goss got rid of Kappes too hastily when he could have been a good inside source.

[LucyJo]

Kappes resignation discussed here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1294249/posts

[gov_bean_ counter]

Full story. Interesting read from Stephen Hayes

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/943hbmrt.asp

[Marine_Uncle]

Well obviously while I was writing others posted some explainations as to why he left and his starting date.

[LucyJo]

I'm hoping for the best too. I've liked what I've heard about Hayden.

I know Kappes is a former Marine, and that some have said he is not a political partisan. I hope that is the case.

[LucyJo]

Thanks for the link.

[Marine_Uncle]

Well some former Marines are not ex-Marines like someone we know. Hopefully Kappes will be an asset. It is hard to think at this point Hayden would want someone in that would be fighting his game plan.

[LucyJo]

OpinionJournal piece:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=11000655