C.I.A. Making Rapid Strides for Regrowth

NYTIMES ^ | 06/17/06 | MARK MAZZETTI

[Pikamax]

C.I.A. Making Rapid Strides for Regrowth By MARK MAZZETTI

WASHINGTON, May 16 — For all its dysfunction and recent failures, the Central Intelligence Agency that Gen. Michael V. Hayden stands to inherit is far along a path toward rebuilding its network of foreign stations and replenishing ranks that were eviscerated during the years after the cold war.

The rocky 19-month tenure of Porter J. Goss was characterized by turf battles and the bitter departure of many seasoned operatives. Yet it was also a time when a flood of new recruits entered the agency and more than 20 stations and bases abroad were opened or reopened.

By next year, C.I.A. officials say, the agency expects to have tripled the number of trained case officers from the number in 2001. The hope is that a bulked-up spy network will allow the agency at least to begin penetrating closed societies like North Korea and Iran.

[coconutt2000]

Who wants to place bets that the Clintons are receiving overtures from NK and Chinese agents regarding preventing the CIA from infiltrating their bailiwicks.

[LenS]

" Yet it was also a time when a flood of new recruits entered the agency and more than 20 stations and bases abroad were opened or reopened. By next year, C.I.A. officials say, the agency expects to have tripled the number of trained case officers from the number in 2001."

I believe that the next sentence from the NY Times would probably read "We will be publishing a complete list of their names with addresses, pictures and other personal info in the hope that Al Qaeda will not be put at an unfair advantage by the dictator Bush."

[zarf]

The legacy of this administration will become clear when all the bullsh*t and muck slinging drift away with the passage of time.

A rebuilt CIA and a reorganized DOD/military will be just a couple of many things that will reveal this administration as one determined to rectify deficiencies of the past.

I'm just surprised the NYT didn't wait to unload this little article a week into Hillary's administration.

[T.L.Sink]

I wish I could be as sanguine as your post about the CIA. From everything I've read this is still a much too bureaucratic and dysfunctional club. They see themselves as a status quo that remains in place when administrations come and go. There is even an anti-Bush faction within the CIA which orchestrates leaks and innuendoes to undermine any policy the "old boys" don't like.

The CIA hasn't ever fully recovered from the Church Commission in 1976 which neutered and destroyed its on-the-ground counterintelligence capabilities. It's ethos is now that of PC.

The latest example of its intelligence ineptitude was when Tenet told Bush Iraq was a "slam dunk." Read Bill Gertz's book "Breakdown", which details how the CIA's intelligence failures had much to do with the 9/11 catastrophe.

Unfortunately, it take a very long time to establish (or reestablish!) an effective intelligence agency, but very little time to tear it down.

[T.L.Sink]

I think you're 100% right on that. The problem is that State has a similar problem - they used to call them the boys in the pin-striped suits! Look at how Powell and State took every opportunity to nullify Rumsfeld's policies in Defense! I still don't think we have the full story on why Porter Goss (by the way, a great congressman here in FL and a CIA vet) was kicked out. I suspect he tried to reform the place and kick some ass but the old bureaucrats convinced Bush he was too troublesome to their settled and snoozy tranquility. Let's hope the General has better luck!

[leadpenny]

Goss did seem like a perfect fit. Had the DNI position not been created, he'd probably still be there.

[nopardons]

bttt

[Joe Boucher]

I know I have a load of faith in the c.i.a.,
ah ha ha ha, ah ha ha ha.
Yeah right.