The CIA Follies (Cont'd)

Commentary ^ | July/August '07 | Gabriel Schoenfeld

[T.L.Sink]

Though Tenet disingenuously omits mentioning this in his memoirs, in October 2002, six months before the American invasion of Iraq, he wrote a letter to Bob Graham (D -FL),the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It stated (emphasis added throughout:

"We have solid reporting of senior level contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda going back a decade. Credible information indicates that Iraq and al Qaeda have discussed safe haven and reciprocal non-aggression. Since Operation Enduring freedom [the military operations that commenced shortly after 9/11] we have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of al Qaeda members, including some that have been in Baghdad. We have credible reporting that al Qaeda LEADERS SOUGHT CONTACTS IN IRAQ WHO COULD HELP THEM ACQUIRE WMD CAPABILITIES. THE REPORTING ALSO STATED THAT IRAQ HAS PROVIDED TRAINING TO AL QAEDA MEMBERS IN THE AREAS OF POISONS AND GASES AND MAKING CONVENTIONAL BOMBS. Iraq's continuing support to extremist Palestinians, coupled with growing indications of a relationship with al Qaeda suggest that BAGHDAD'S LINKS TO TERRORISM WILL INCREASE, even absent U.S. military action."

Quite apart from any question of direct Iraqi complicity in the events of 9/11, this should have been enough to raise serious alarm in the nation's intelligence agency, and indeed to have added a compelling article to the warrant military action even without an ironclad assessment of his nuclear program. Yet, in a blatant manipulation of the historical record, Tenet, in a much-quoted passage of his memoir, writes that the various possible reasons for going to war were never seriously debated by the administration. In other words, having supplied the administration with building blocks of the case for war, Tenet now acts as if none ever existed.

[T.L.Sink]

Most Americans have wondered how Intelligence could so badly botch the WMD issue. And at the time leaders of BOTH parties accepted their existence. In this second essay Schoenfeld concentrates on Tenet's tenure and his self-serving memoir "At the Center of the Storm," but he addresses the larger question of the dysfunctionality of the CIA and the danger this poses to American security. Perhaps it started with the Church Commission in 1976, which neutered the CIA and made it more PC than an effective on-the-ground surveillance and espionage unit. In any case, Schoenfeld has produced a frightening scenario for the future. It's interesting that a book has just been published ("Sabotage" by R. Scarborough) which apparently also describes the CIA as a rogue and highly politicized agency.

[bmwcyle]

It is time to have a mass firing at Langley.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

BTTT

[SERKIT]

And at the time leaders of BOTH parties accepted their existence.

One party has amnesia and one party has lost its spine.

[GOPJ]

...Sabotage" by R. Scarborough) which apparently also describes the CIA as a rogue and highly politicized agency.

Highly politicized by Clinton - in the liberal fashion -- a CIA that's long on attitude - short on competence.

[Ben Hecks]

Good post! Bookmarked.

[T.L.Sink]

Right! As Schoenfeld point out, Clinton slashed funding for the CIA as part of “peace dividend” marking the end of the Cold War - which Reagan did more to end than the Democrats.
ALSO - I personally began to realize what an intransigent and fossilized bureaucracy the CIA was a couple of years ago.
This was when one of our great Republican congressman here in FL - Porter Goss - was forced out after his appointment.
Goss was a career CIA agent before his election to Congress and he was determined to REFORM the agency.
I’m also disappointed that Bush never supported him in his efforts but caved in to the corrupt esteblishment. It seems that everyone follows the path of least resistance. Too bad.

[philman_36]

Thanks for posting this. A long, good read.

[GOPJ]

This was when one of our great Republican congressman here in FL - Porter Goss - was forced out after his appointment. Goss was a career CIA agent before his election to Congress and he was determined to REFORM the agency. I’m also disappointed that Bush never supported him in his efforts but caved in to the corrupt esteblishment. It seems that everyone follows the path of least resistance. Too bad.

Bush blew this one - I'm from Florida too - Goss deserved better.

[GOPJ]

ping