Portents: The coming end of the CIA by jim Lobe

[lovuian]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/HE10Aa01.html



WASHINGTON - Monday's nomination by US President George W Bush of air force General Michael Hayden to take over the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from the hapless Porter Goss has predictably intensified speculation over what is really going on behind the scenes.

Most analysts see the shifts as the latest battle between the director of national intelligence (DNI), John Negroponte, and Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld in the war over control of the multiple functions of the United States' sprawling, US$40-billion-a-year intelligence community.

But opinion appears deeply divided over which bureaucratic titan will emerge as this round's winner, although few doubt that the unceremonious dismissal of a CIA director who served less than 20 months on the job - particularly by a president who has proved dogged in retaining loyal servants despite strong evidence of their incompetence - is filled with portent

snip...

But he is likely to be remembered chiefly for his "Gosslings", Republican political operatives he brought with him from the House, whose main purpose was to purge senior officers whose loyalty to their tradecraft appeared greater than to the policy priorities of the Bush administration, particularly in the Middle East.

By the time of his abrupt resignation last week, some 16 top officers, including one director and two deputy directors, with a combined 300 years of intelligence experience, had fled, leaving "the agency in free fall", according to Goss's former Democratic colleague on the Intelligence Committee, Jane Harman
snip...
Some critics - already concerned about Hayden's understanding of constitutional protections against warrantless searches and seizures - also point to reports that he has become a favorite of Vice President Dick Cheney, the administration's strongest advocate of a virtually all-powerful wartime executive.
more...
Yep people he is a Cheney Man...

[Blackthorn]

1. Actually, it's not that suprising Goss was turfed...

In Change Management theory its not uncommon for an incoming CEO to be selected for a rather short term stint, usually to cull people or perform unpopular restructuring. Then once the corner has been turned so to speak, a new CEO comes in to lead the organisation in whatever new direction was identified before the changes.

Goss comes in, cleans the place out, and then leaves for Hayden to actually start the real work.

[lovuian]

2. Yes Goss was there to clean house

and he did that... he did his job a bit too well

[serryjw]

3. None of the pundits seem to be concerned over this?

Personally, I am terrified on several levels. The CIA is for civilian intel, NOT military might. OUR problem is we don't seem to KNOW/UNDERSTAND what is happening in the Islam world. A larger weapons budget is not going to answer this.It is just one more handout to Bushit's buddies just in time for another election. The other problem I see,is a smaller/tighter group that no nothing about 'truth to power'. MORE 'yes' people. Isn't this how we got into this mess in the first place?