Porter Goss's "Astounding" Memo to the CIA

[hangloose]

Writing in the LA Times, intelligence historian David Vise calls Porter Goss's memo to CIA employees last week "astounding" in its open ordering of agency staff to provide the intelligence the President wants to hear:

This marks the first time — as far as the public knows at least — that a CIA director, in writing, has ordered the agency's spies and analysts to back the president. Why does it matter? Because a president, in theory, relies on the CIA to present facts neutrally, honestly and objectively so that he can base his policies on accurate information. The CIA's analysts are not supposed to be cheerleaders.

Yet the Goss memo, leaked to the New York Times last week, tells the CIA's employees that their job is to "support the administration and its policies in our work," adding: "As agency employees we do not identify with, support or champion opposition to the administration or its policies."

Kremlinology indeed. Such politicization of intelligence, silencing of dissent, and attempt to impose a lock grip on agencies to silence opposing views is why authoritarian regimes ultimately fall apart. Of course there's a difference in degree between the Bush administration and say - Vladimir Putin -- but the same impulses, the same motivation for total control and intolerance for diverging views is certainly evident as never before in an American president.

(http://gadflyer.com/warandpiece/index.php?Week=200447#1208)

[pbartch]

1. Horrifying

It's a nightmare.

[havocmom]

2. Also assures the CIA as scapegoat whenever things go wrong

If they only provide what the junta wants to hear, and something goes sour, well, 'they gave faulty info instead of accurately portraying the situation when briefing the pResident'. What a handy ploy.

You decent agents, servants to the nation, gonna stand for this shit?

[aquart]

6. Well, no.

Because this memo strips the CIA of ANY credibility whatsoever.

The CIA information is now unbelievable because we KNOW it will ONLY support the administration line. Therefore the administration CANNOT, successfully, claim the CIA for support.

Short-sighted policy screws up once again.

Is every Goss memo going to be leaked from here on in?

[havocmom]

7. That is my point. The memo castrates the agency

They WILL be blamed for decisions made regardless of facts because they will be required to only say stuff to back up the decisiona the junat has aready made. When the folks of Iran balk at being liberated, and the US citizens ask why, the junta will say: 'CIA told us..., Now we find they gave us the wrong information.' They have built in scapegoat.

[donco6]

3. And we're suprised because . . . ?

I think I'm going to change my tagline to "It's worse than you think."

[Warpy]

4. Just more right wing party purges

and they'll undoubtedly continue at all levels of government as the paranoid Bush junta seeks to install nothing but idolators with unshakeable loyalty to Il Dunce.

[AlCzervik]

5. If the there is a nationial intelligence directors postion created

will it be a higher postion than Goss and who would make the appt? Bush?

[Moderator]

8. Not LBN

This has was posted and discussed on several forums last week.