Imagery intelligence agency chief being forced from post

[Thom Little]

After clashing with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the director of the government's third largest intelligence agency will be leaving his position in June, according to current and former government officials.

For the past four years, James R. Clapper Jr. has headed the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which collects intelligence mainly from high-powered satellite photos and produces detailed maps for other government agencies.

Clapper, 64, joined the NGA in September 2001. While Clapper wanted to stay on, Rumsfeld made the decision not to extend Clapper's contract, according to a former senior government official familiar with the matter.

The former official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Rumsfeld acted out of anger over Clapper's testimony to Congress in 2004. The NGA director testified that it would not harm his agency's work if the NGA was removed from the full control of the Pentagon.



http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.intel06jan06,1,4845326.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

[BR_Parkway]

1. If this isn't the most pissy pants (mis)Administration - how did all

these immature, spiteful acting people wind up running the country? And how can 30% still be supporting them?

[Earth_First]

2. You got it! Toe the line, or else...

[Ben Ceremos]

9. Could it be

that American society has become spiteful? You get what you wish for, you become who you emulate...ergo, worship immature, spiteful jerks, become such? My sister has rotted from within as a result of buying into Bush-lies. I truly believe the dynamic I am sketching here.

[DBoon]

3. So he was expected to lie in front of congress?

to cover for this administration?

[lvx35]

4. Punishing him for giving honest testimony?

Sounds like the culture of corruption.

[mikelewis]

8. That hardly seems right...

He testified in 2004 and Rummy is just now exacting his revenge? BS. Rummy would have cut his balls off and pickled them in a mason jar long before now. No, this story angle is bullshit. Something else triggered his departure and it sure wasn't the creation of the DCI or his testimony relating to that.

[Ouabache]

10. So does his agency work in conjunction with the NSA at all?

I wonder. Since all the stuff about NSA domestic snooping has recently spilled.

[mikelewis]

11. I don't know but I imagine with his position, he would know something...

I bet there's more to this story than we're being told. The Paid Press sure wants us to make a leap of faith here don't they.

[Roland99]

5. US agency head quits after reported Rumsfeld clash

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060106/pl_nm/security_clapper_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. intelligence agency that analyzes data from military spy satellites and U2 aircraft will leave his post in June, officials said on Friday.

James Clapper, a retired Air Force general, will step down as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on June 13, three months short of his fifth anniversary as head of the defense department operation, officials said.

The Baltimore Sun, which first reported Clapper's departure, said the NGA director was being forced out after angering Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on an issue involving intelligence reform.

...

"We always anticipated it would be about a five-year tour of duty," said NGA spokesman David Burpee. "He's always served at the pleasure of the secretary of defense."

[rodeodance]

6. "full control" by Rummy is the key wording here.

......The NGA director testified that it would not harm his agency's work if the NGA was removed from the full control of the Pentagon.

[cyberpj]

7. Come out, come out, wherever you are! Whistleblowers unite!

I hope every "former offical" will come forward with everything they have to keep exposing these fascists for what they are.

:patriot:

[HuffleClaw]

12. "rumsfeld acted out of anger over clapper's testimony to congress...

they just cannot abide those with principle and integrity. only those who fawn at the feet of bush need apply. just like they axed the general who dared tell them the truth about force requirements for the war.

[librechik]

13. I'm getting more and more worried; not about how to get rid of these Nazis

but if we even can

[merwin]

14. kick

[NVMojo]

15. US agency head quits after reported Rumsfeld clash

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. intelligence agency that analyzes data from military spy satellites and U2 aircraft will leave his post in June, officials said on Friday.

James Clapper, a retired Air Force general, will step down as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on June 13, three months short of his fifth anniversary as head of the defense department operation, officials said.

The Baltimore Sun, which first reported Clapper's departure, said the NGA director was being forced out after angering Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on an issue involving intelligence reform.

Defense Department and NGA officials declined to comment on the Sun article.

more...

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-01-06T203120Z_01_WRI673798_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-CLAPPER.xml

[roguevalley]

16. and the beat goes on. do you feel safer yet? I hope this guy blows

his top and tells all.

[rodeodance]

17. A crony will replace him for sure.

[Suich]

18. This doesn't make sense...

He's being "forced out" in 5 months??? If he's being "forced out", why is it taking 5 months?
Maybe I'm missing something...:think:

[skids]

19. Critical role.

Not too unusual... the guy's got ends to tie up that noone wants left loose.

[dweller]

20. one more

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=14346
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2042435&mesg_id=2042435

dp

[TheBaldyMan]

21. Dumb Question : is that any relation to the NRO ? n/t