CIA Said to Have Won Turf War Against Intel Chief

Source: Associated Press

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 12, 2009
Filed at 8:32 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The CIA has won a turf battle over which government agency controls U.S. intelligence operations around the world.

CIA Director Leon Panetta and National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair squared off in May over Blair's effort to choose a personal representative at U.S. embassies to be his eyes and ears abroad, instead of relying on CIA station chiefs. Blair issued a directive in May declaring his intention to select his own representatives overseas. Panetta followed up shortly thereafter with a note telling agency employees that station chiefs were still in charge.

The dispute made it all the way to national security adviser Gen. James L. Jones, and then to Vice President Joe Biden.

An official in Blair's organization said the White House decided the matter this week in the CIA's favor. U.S. intelligence officials described the dispute on the condition of anonymity, noting the political sensitivities involved. For the national intelligence director's office, it was a high-profile loss to a subordinate agency that raised fresh questions about the strength of the 5-year-old parent office.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/12/us/politics/...

The national intelligence director's office was created after 9-11 to coordinate critical intelligence gathering but instead it set up competing chains of command in intelligence operations. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair wanted to choose a personal representative at U.S. embassies instead of relying on CIA station chiefs -- there can't be two big dogs.

Dennis Blair was appointed by President Barack Obama as the third U.S. Director of National Intelligence. President Bush had to issue an executive order to give the DNI his congressionally mandated powers to force the CIA and other intelligence agencies to respond to the DNI's demands. A number of government executives agree that the DNI should not have to go to the President each time the DNI wants to implement guidance. Apparently he lost the turf battle when Obama became president.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_C._Blair