Senate approves Negroponte as first National Intelligence Chief

[librechik]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBWSVRFT7E.html

98-2 (Harkin and Wyden dissent)

snip

"Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, joined Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in opposing the nomination. Wyden has said Negroponte ducked a number of issues at his confirmation hearing this month and has questioned whether Negroponte had adequately reported human rights abuses as ambassador to Honduras in the 1980s.

"I believe the record of the ambassador's service there is particularly telling in terms of his judgment and his willingness to confront difficult facts, which I believe are two key requirements for the director of national intelligence," Wyden said.

A diplomat most of his career, Negroponte speaks five languages and has held official posts in eight countries, including ambassadorships in Mexico and the Philippines. He served in President Reagan's National Security Council from 1987 to 1989.

While Negroponte's support crossed party lines, deeper political issues lie ahead. During debate on his confirmation, Rockefeller reiterated ongoing Democratic requests for a Senate investigation into U.S. interrogation policy and prisoner abuse. He said none of the many inquiries thus far have looked at the CIA's role in cases that have reached around the globe..."

[warrens]

1. Oh, boy, where's the Death Squad recruiting office?????

I was thinking of a career change anyway. I hope I can get on the Terrorist Librarian kill team.

[Zorra]

21. Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Bring your papers, please

John D. Negroponte
National Intelligence Director

At the start of the second Bush administration, hawks—in Congress, the neocon think tanks, and the Pentagon—can point to two major achievements in their campaign to seize command of the government’s intelligence apparatus. First was the appointment of Porter Goss (R-FL), the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a longtime ally of Vice President Cheney, to head the CIA and direct its reform. Second was the nomination of John Negroponte to be the first Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
snip----
During the Reagan administration, he served as ambassador Honduras, at a time when that backwater country became a central logistical center for U.S. support of the war by the Contras (from the Spanish term counter—contra—revolutionaries) against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. From his base at the vastly expanded embassy in Tegucigalpa, Negroponte also played a central role in the U.S. strategy to support counterinsurgency and anti-dissident operations in Honduras as well as in the neighboring countries of El Salvador and Guatemala. During his tenure, the U.S. military base in Palmerola, Honduras became a key logistical center for U.S. military, CIA, and civic military operations throughout the isthmus.
snip----
As UN ambassador, Negroponte stage-managed the administration’s attempt to persuade the Security Council to support the invasion of Iraq. In 2004 President Bush named Negroponte as Washington’s first post-Saddam Hussein ambassador to Iraq, where he supervised what became (after the invasion) the largest U.S. embassy staff in the world, with more than 900 employees. While in Iraq, Negroponte gave Washington optimistic reports about the country’s progress toward democracy, and according to news reports he fiercely disagreed with the pessimistic CIA reports on the insurgency and the prospects for peace.
snip---
Critics charge that Negroponte has—both as a member of the National Security Council and during his various ambassadorships—covered up damaging information so as to further bad policies. Melvin Goodman, a former CIA official, warned: “Negroponte is tough enough. The question is: Is he independent enough?” Referring to his history of covering up human rights abuses in Honduras, Goodman said: “I think of the role of intelligence in telling truth to power” and then Negroponte’s appointment “doesn’t fit.”

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/negroponte/negroponte.php

[derby378]

2. WTF?? Barbara Boxer voted FOR Negroponte??

I'm sorry - I like her, but we may have to DU her.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Apperently she did

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00107

[Solly Mack]

3. I can't wait to hear the rationalizations

the anticipation has me tingling over all :sarcasm:

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Perhaps 98 Senators believe that he is qualified to do the job

:shrug:

[Solly Mack]

11. indeed

I suspect that's the case

[freestyle]

13. Only if the job is murdering dictator enabler

He has lots of experience with that. I get the feeling that Negroponte has lots of dirt on lots of people and has such a proven track record of helping "dispose" of opponents that he has a lifetime free pass.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. So, you think that he has 'dirt' on Barbara Boxer and Russ Feingold?

:shrug:

[librechik]

18. yep, that's the job, all right n/t

[sandnsea]

14. Obstructionist label

Really can't vote no on everything.

[preciousdove]

4. Dog have mercy on us n/t

*

[AG78]

5. It was 95-3 for Iraq Ambassador after the "handover" of power

98-2?

They fight Bolton, but let Negroponte slide. I do not understand Senate(or House for that matter) Democrats. They make zero sense. One day they'll try to fight for the people, the next they'll sell them down the river.

At least Republicans are consistent. Hell, you have to pay a pretty penny or two to buy a Republican. Democrats sell out for less.

98 to freakin' 2? Why show up? Why even bother getting their pants wet over Bolton? Negroponte...Bolton...Bolton...Negroponte. Same person, same clique.

You win Congressional Democrats. You've beaten me. I have no idea what you people do. Well played.

[sweettater]

7. I have come to the conclusion

that the Democrats and Republicans are one in the same. Every so often they throw us a bread crumb to keep us in line. They are all out to screw the hard working American people............I believe it. The sooner we all come to realize this maybe we can move on to a third party. Taking America back will only happen if a third party prevails.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. So, appernetly the Senate likes him even more now

:shrug:

[Zorra]

6. Porter Goss and Negroponte went to Yale together.

there is a picture at this website, it was too large to post.

http://www.apfn.org/apfn/qclub.htm

It seems they were in the Fence Club at the same time. What an amazing coincidence, that Bush, a Skull & Bones Yalie, would pick two Yale Grads that went to Yale at the same time to be the Heads of US Intelligence.

Apparently, if this info is reliable, Negroponte is also Skull and Bones. I'll be darned. Anyone know if this is true, or if Porter Goss was Skull and Bones also?
Amazing coincidences.

SURNAME-GIVEN NAME-S&B YEAR
Negroponte John Dimitri 1960

http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/bones.htm

So, what else qualifies him to be Head of US Intelligence

Inquiring minds want to know.

Speaking 5 languages is nice, but that does not qualify you to be Head of Intelligence.

Being a career diplomat is nice, but that does not qualify you to be Head of Intelligence either.

[grasswire]

10. amazing

Thanks. That explains a few things.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Yet many of the Democrats who voted for him (Boxer, Feingold) did not

go to Yale and therefore could not have been in Skull and Bones.

[CWebster]

15. So, what was that about KERRY exposing Iran-Contra?

Anyone?

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. It's a secret plan!

Just like the one where he was going to unconcede and contest the election.

[redqueen]

20. Unbelievable.

98-2?!

:wtf:

[ausiedownunderground]

22. Ths is why America has lost "some" respect!

Negroponte is a complete "killing" machine". But Rethugs say he only kills "nasty" people. Since they are in power, we have to believe them, and put up with it! Bring on 2006!!!!

[Barrett808]

23. Taking bets on when the first domestic death squad emerges

Give it a year, maybe?

Also, who will be targeted first?