CNN: Rockefeller "deeply troubled " with timing of Negroponte's resignation

[DeepModem Mom]

Thursday, January 04, 2007
Rockefeller 'deeply concerned' with timing of Negroponte's resignation

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Saying he is "deeply troubled" with the timing of National Intelligence Director John Negroponte's resignation, incoming Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-West Virginia, vowed to swiftly begin confirmation hearings for Negroponte's successor.

Negroponte is set to exit the top intelligence post without a second-in-command. Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Gen. Michael Hayden left that position last May to become head of the Central Intelligence Agency, and his successor has yet to be confirmed.

"It is not acceptable for the top two jobs to be vacant at the same time, Rockefeller said in a statement. "The leadership of the Intelligence Community is too important."

A senior administration official tells CNN that President Bush plans to nominate retired Admiral Mike McConnell to succeed Negroponte.

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/01/rockefeller-deeply-concerned-with.html

[babylonsister]

1. Sounds like the * admin is in freefall, doesn't quite know what they're

doing.

<

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. They've been freefalling for 6 years n/t

[babylonsister]

3. Amen, but now that the Dems are in charge, we get to hear/read

what Rockefeller thinks about it. THAT is a revelation after so long of doing without.

[Drum]

12. Indeed! nt

[pinto]

4. This Admin is riddled with resignations and reassignments.

And no one seems able to bring their disastrous foreign policy to some reasonably safe harbor. The world waits, Iraq implodes, our military is run out on a deadly, failed enterprise and Bushco shuffles personnel, cites further "consultations" and seemingly scrambles to cover glaring gaps in expertise...a sad and dangerous package friends.

We used to joke about Mr. Bush's singular ineptitude, but, lo and behold, it's filtered down among the bureaucracy, as in any other organization. Pathetic.

[alfredo]

6. His ineptitude has become a threat to our nation.

I think this administration should step aside for the good of the nation.

[Bozita]

5. maybe Negroponte's the Secretary of State-in-waiting?

Condi may want to spend more time with her family ... sometime soon, IMHO.

[alfredo]

7. I was thinking the same thing. She hasn't been having much

success.

[cui bono]

10. Which means she's due for a promotion

Vice President perhaps?

[alfredo]

19. You know she will be tapped if Cheney bids adieu.

[VegasWolf]

28. Exactly! The only way failure Condi is still around is because she is Bush's bitch. Laura is really

starting to get sick of the incompetent bitch.

[alfredo]

30. Wife number 1 is always jealous of wife number 2

[femrap]

36. Interesting idea.....very interesting. nt

[LeftishBrit]

15. I know who'd LOVE to replace Condi!

Tony the Poodle! It would be his dream job, next to being the actual President (for which he's not eligible) or a ruler over the British Empire on Which the Sun Never Set (for which he's at least 60 years too late).

And he will be unemployed within the next few months....

[babylonsister]

8. IMO, they both suck but dimson is running out of human options. His "SUCK-O-PHANTS"

have been used up.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. LOL! He does appear to be "rearranging the deck chairs on theTitanic"! nt

[saigon68]

20. First However a Celebration for the CHIMPANZEE

[cui bono]

11. They shouldn't shuffle a House of Cards.

[wordpix]

33. and they shouldn't keep removing cards from the deck, although it's the deck of the Titanic

[Contrite]

13. Oh no! Mike McConnell of Booz Allen Hamilton?

To take Negroponte's place?


Mike McConnell heads Booz Allen Hamilton. Booz Allen Hamilton is at the heart of 9-11, the NSA spying and "Total Information Awareness" programs. They control the military intelligence, the surveillance programs, NORAD and NORTHCOM intelligence, UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles--remote controlled planes).

See "Trailblazer". See Mitre Corporation. See Ptech. See the connections/history shared by them and Booz Allen Hamilton, as well as their leadership Mike McConnell, Dale Watson, James Woolsey and Dov Zakheim!

[wordpix]

34. looks like military industrial complex revolving door redux

[Contrite]

35. Only this time

they are playing with our rights, and using their technology against us

[cascadiance]

14. We really need to push "The Ambassador" documentary to be released in the U.S.!

Now is the right time for us all to see it. Perhaps a letter writing/phone call campaign into Link TV/Free Speech TV to put it on the air might be in order. For more info read the following link:

http://www.erlingborgen.com/theamb.html

I saw the tail end of this at the last screening at Democracy Fest earlier this year, and looking back, I wish I'd made a point of seeing the whole film earlier. It sounds like an important film for all Americans to see to know the truth behind this bum. Up until now, it's only been shown on European TV and a few underpublicized public showings here in the U.S.

[Springster]

16. I t6hink Jay's off track on this one. Negroponte has never been an intelligence

professional. As a diplomat, he was a consumer of intelligence, never a producer. State is a far better assignment for him. McConnell on the other hand has been an Intelligence Officer his entire government career. Could The Senator really be upset because the new DNI will know so much more about intel than he does?

Couple this with the Former DCI, Gates, taking the helm as SECDEF, and our country's intelligence community could become significantly more effective. Maybe the 80% of the national intelligence agencies that currently reside in DoD (NRO, NSA, NGA) might actually be resubordinated to the DNI - a needed step pushed strongly by the 9-11 commission.

[rfranklin]

17. Jail would be a better assignment for Negroponte...

along with the rest of the Bush junta.

[newyawker99]

24. Hi Springster!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

26. Welcome to DU, Springster! nt

[Minnesota_Lib]

18. I may be paranoid, but think this move coupled with the replacement of Gens Casey and Abizaid...

...points to a possible attack on Iran.

Seemslikeadream posted piece written by neocon mastermind Michael Ledeen last night (linked below). In it, Ledeen claims evidence of Iran arming Iraqi terrorists groups (he seems to think all insurgents are terrorists) has been found. He seems to be claiming that Iran is intrinsically linked to the Iraq conflict and that we cannot win in Iraq without first taking out Iran.

He goes on to belittle the U.S. intelligence community, whom he claims has sat on this "explosive" evidence (this is the same MO the Pentagon neocons used when cooking the original WMD intel), while making a call to replace Abizaid and all other generals who lack the fortitude to see the Iraq conflict through to its logical conclusion of attacking Iran and possibly Syria.

What he says is pretty insane, but Ledeen must be taken seriously. He helped shape our current mess, is close to Bushco insiders and may still have their ears as well as inside info on what Bushco is planning.

Now, in one fell swoop, the head of DOD intelligence is replaced (with a "yes man", I assume) and Generals Casey and Abizaid are dumped just like Ledeen demanded. Bush is saying a surge in troop strength is coming in Iraq despite all the experts saying it will do nothing to improve the current situation. A surge, however, may be needed if the war is expanded.

I may be paranoid, but I think this all points to an imminent attack on Iran with this new "evidence" as the excuse. Bushco will claim this action is just an extension of the Iraq conflict, as Ledeen says, so he already has the green light from congress.

I hope I my tinfoil hat is just wearing a bit snug this morning and I am completely wrong....but don't be surprised.

Seemslikeadream's Ledeen thread is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3047465

Ironically, Ledeen predicts we will be greeted as liberators by the Iranian people. Talk about using the same modus operandi. Jeeze.

[truthisfreedom]

21. Very scary, and probably what's going on.

In the case of bushco, you can never snug up your tinfoil hat too tightly.

[femrap]

37. I think you're right...

And this Navy admiral...'fox' Fallon who has been promoted. His experience fits with the type of military attack required for Iran.

This has got to be stopped.

[EFerrari]

22. Why are they decapitating CIA?

[Contrite]

29. Privatizing all the intel

See above

[cascadiance]

23. self delete

Woops, dupe!

[Briar]

25. Why aren't they "deeply troubled"

by the record of the man chosen to be the USA's second in command at the State Department?

Has everyone forgotten who he is?

[0007]

27. The Death Squad Master is needed in the field

for junior's new plans to become the greatest leader dictator of the world.



[underpants]

31. "awaiting confirmation" yet another thing the 109th didn't do

Amazing how getting elected was more important that governing.

[angryxyouth]

32. Could this shuffle be the GOP digging in its heals

If Cheney resigns can Bush appoint Rice as the VP. Maybe they feel the impeachment ax coming down, and they will move Condi to the first seat if Bush gets impeached. Condi would be a black woman incumbent in 2008. I would start impeachment hearings on Condi Asap, make her un-appointable.