Article Entry
03 Sep 2009
Comments:5
“Castrate the C.I.A. and Americans Will Die,” According to Author
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief
It seems we can’t get past the past (does that make sense?). Rather than focusing on new and emerging threats, the CIA is getting bogged down with what many are calling the “Anti-C.I.A. Witch Hunt” by Eric Holder at the Department of Justice regarding controversial interrogation tactics during the Bush administration. Ralph Peters, author of “The War After Armageddon” published an Op-Ed in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review called “Witch Hunt Threatens the CIA,” and he offers some very strong words about the Obama administration’s investigations of the agency — and we mean very strong. Check out some of these excerpts:
“Castrate the CIA and Americans will die. But the Obama White House wants vengeance against those who don’t fit its ideology. Your family’s safety comes a distant second.”
Here’s some more commentary:
“But Obama’s political base wants blood. American blood. What have we come to when our attorney general frees terrorists, then threatens to prosecute patriots who treated butchers too harshly for left-wing tastes?”
While Peter’s commentary may be considered a bit extreme, one point is clear: Holder’s investigations are causing a distraction at the agency. And, and the threats are still there. Perhaps it’s time to “move past the past” and focus on the future and protecting our nation? We welcome all thoughts and comments.
Tags: CIA, CIA Investigations, Controversial Interrogation Tactics, Department of Justice Investigations of the CIA, DOJ, Eric Holder, got geoint?, Raplh Peters, The War After Armageddon, USGIF
from “A Man for All Seasons”:
William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
William Roper: Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!
Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ’round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!
No one, even the President, is above the law. Violations of law by government officials and employees must be prosecuted. (“Good faith” is a defense that must be proved, not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.) That principal used to be held by conservatives. Now, it seems, they only want it to apply to “other” people…
One of the most serious issues with the CIA is the lack of operatives in the field i.e., operatives in Iran, Iraq, etc. and this is per Robert Baer (not my opinion but his) as “Management” in DC has assumed technology replaces or even supersedes field expertise and the fastest career track is to remain in VA and watch the action from a laptop.
Otherwise, the key issue is competency/effectiveness and aside from Tenet’s infamous “slam dunk” the CIA analysts actually had it right on both the invasion of Iraq and the “torture” issue.
The CIA performed more than a hundred computer simulations and additional analysis recommending several times we not invade Iraq: take Saddam out yet don’t invade and occupy.
Cheney and the other “never served in the military” boys in W’s cabinet (not counting Powell or Armitage…the only 2 with actual military experience) basically told the CIA to cease and desist, that is, quit performing the analysis and sending their reports/recommendations.
Of course, W’s Father told his son the same yet W disregarded his Father and James Baker and went with his instincts and we all know that instincts beat objective analysis every time (don’t like ‘em there nuances that requires reed-un’ and ‘rith-muh-tic;)
The CIA studies of various interrogation techniques go back almost 40 years and clearly demonstrate true “torture” is not effective as the subject will say ANYTHING to get it to stop…drugs, sleep deprivation, etc. are infinitely more effective and some of these reports have been declassified so they are available to the public to read.
So, once again, it comes down to competency as much or more than ethics: best technique to garner actionable intelligence is the objective, non-emotional response to the “torture” question and the CIA went on record stating that the harshest interrogation techniques are, quite simply, not effective.
In short, the CIA is much more competent and objective than most realize as the vast majority of Americans (Conservative and Liberal) assume the CIA backed the invasion and occupation of Iraq when, in fact, they did not: clearly stated we should NOT occupy Iraq (merely remove Saddam) and were against the worst torture/prisoner abuse. Instead, the CIA did their best to stick to their playbook founded on several decades of studying and applying the most effective interrogation methods based on experience in the field.
Ultimately, I don’t believe the Obama administration will take any real action to “castrate” the CIA but Joe public needs a good show as the information and pictures leaked now demand at least some political maneuvering and the infinitely wise Cheney virtually bragged about torturing which, by the way, if one is going to engage in this “necessary” technique then it’s irrational if not plain, old fashioned stupid to brag about it as it undermines our national and military interests (yet having never served in the military I’m confident the ramifications never crossed Cheney’s mind). Funny how that works.
From Linked-In:
Base Station Zero:
I can guarantee you with 100% confidence that I will never, ever be detained for being a traitor to my country. The CIA did not interrogate US citizens, they interrogated our enemies captured on the battlefield. These enemies were not citizens and thus not authorized constitutional rights, nor should they be.
Your knowledge of intelligence gathering activities illustrates your ignorance. Provided is a little education:
“The ‘Most Prolific’ Detainee: We learned a lot about al Qaeda from KSM, and not by asking nicely”
http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/883kzmtj.asp?pg=1
“How a Detainee Became an Asset”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/28/AR2009082803874_pf.html
“Acknowledging the Obvious”
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/acknowledging_the_obvious.asp
“Interrogating the CIA”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574377130844113174.html#mod=todays_us_nonsub_weekendjournal
From Linked-In:
Yes, as a former member of the intelligence community, I can say definitively that this turn of events is victory to all America’s enemies. It should be understood that knowledge is power and that those who plot against the US are not greatly gifted in skills other than brutish, thuggery and out right murder. The US is an open society and the idea that the police is going to keep the country safe is a joke. The one and only fact when comprehending police work is that the police is a “RESPONSE” organization. Crimes are not stopped, they are investigated and then prosecuted if the police find the guilty and that is always questionable. The CIA is an active investigator and interceptor of illegal intent originating from beyond our borders by criminal and military/militant organization that intend to execute crimes against the American people and our nation. The CIA is our primary source of eyes and ears beyond the borders of this nation. The police within the US have no jurisdiction beyond their county or state much less the national border.
The notion that Americans will die is an understatement. This ridiculous administration has effectively published an open season hunting license on the heads of all Americans to any and all will and able to exceed the law.
As for the CIA and its people who know a little more about this world than the ignorant who now run it, most will simply disappear into the shadows and take cover while the carnage begins. We have not seen the worst of this storm now building around this nation. A hurricane of death that will engulf the planet all because Americans wanted change without considering what was about to change. There will never be enough police in this country to deal with the problem that is about to land on this country.