Bush Administration trying to bully Intelligence Agencies
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USATODAY.com - Maintain CIA’s independence
Apparently, the Bush Administration doesn’t thin its justifications for war in Iraq are convincing, either:
This confirms what Knight-Ridder reporters found: “A growing number of military officers, intelligence professionals and diplomats privately have deep misgivings about the administration’s double-time march toward war,” the news service reported recently. “They charge that the administration squelches dissenting views and that intelligence analysts are under intense pressure to produce reports supporting the White House’s argument that Saddam poses such an immediate threat to the United States that pre-emptive military action is necessary.”
In the case of Iraq, the consequence of a serious manipulation of the truth could be the loss of thousands of American lives. Fortunately, CIA Director George Tenet has apparently managed to keep the CIA on the straight and narrow during the debate over Iraq.
Although close to President Bush, Tenet has, nevertheless, maintained a degree of independence. One example is the letter he recently sent to the House-Senate committee looking into the 9/11 attacks. In it, the CIA argued that it is unlikely Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would initiate a chemical or biological attack against the USA, unless he is first provoked by an American military strike.
Not exactly the message the White House was trying to send.
Does anyone thing this acceptable? The CIA and other intelligence gathering agencies are supposed to provide unbiased and, as best as possible, accurate information. The Bush Administration, apparently, has decided that it does not need accurate information - it only needs information that agrees with its own prejudices. If the Administration is successful in crushing the independence of the agencies, then we are all less safe.
This isn’t just about Iraq. How can the Administration make appropriate decisions if it is getting all of its intelligence tailored to fit its preconceived notions? It cannot. This is not a recipe for safety.
This is not new, sadly. The CIA was largely ignored by both Reagan and Bush Sr unless they provided “intelligence” that supported the administrations views, Nixon ignored them even then. There is a reason that the NSA doesn’t trust data from the CIA…
Comment 10/28/2002
Yes, the Bush folks have a history of doing this kind of nonsense. It started with the politicization of the Council of Economic advisors for domestic policy and has progressed to the CIA for foreign policy. Just another reason to boot Bush in ‘04.
Comment 10/28/2002