I have always had a love/hate realtionship with our intelligence agencies. I’ve always been fascinated with the lore of the CIA and the spying industry, while simultaneously being disgusted at many of the things they have done in their storied history. I have a ton of respect for Larry Johnson and Pat Lang, but I don’t agree with them when they argue that the excesses of our intelligence agencies were always the fault of our civilian leadership. But one thing I do agree with is that we have a need for our intelligence agencies. I especially agree that we have a need for analysis.
The analysis of the intelligence community is that the war in Iraq is making us less safe. It’s not clear what their analysis is about what it might mean if we leave Iraq to descend into an even worse civil war. It’s also not clear what they think our prospects are for minimizing the dangers if we stay. All that is crystal clear is that invading Iraq was a mistake that has made us less safe.
Historically, the CIA has been a reactionary force that used its influence, not to democratize, but to smack down anyone that interferes with U.S. or British business interests. But they do not seem to be on board, any longer, with the neo-conservatives plan for global domination.
Several active and retired intelligence officials, who were not authorized to speak on behalf of the intelligence community, expressed resentment at the administration’s decision to have Negroponte issue the first official reaction to the weekend reports. They said he should not have become involved in what quickly became a political battle.
The politicization of intelligence matters has reached a point where the intelligence community can no longer go along. Their assessment is that current policy is making matters worse. They are no longer willing to pussyfoot around the issue and they don’t seem to care whether Porter Goss or Michael Hayden is in command.
Pentagon generals are also speaking up. These are not groups that are traditionally sympathetic to Democrats, but they have had their fill.
