The CIA 'Old Guard' Goes to War with Bush

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In summary, a powerful faction within the Central Intelligence Agency has launched a campaign to undermine the Bush administration with damaging leaks and briefings about Iraq. The White House is angered by this and believes it to be a partisan attempt to sway the upcoming election in favor of John Kerry. Retired CIA veteran Jim Pavitt notes the unprecedented "viciousness and vindictiveness" in the battle between the White House and the agency. Security analyst John Roberts bluntly states that when the President cannot trust his own CIA, the nation faces dire consequences. The past four years have been extraordinary for the CIA, with immense political pressure to produce desired results, particularly from Vice-President Cheney. Pavitt believes the agency has been too eager to please the administration.
  • #1
Tsu
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Sunday 10 October 2004

A powerful "old guard" faction in the Central Intelligence Agency has launched an unprecedented campaign to undermine the Bush administration with a battery of damaging leaks and briefings about Iraq.

The White House is incensed by the increasingly public sniping from some senior intelligence officers who, it believes, are conducting a partisan operation to swing the election on November 2 in favour of John Kerry, the Democratic candidate, and against George W Bush.

Jim Pavitt, a 31-year CIA veteran who retired as a departmental chief in August, said that he cannot recall a time of such "viciousness and vindictiveness" in a battle between the White House and the agency.

John Roberts, a conservative security analyst, commented bluntly: "When the President cannot trust his own CIA, the nation faces dire consequences."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...10.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/10/10/ixnewstop.html
 
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These have been an extraordinary four years for the CIA and the political pressure to come up with the right results has been enormous, particularly from Vice-President Cheney.

"I'm afraid that the agency is guilty of bending over backwards to please the administration.

Oh what a surprise. :rolleyes:
 
  • #3


The recent revelations about the "old guard" in the CIA launching an attack on the Bush administration are deeply concerning. It is alarming that senior intelligence officers are using their positions to further a partisan agenda and potentially sway the outcome of the upcoming election. The role of the CIA is to provide unbiased and accurate information to the President and the American people, not to involve themselves in political maneuvering.

The comments from Jim Pavitt, a 31-year CIA veteran, about the "viciousness and vindictiveness" in this battle between the White House and the agency are troubling. This kind of division and animosity can only harm the effectiveness of the CIA and ultimately put our national security at risk. It is essential for the CIA to remain a non-partisan entity in order to maintain the trust and confidence of both the President and the American people.

As John Roberts, a conservative security analyst, pointed out, when the President cannot trust his own CIA, the nation faces dire consequences. The integrity and credibility of the CIA is crucial for the safety and security of our country. It is essential for the leadership of the agency to address these concerns and ensure that the CIA remains focused on its mission of providing accurate and unbiased information.

In this critical time, it is important for all government agencies to work together and put aside any personal or political agendas. The American people deserve to have a strong and united intelligence community, not one that is divided and engaged in political battles. It is my hope that the CIA will take the necessary steps to address this issue and restore the trust and confidence of the American people.
 

1. What is "The CIA 'Old Guard' Goes to War with Bush" about?

"The CIA 'Old Guard' Goes to War with Bush" is an article that discusses the tension and conflict between the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the George W. Bush administration during the early 2000s. It highlights the disagreements and power struggles between the two entities over issues such as the Iraq War and the use of enhanced interrogation techniques.

2. Who wrote "The CIA 'Old Guard' Goes to War with Bush"?

The article was written by Seymour M. Hersh, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist who has covered national security and intelligence issues for decades. Hersh has published numerous articles and books on the CIA and other government agencies.

3. What sparked the conflict between the CIA and the Bush administration?

The conflict between the CIA and the Bush administration was mainly fueled by disagreements over the handling of the Iraq War and the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, on suspected terrorists. The CIA, particularly its 'old guard' members who had been with the agency for decades, believed that the Bush administration's policies were damaging to national security and undermined the agency's mission.

4. How did the conflict between the CIA and the Bush administration impact the agency's operations?

The conflict had a significant impact on the CIA's operations and morale within the agency. Many experienced CIA officers retired early or resigned in protest, leading to a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise. The agency also faced challenges in recruiting new agents and analysts due to the negative perception of the CIA's involvement in controversial policies.

5. Has the relationship between the CIA and the government improved since the publication of "The CIA 'Old Guard' Goes to War with Bush"?

It is difficult to determine if the relationship between the CIA and the government has improved since the publication of the article, as it is a complex and constantly evolving dynamic. However, there have been efforts to address the issues raised in the article, such as the banning of enhanced interrogation techniques by the Obama administration. The CIA has also implemented reforms to improve internal communication and collaboration within the agency. Ultimately, the relationship between the CIA and the government is always subject to change depending on the political climate and current events.

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