The CIA 'Old Guard' Goes to War with Bush

[Tsu]

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

 

[Ivan Seeking]

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.

 

[R0man]

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.