After Petraeus

David Sanger ruminates about possible new heads fot the CIA, and reminds us that we really have Moved On:

Several current and former officials of American intelligence agencies said they believed that Mr. Obama might move quickly to nominate Mr. Petraeus’s deputy, Michael J. Morell, as his replacement. That would put the agency’s most respected intelligence analyst at the head of the organization. Mr. Morell is of the “light touch” school, and clearly the favorite inside the headquarters of the agency in Langley, Va.

The president could also choose the man inside the White House who is considered by many to be overseeing the entire American intelligence infrastructure from his basement office in the West Wing of the White House: John O. Brennan, a retired C.I.A. operative who once headed the agency’s station in Saudi Arabia.

By all accounts, both Mr. Brennan and Mr. Morell have developed strong relationships with Mr. Obama over the past four years; both were central players in the operation to find and kill Osama bin Laden, and both have been at the core of the covert program to undermine Iran’s nuclear program.

Here is the plot twist:

Mr. Morell is a soft-spoken onetime intelligence analyst. He was President George W. Bush’s intelligence briefer, and he was omnipresent in the White House after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He frequently could be spotted at a Starbucks in Waco, Texas, near Mr. Bush’s ranch, sipping his coffee between briefings.

If Mr. Morell was omnipresent at the White House after 9/11/2001, then he was omnipresent prior to March 19, 2003, when the US led the invasion of Iraq. And now Obama is going to appoint to run the CIA the guy who helped Bush lie us into war? I'm shocked.

And needless, to say, this need not be exclusively about mssing WMDs; Brennan has baggage, too:

Mr. Brennan would be more controversial. He was considered for the job four years ago, when Mr. Obama was first elected. But he withdrew when some human rights advocates accused him — unfairly, he said — of supporting or tolerating the use of torture while he was a top aide to George J. Tenet, the C.I.A. director from 1997 to 2004. Similar accusations have dogged many other agency veterans.

If that is a problem for Mr. Brennan then how does Bush's briefer escape any taint from missing WMDs, torture, secret prisons, or Gitmo? Once again I am reminded that I will never be smart enough to be a lefty. Nor could I succeed as a Times editor, since these points are not even raised.

Comments

[Extraneus]

if Romney had been advised that the best thing he could do is go on the attack, I wonder how effective he would have been as a street fighter. Something we'll never know.

Romney should have asked himself: 'Let's assume I lose. Would I rather lose after having attacked or after having held back in pursuit of the Goldilocks Optimum?'

Surely he'd have chosen the former.

[Janet]

Hah! It WAS Gergen, narciso...I had it written in my quote book.

[Rick Ballard]

"I wonder how effective he would have been as a street fighter."

Chubby,

He was certainly up for politics as blood sport in the primaries. It's very shallow comfort but his cutting off the credit cards is an indication he finally realized his top notch, very expensive, fantastically credentialed consultants had plucked him like a pullet.

600 "volunteers" manning ORCA Central in Boston, Massachusetts. I suppose there was just no chance of prog scum infiltrating a GOTV effort centered in Boston.

[narciso]

Not unlike Silva's army of associates, strewn all through out London, that facilitate his escape, in Skyfall.

[Clarice]

O.L.Our mistake was not building a parking lot empire here in D.C. The cash drawer is always full and it's easy to miss a lot of receipts.

[Extraneus]

.

[pagar]

" I suppose there was just no chance of prog scum infiltrating a GOTV effort centered in Boston."

Rick B, IMO, there was just no chance of the prog scum NOT infiltrating a GOTV effort for a non Democrat, and destroying that effort from within, and I believe that is what happened.

[Dave (in MA)]

This appeared on a Denver TV station.

[narciso]

Civility, it would be an interesting circumstance, wouldn't it Sara.

[Janet]

This is good at Belmont -

"The chief disadvantage of conservatives is that they have chosen to be reliant on the Republican Party, which has for reasons of its own, decided to act almost entirely like an audience. They ask a few questions, essay a few reviews. They may even occasionally pelt the players onstage with a few rotten tomatoes.

But they remain the audience."

[Jim Eagle]

Received from a Marine General who is not already in FBI custody:

Congratulations to the Democrats and Young People! You now own it.

The next terrorist attack, you own it.

Can't get a job after graduation, you own it.

Sky rocketing energy prices due to Obama's EPA shutting down the energy producing states, you own it.
(just this week, they have passed 92 new regulations)

A nuclear Iran , you own it. Bowing to the Soviet Union , you own it. Another severe recession, you own it.

A volatile border with Mexico , you own it. Trouble getting good health care, you own it.

Higher heath insurance costs and health care costs, you own it. (Nah - it is free healthcare insurance)
No federal budget, you own it. Our allies mistrust, you own it.

Several more trillions of debt, you own it. More Benghazi situations, you own it. (What Benghazi? - it never happened)

No one willing to join the military, you own it.

Trouble getting a loan to buy a home, you own it.

More dependency on food stamps, you own it.

Trouble finding good employment, you own it.

Several part time jobs instead of a good job, you own it.

A World Government, you own it.

The UN governing the United States instead of ourselves doing it, you own it.

A Senate that will not bring any legislation to the table rather it is "Dead on Arrival", you own it.

China controlling our world trade trampling all over us, you own it.

Loss of our freedoms as we have known it in the past, you own it.

dictatorship instead of a democracy that follows the Constitution, you own it.

Less take home pay and higher living costs, you own it.

Driving a car that looks like a toy, you own it.

More government corruption and lies, you own it.

More toleration of extreme and fanatical Islamists, you own it.

Terrorist attacks called work place incidents, you own it.

Your revenge instead of love of country, you own it.

President George Bush is out of it now, and there is not another good man for you to vilify and lie about. In a way I am relieved that another good man will not be blamed when it was impossible to clean up this mess you voted for.

----------------------------------

[Chubby]

TK, Democrats support their various issue
groups only insofar as the groups support Democrats. The same rule should pertain to what Republicans support.

[narciso]

Woops sorry, Dave, if it wasn't for Twitter, as well as other captive audiences, would they have an audience;

http://twitchy.com/2012/11/13/special-snowflake-soledad-obrien-wasserman-schultz-beg-for-viewers-twitter-users-would-rather-have-root-canal/

[pagar]

Gen Ward gets demoted and has to repay $82,000

His boss spends: ""Under President Obama's stewardship, the national debt has grown by more than $4 billion per day, $170 million per hour, $2.8 million per minute and more than $47,000 per second," he said."

And gets reelected to do the same for 4 more years.

I'm not in favor any military member spending more than is necessary but there is something strange about a deal like this.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/national-debt/story?id=17159803#.UKK30oc72So

[JM Hanes]

CH:

"At least DiFi is pretending to care about Benghazi."

Feinstein is a partisan stalwart, but, like Pelosi victim Jane Harman, I've always believed that she takes national security seriously. There's no love lost between DiFi and the Prez, either. He appointed Panetta to the CIA and dumped Petraeus without even bothering to consult or inform her, as Chair of Senate Intel, before it hit the press, and she has not hesitated to make her displeasure known. She'll be interesting to watch now that Obama is a lame duck.

I've been extremely disappointed by the apparent lack of investigation into the White House leaks, but as far as I can see, the House Intel Committee under Republican leadership has been just as bad. Maybe they've been doing something behind closed doors, but aside from some public expressions of concern, it sure doesn't look like it.

[Jim Eagle]

I knew they'd find a way to blame all this on Bush and they did.

[Threadkiller]

Chubby, would you say that a different way? Maybe give an example.

I think I get what you are saying, but I am not sure.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--All Up in My Sn**ch.--

ROLMAO.
Somebody may get fired for that but he'll be going out in a blaze of glory.

[Janet]

Wonderful JiB @ 4:15. When I watched Sean Bielat debate - first Barney Frank & then Kennedy - I kept thinking Bielat was too good to go to DC.

[maryrose]

JIB:
Loved the picture of Frederick. Your post upthread is very telling. Yes those who voted for Obama do own it and the results won't be pleasant. They have misplaced trust in big government. Imagibe their disappointment when they end up with nothing,
After watching Meghan Kelly , I am now convinced that the scapegoat for Benghazi will be Petraeus. I think Bill and Bammy figured this out to spare Hillary any fall-out or damage. They knew about the investigation and the affair so they bided their time until after the election but before the hearing. The congress is asking for Petraeus not Hillary .Look squirrel ,he's a philanderer as opposed to Lokk Hillary failed to intervene in time to save the ambassador and the soldiers.
2 months later we still have no definitive answers to the basic events that transpired on Sept. 11th. Obama should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.

[Captain Hate]

I've been extremely disappointed by the apparent lack of investigation into the White House leaks, but as far as I can see, the House Intel Committee under Republican leadership has been just as bad

I'd call them worse because they have a built in incentive, other than their raison d'etre, to pursue them pedal to the metal. Interesting comparison of DiFi to Harman, who was so much more mentally adept than the expert theologian that she had no choice but to undermine her. If DiFi isn't concerned about Benghazi, she's a better actress than I've believed.

[Rob Crawford]

Wow. Years ago, the BBC held a meeting of 28 "experts" and as a result went full gaga for CAGW. They recently blocked a (British equivalent of) freedom-of-information request for the attendees of that meeting.

However, the list was apparently posted online at some time, and a motivated digger found the list.

The result? Only three of the 28 have degrees in a scientific field. Only four, (then) low-level BBC staffers were at the meeting. The remainder were all from left- and far-left-wing NGOs.

Oh, and the four BBC staffers have since risen to prominence in the organization -- only to have to resign because they falsely accused someone of sexual abuse without a shred of proof.

LUN

[Chubby]

I already said it a different way in my first post, that Republicans and Democrats are different because Democrats support any all groups that support Democrats.

[maryrose]

should be look Hillary is avoiding her responsibility again on Benghazi.0
Jay Carney looks tired to me. I wonder if even he is disgusted by the constant stream of lies he is required to tell to keep this administration afloat.
The end justifies the means... That is their mantra and as a result they feel no regret for the lies, the evasion or the dissembling which has occurred from the get=go.
I do believe Nancy from San Fran will step down tomorrow at her press conference and endorse Hoyer for the position. I think they probably agreed on that after the 2010 debacle.

[Chubby]

*any and all*

[Janet]

I feel bad for our military. Between the celebration of everything homosexual & now this spectacle...what strong, honorable young man wants to sign on to this outfit?

[Dave (in MA)]

Somebody really needs to take a Petraeus/Broad-whatever pic and photoshop a head-swap with Glenn Close from that Michael Douglas movie. I'd be surprised if it already hadn't been done, but I can't find one.

[maryrose]

Holder
to stay in Obama's kingly court. Maybe it is just me but I think he is there to take the heat off Obama. I also think it is a risky move for Holder as the knives are out for him. He will be constantly looking over his incompetent shoulder to see who is going to stab him in the back. He knew about Petraeus and he did tell Obama. This meme that the WH found out on the day of the election is to quote the current resident of the WH--bull-s---.

[maryrose]

great idea Dave. These kooks are actually given security clearances and allowed to look at documents. Broadwhatever is casually opining at a Denver meeting with regular folks. What kind of security is that?She has classified documents on her computer and no one knows how they got there. I feel safer,Don't you?

[Porchlight]

I feel bad for our military. Between the celebration of everything homosexual & now this spectacle...what strong, honorable young man wants to sign on to this outfit?

By design, Janet. Leftists like the ones in charge of the country never have the military's best interests at heart.

[Dave (in MA)]

Here's a lame-ass ms-paint attempt...

Meh.

[James D.]

You're absolute right, Janet.

50+ years of ridiculing and mocking and destroying the moral values of this country, corrupting the schools, debasing mass media culture, will do that.

[JM Hanes]

DebinNC:

"Speaking of loons, both Petraeus and Gen. Allen wrote letters of support in a, thankfully, futile effort by Jill Kelley's crazy, lying, dead-beat, evil twin's effort to get custody of her son."

This is really disturbing, because it's clear from Allen's letter that he really didn't know Kelley's sister very well. Kelly would have to have had inordinate sway or Petraeus must have asked him to do it, but the implications either way are not good. This is looking a lot less like story about a hush-hush private affair, than a lavish top brass party circuit, in which powerful men were doing favors for more than one unstable woman. Per the Atlantic story, when even "the FBI agent who kicked off the case" is emailing Kelly bare chested photos of himself, you've got to wonder just deep the sleaze here goes.

On a related front, I thought the fact that Petraeus emails were apparently being monitored by the F.B.I., mostly spoke to the issue of when the President was informed. Petraeus was not active military at that time, he was head of the CIA, where I have zero doubt that every kind of communication, both official and inofficial, is subject to much higher scrutiny than it would be elsewhere-- especially where any non-agency personnel are concerned. If what's coming out is as bad as looks, they certainly should have been alarmed.

[OldTimer]

The Petraeus affair is eclipsing the Benghazi debacle and the regulatory and tax nightmare about to forever trap and enslave us all. I'm amazed at how easily, and at warp speed, the country's falling into enemy hands.

And Jon Cary as secretary of defense leaves me nauseous and truly frightened for our nation and its military.

So many squirrels, so little time.

[centralcal]

JM Hanes, per a story I read today, there were no emails being transmitted per se. Rather they set up an email account, both had access and their "conversations" were saved as "drafts" to be read by each other whenever they logged on - never actually emailed. Also, they had another method via a "dropbox" type of account.

Apparently, both methods of communicating are used by terrorists. lol.

[centralcal]

And in yet another story about the Kelley women, it seems the crazy one going through the child custody hearings has some connections to Senators Kerry and Whitehouse. Such a small and sordid little world.

[Jim Eagle]

My 4:23 link is a must see for all you Karl Rove supporters and critics:)

OT: My governor, Rick Scott's Mother has died. RIP.

[centralcal]

And, in other breaking news, looks like the "voice" of Elmo is off the hook. His accuser has recanted and now saying through his attorney that it was an adult consensual relationship. Sheesh!

[RichatUF]

Such a small and sordid little world.

Hummm...good grief.

[OldTimer]

Mentioned by lawyers on Hannity today..if Obama can be proved to have lied about Benghazi, he *could* be impeached.

Knowing this, it's no wonder Petraeus was targeted for destruction. The administration needs to muddy the credibility of anyone who dares to tell the truth, if Barry is to keep his office.

If Petraeus is the honorable man of integrity we've thought him to be, will he put his country first, now that he's owned up to his infidelity and been publicly humiliated.

[pagar]

"And Jon Cary as secretary of defense leaves me nauseous and truly frightened for our nation and its military."

to be joined by: http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/11/13/susan-rice-emerges-as-obamas-top-pick-for-secretary-of-state/

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/11/13/Holder-Is-Staying-As-Attorney-General

Frightening is an understatement.

[DebinNC]

NY Post details Senators Kerry and Whitehouse's ties to Jill Kelley's evil twin via her Dem fundraiser boyfriend. It also makes clear how foolish and shameful Generals Petraeus and Allen were to vouch for the "mentally unstable" Kelley twin's mothering skills.

[Captain Hate]

My 4:23 link is a must see for all you Karl Rove supporters and critics:)

Rove is the least of my concerns right now.

[daddy]

If the press will not criticize itself/each other, then why should we have any confidence in them whatsoever?

Rob,

Good comment and link at 11:39. Well said. Fits in exactly with my impression that the BBC put out that smear story on the Thatcher Era Politician in order to deflect attention from the BBC's on scandal. No examination of the Press allowed.