Politicizing The CIA

The NY Times headlines a topical pro-Hillary revelation in a new book by a former CIA official and buries a pro-Bush tidbit.

First, getting us ready for Hillary:

Ex-C.I.A. Official Rebuts Republican Claims on Benghazi Attack in ‘The Great War of Our Time’

By David Sanger

WASHINGTON — The former deputy director of the C.I.A. asserts in a forthcoming book that Republicans, in their eagerness to politicize the killing of the American ambassador to Libya, repeatedly distorted the agency’s analysis of events. But he also argues that the C.I.A. should get out of the business of providing “talking points” for administration officials in national security events that quickly become partisan, as happened after the Benghazi attack in 2012.

The official, Michael J. Morell, dismisses the allegation that the United States military and C.I.A. officers “were ordered to stand down and not come to the rescue of their comrades,” and he says there is “no evidence” to support the charge that “there was a conspiracy between C.I.A. and the White House to spin the Benghazi story in a way that would protect the political interests of the president and Secretary Clinton,” referring to the secretary of state at the time, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

But he also concludes that the White House itself embellished some of the talking points provided by the Central Intelligence Agency and had blocked him from sending an internal study of agency conclusions to Congress.

Yeah, whatever - IMHO the Republicans should move past Benghazi and focus on the broader question of Hillary's role in the bizarre "plan" to topple Qadaffi with no credible plan to replace him.

And speaking of what might be thought of as a lesson of Iraq (Wasn't winning the war with no plan to win the peace Bush's mistake?) the Times has this Iraq flashback:

Mr. Morell is gentle about most of the politicians he dealt with — he expresses admiration for both Mr. Bush and Mr. Obama, though he accuses former Vice President Dick Cheney of deliberately implying a connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq that the C.I.A. had concluded probably did not exist. But when it comes to the events leading up to the Bush administration’s decision to go to war in Iraq, he is critical of his own agency.

Mr. Morell concludes that the Bush White House did not have to twist intelligence on Saddam Hussein’s alleged effort to rekindle the country’s work on weapons of mass destruction.

“The view that hard-liners in the Bush administration forced the intelligence community into its position on W.M.D. is just flat wrong,” he writes. “No one pushed. The analysts were already there and they had been there for years, long before Bush came to office.”

 

Comments

[BR]

Next page.

[BR]

HAPPPPPY BIRTHDAY RUDOLPH VALENTINO!!!!

Hear the handome silent star's beautiful voice: 1923 recording of two songs.

[daddy]

Bummer, Amy lost by 11,000 votes, 60 to 40%. Oh well, hello to higher Taxes.

In less depressing news, Fish and Wildlife recently put out an interesting map which tracked 9 bears with video collars as they ran around the city for 6 weeks in 2013. One of the bears is the Momma of the 4 cubs from Government Hill who just got relocated to the Kenai and unfortunately showed up today at the garbage cans of Hope.

Anyhow, here's the story with the maps and a few "Bear's Eye View videos: Map reveals movements of urban Anchorage bears

We live in Red Bear Circle territory, and the relocated Black Bear Momma is the Light Green Circles.

[Janet]

Thank you all for your condolences.

[daddy]

Morning Janet,

So sorry for your loss. Please give Jess a hug from me and all the dogs of JOM.

[Jane on Ipad]

Hey Daddy, we had a black bear sighting at my condo complex yesterday. I invited him for dinner but he didn't show up!

[Miss Marple]

Good morning, all!

Byron York ‏@ByronYork 14s14 seconds ago

New Quinnipiac Iowa Poll: Walker 21; Rubio, Paul 13; Cruz 12; Huck 11; Carson 7; Bush 5; Christie, Perry 3; Santorum, Fiorina, Kasich 2…
0 retweets 0 favorites

[squaredance]

Here is an astute take of those freedom loving PEN dissidents, and, I think, it is also relevant to the MSM's shameful handling of the Geller.

[James D.]

Re: Walker and his lack of a degree

I don't think it's a negative, IF he is the one to talk about it first and define his own story. Yes, the Dems andSM will attack whatever he says, but they're going to dp that no matter what anyway. If he gets his story out first, that'll make a huge difference.

If there's one lesson to be learned from the 2012 campaign, it's that whoever the R candidate is, they have to define them self. If not...remember that Mitt Romney lost the dog-lover vote to a guy who bragged about eating dogs.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/417950/baltimore-and-elsewhere-its-culture-can-make-or-break-cycle-poverty-jonah-goldberg

Interesting article.

Aside from moving people into middle class areas, what else could be done?

I personally think setting up block competitions with a range of point variables (school attendance, grades, fewest arrest records, pounds of trash collected, number of marriages, etc.) with cash prizes awarded when a certain point level is reached, awarded each month, would be a good experiment.

[Janet]

from a friend on FB - "Bosch Fawstin wrote this essay three years ago. Everyone should read and share it."
Fawstin won the cartoon contest. The essay is VERY good.

http://fawstin.blogspot.com/2012/04/who-cares-about-islam.html?m=1

[James D.]

Great post from Insty this morning:

Given Harry Reid’s behavior when Dems were in the majority, I think I’d simply refuse to vote on any Obama nominees. But what do I know; I’m not a slick Washington operator like Mitch McConnell.

Given that McConnell and the Rs will get zero credit from the Dems or the MSM or voters for being bipartisan; and given that, be definition, an Obama appointee is going to be a lawless, racist crook who will do horrible damage in whatever job they're being out into; and goven that the Dems don't extend the same consideration to R nominees... what possible reason is there to give them a vote?

[DebinNC]

MM, BOzo, via his Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing is about to bring the inner city denizens into unacceptably "under-diverse" suburbs across America.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/05/a-sign-of-things-to-come-in-the-democratic-party.php

[Miss Marple]

DebinNC,

I knew about that, but that isn't designed to help elevate struggling black families. It's meant to destroy the suburban middle class.

[Extraneus]

Good link, squaredance.

[Miss Marple]

http://cbs4indy.com/2015/05/06/authorities-find-fake-skeletons-in-underwater-lawn-chairs/

Some people have too much time on their hands.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/05/05/wsjs-jason-riley-soccer-mom-opponents-to-common-core-have-the-momentum/

[Miss Marple]

http://thefederalist.com/2015/05/06/why-the-republican-party-doesnt-need-mike-huckabee-right-now-or-ever/

[DebinNC]

Last week I posted a Gallup result showing 46% of MD residents polled said they'd leave the state if they could. Only IL and CT's results were higher. Watching the Baltimore goings-on must make even more want to get out while they can, whatever it takes.

The AA Baltimore Police Commissioner told CNN yesterday that SA Mosby told him of the charges for the Baltimore 6 only 10 min. before she announced them ... that Mosby had only minimally kept up with the BPD's 40-50 person task force investigating the Freddie Gray saga, compared to Mosby's "parallel" intestigative team of 4 or 5.

[NKonChrome]

MissM-- your comment last night @7:02 about tax referendum votes to pay teachers failing. What do we here at JOM call that?

[DebinNC]

I don't see how BOzo's threat to hold back Title 1 funds will hurt middle class, anti-CC soccer moms, whose kids aren't in Title 1 schools? The soccer moms can either home-school or private-school.

[Miss Marple]

NK,

Isn't that the OPM famine?

[Miss Marple]

And now, a bizarre story from California, which includes something I never thought I would see in a news story, the Knights Templar:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-aide-harris-accused-rogue-police-force-20150505-story.html

[henry]

Miss M, the Crusades made them do it.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-32595767

Egypt plans to build a replica of the Lighthouse at Alexandria.

[Marlene]

In my morning perusal of the Manchester (NH) Union Leader I read about a meeting held between state education officials and the mayor,school board and parents. There is a simmering disagreement between Manchester and the state because Manchester wants to devise its own standards as an alternative to Smarter Balance and Common Core. This is an actual quote from the NH Education Commissioner..."the assessments are designed to give us more information about students,it is not the job of parents to teach (21st century ) skill sets." She said Manchester can't opt out,that the state would lose federal funds. One of the board members said,"if a parent is unable to teach the math their child is learning,maybe it is fuzzy math."
The comments are full of we need more money (taxes) and also that the dissenters are anti-government complainers. The concerned parents and actual tax paying citizens are the bad guys.

[jimmyk on iPad]

"what possible reason is there to give them a vote?"

McConnell seems to be under the illusion that he will garner all sorts of praise from the media for being "the adult in the room," and for "ending gridlock," as if that's what the Republican electorate really cares about.

[James D.]

jimmyk, I get that.

But you'd think that the experience of the last 20+ years, or even just a glance through a couple of day's worth of the NYT and the WaP, would disabuse him of that notion.

[DebinNC]

BOzo, who almost immediately after his swearing-n cancelled the defense system for Poland/Ukraine, is now offering to provide one to protect the Saudis from Iran:

"The creation of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), or Aegis defense system against missiles stretching from Saudi Arabia to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, would also have to involve an agreement from Israel. But U.S. officials say the prospect that such a system could be sold to those nations is real and will be a centerpiece of closed-door talks between President Obama and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders at Camp David this month." [Washington Times]

[Rick Ballard]

Did someone mention the OPM Famine? I'm sure all Chicagoans will will be delighted to pay a 50% increase in property taxes to support their Fascist Plantation. I'm rather surprised they haven't already voluntarily made the contributions necessary to keep it running.

[DebinNC]

Retiring boomers with union pensions will move, so what then for those left behind? I hope Hillary has a GM-bailout type plan she'll promote in Super Tuesday states.

[DebinNC]

LI: Is Freddie Gray Case Already Unraveling?

[henry]

Jeepers Rick. Now I need to convince Walker to put up a fence on our southern border.

[NKonChrome]

MissM-- OPM, indeed. BTW, the Alexandria Lighthouse by al-Sisi, that is a slap at Islamists. To MB, egyptian history must only date to the time of the Prophet and nothing predating his time can be celebrated or even preserved. Now al-sisi wants to build a replica of a GREEK lighthouse. This is a direct slap at MB.

[Miss Marple]

NK,

Good point!

I was more on the Knights Templar mystery when I posted that, which had reminded me of the Library at Alexandria, and where all those books which weren't burnt went.

I am afraid I was deeply impressed by that movie "National Treasure."

[NKonChrome]

Deb-- so Obummer wants to let the Mullahs get their Shia bomb which they will use to threaten the KSA and Israel with missiles, and so he promises to sell to the KSA THAAD to protect them from the Shia Bomb tipped missiles.....Riiight????

[Miss Marple]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/isis-appears-threaten-pamela-geller-claims-militants-article-1.2211913

[Jim Eagle]

Just received a nice thank you note from the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #3 for my paypal donation to the officer distress fund. Hope it helps.

[Extraneus]

School districts spending millions on ‘white privilege’ training for employees

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pacific Educational Group (PEG) espouses a lot of controversial and stereotypical concepts regarding minority students in K-12 schools.

For instance, the organization teaches that black kids are less likely to respond to fundamental ideas like working hard to achieve success, or being on time for school or work, because those ideas are supposedly foreign to African-American culture.

PEG is literally selling notions like that to American public schools, and the schools are buying them, at a cost of millions of tax dollars every year.

[Ben]

Walker seems to understand the national candidates need for stealth. He punted again on whether he would have approved the GM/Chrysler bail out.

"Thats a hypothetical question from the past....."

Not bad for a hypothetical candidate.

[henry]

From the Dept of TMI, Shemp's office romance.

[Ben]

Where is Fox's human resources? Shep is dating a subordinate and Ailes is a notorious homophobe? I see an opportunity for hungry lawyers.

[clarice]

Do not miss Ace's post on the Geller incident--the rightwing attackers of Pam are more interested in protecting their social status Brilliant piece.(Explains their contempt for Palin, too)

[Miss Marple]

Link to Ace's excellent post which clarice referenced:

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=356555

I think this is an excellent and long-ignored point. And I think he's right.

[Ben]

"This is all about class..."

Yup. Third-grade lol

[Jane]

Clarice, I couldn't find Ace's post. Anyone got a link?

[Dave (in MA)]

The Toesucker thinks that Gomer can beat The Pantsuit.

[Jane]

Ask and you shall receive - thanks MM

[clarice]

See MM above, Jane.

Another goodie:http://www.frontpagemag.com/2015/dgreenfield/why-obama-will-just-keep-making-the-middle-east-worse/#.VUongtcl84E.facebook

[Rick Ballard]

Henry,

Walker should be polishing plans for the Obamason Show scheduled for Milwaukee. I would hope the polishing would include requesting increased mob control drills for the Wisconsin National Guard as well as close liaison with Sheriff Clarke regarding Barrett's anticipated failure to request intervention in a timely manner.

Quick action in stomping the tweeters before they do much damage would be very helpful.

[Miss Marple]

Morning is almost over, so I must get busy with work.

Will check in this afternoon.

[rse]

Marlene-NH is piloting competency based education that goes beyond the Common Core and is part of the Innovation Lab Network. There is a reference to the pilot in the new proposed federal ed legislation that I abhor. It is piloting anew kind of accountability that actually transfers nationwide because the Center for Assessment created the rubric and toolkit and advises local school districts elsewhere and state departments of ed.

Once the assessments are "high quality" or formative the patience with Opt Out goes away. They need these measurements.

Deb-there are Title 1 schools but the money flows through the district and that would be the point of cutoff. The threat has administrators threatening parents, who are responding with the proverbial finger.

MM-Riley's editorial seemed primarily intended to bolster Jay Greene's credentials and by extension the Foundation for Educational Excellence that Jeb Bush created. I guess he will be the wsj candidate. I have met jay several times. Nice man but I think his ed work reflects his poli sci doctorate like so many analysts that work for 'conservative' think tanks. If people defer to their recs about ed, it advances the Chamber of Commerce vision.

I have found that most of the national and state think tanks do abysmal and false analysis when it comes to education. I have come to joke that some of their contributors must want the ed contacts from running charter schools or something.

[Threadkiller]

Reminds me of the social status protection they gave themselves when they attacked so called birthers for speaking freely about Obama claiming he was born in Kenya.

[Threadkiller]

Fmr CNN Producer Schools Daily Caller's Eric Owens Over Article II Natural Born Citizen

http://www.birtherreport.com/2015/05/bulletin-fmr-cnn-producer-schools-daily.html

[Jane]

Loved that post Clarice.

[Ben]

Mils and LE deployment with shut down of social media will make Wisconsin a disciple of Egypt. Natch!

[Beasts of England]

I thought that randomly dispersing thugs into the suburbs had been shot down by the courts? I don't see how that can stand. Anyway, if he wants a race war, that'll certainly speed up the process! What a moron.

Polls show race relations at their lowest point ever. Oh, well. Remain armed and pray for an adult (or at least not a jackass race hustler) to be elected president and maybe there'll be time to reverse the insanity. Otherwise, it'll be really ugly for 13% of the country.

[Beasts of England]

I see the child molesting fag is off his meds again today. Think I'll go play golf while he wallows in his own filth...

[Cecil Turner]

I liked Ace's take . . . except he needs to distinguish Gellar:from Geller:

[henry]

Rick, Walker & Clarke already field tested that with the Dontre Hamilton shooting last summer (while Barrett, Flynn (city police chief), & Chisolm tried to turn it into an Obamason event). Nat Guard on standby per Clarke's request, Clarke arresting protestors right & left.

[henry]

Another day, another Buffett train derails. This one in N Dakota. Where is our pipeline?

[Jim Eagle]

I see where my Congressman, Ron DeSantis, is going to run for Rubio's open Senate seat. Looks like he and Patrick Murphy for the Dems. Talk about a gulf of contrasts politically. This will be a true Conservative vs. Progressive choice. It will also ramp up 2016 POTUS election in Florida. We'll soon see if Florida has gone truly purple to blue.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/241178-gop-lawmaker-to-run-for-rubios-senate-seat

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--so Obummer wants to let the Mullahs get their Shia bomb which they will use to threaten the KSA and Israel with missiles, and so he promises to sell to the KSA THAAD to protect them from the Shia Bomb tipped missiles....--

Remember when the Dems were the no-nukes, no Star Wars party?
Now it's a chicken nuclear missile and a matching anti missile defense system in every pot, especially if they're hostile to us.

[Miss Marple]

http://hotair.com/archives/2015/05/06/elizabeth-warren-claims-meeting-with-draft-warren-supporters-was-an-accident/

This goes with her continuing subterfuge in running a non-campaign campaign, just like she pretends to care about the middle class.

[Neo]

What Shayne's online rumination helped unveil was a previously secret, multi-day campaign of overhead surveillance by city and federal authorities during a period of historic political protest and unrest.

Discovery of the flights -- which involved at least two airplanes and the assistance of the FBI -- has prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to demand answers about the legal authority for the operations and the reach of the technology used. Planes armed with the latest surveillance systems can monitor larger areas than police helicopters and stay overhead longer, raising novel civil liberties issues that have so far gotten little scrutiny from courts.

LUN

[MarkO]

666

Seems like the perfect number for me.

[MarkO]

Hey, hit,

How about a thread on free speech and the cowards in the media?

[Old Lurker]

Need to be reminded what an out of control Federal Government can think is its business? I really real hate all of these people.

"Times Square -- the "crossroads of the world" -- is beautiful just as it is, thank you.

That's New York City's official response following reports that the city is facing federal pressure to remove its iconic oversized billboards from the site, perhaps best known as the backdrop to the country's New Year's Eve celebrations.

Capital New York and CBS2 first reported that a 2012 federal transportation law had ensnared Times Square by declaring that the storied Broadway and 7th Avenue intersection -- and other city streets -- fell under the 1965 Highway Beautification Act, because they were arterial routes to the federal highway system.

The 1965 law says billboards within 660 feet of a highway can't be more than 1,200 square feet. And Times Square's looming luminous signs certainly fall outside those restrictions.

But an official with the city's Department of Transportation told FoxNews.com the signs will stay.

"The signage will not be removed," the official said in an email. The official noted that these streets must comply with federal regulations, but said the city is in "direct contact with the Federal Highway Administration on the matter and are working with New York State DOT and New York City Department of Buildings to identify a solution in which signage will remain unchanged."

It's unclear how the city might be able to get out of it, and the official did not offer specifics.

City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg reportedly said the city has been under pressure to get rid of the billboards -- or give up part of the state's federal highway funds.

CBS2 reports that the city is looking at simply trying to get an exemption from the federal law. According to CBS2, about $90 million in federal highway money is at stake.

Bringing Times Square under the Beautification Act may not have been intentional. After all, the Johnson administration-era law was originally meant to clean up rural areas of the country.

"The signs in Times Square are wonderful. They're iconic. They're not only a global tourist attraction, they're important to the economy," Trottenberg told CBS2, vowing to fight to keep them."

[Rick Ballard]

OL,

I favor restoring Manhattan to its natural condition at the time of its sale to the Dutch by November 2016 or as soon thereafter as possible.

[Jim Eagle]

Well, RickB, the Muzzies have tried that restoration project several times and have failed.

[Old Lurker]

Works for me, Rick.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Greetings from Georgetown.