Richard Wolfe says Obama can't fight both CIA & Military...
Was surprised no one here posted about Richard Wolfe's rather nonchalant yet insightful commentary last night on Countdown that Obama can't fight both CIA AND military...
First, it's been clear since Obama picked Panetta (an outsider to intelligence community) as head of CIA, he was sending a pretty strong shot across the bow, that he did NOT trust anyone with career intelligence to lead the agency that had gone so "rogue" as to actively participate in and DEFEND/COVERUP war crimes. Notice the FBI so far has pretty much escaped Obama's ire as the FBI field agent went on record protesting the CIA's torture program as we confirmed yesterday in CPAN hearings. Also, I took note that WH has done little to quiet the FBI interrogator after he penned that NYtimes Editorial so I suspect Obama would like nothing more than the battle lines to be presented by MEDIA as FBI representing law and order vs the sordid, bloodied hands of CIA.
The second shot across the bow of CIA was Obama siding with Holder on releasing the torture memos over the LEAKED LOUD objections of the CIA. Panetta to have any credibility at agency had to publically side with "his guys" but he's Obama's man there and everyone knows it.
So after striking two strong shots, Obama personally visits the CIA and pledges agents won't be prosecuted for following "torture memos" in good faith aka yeah I KNOW VP and Pres really deserve the blame.
So did he make peace? Obviously not.
CIA remain mightily pissed as most of their dirty little secrets are being exposed and threats of more memos and pictures being released have scared them shitless so... CIA strikes back by leaking all over the place, how morale is so low it's going to hurt "intelligence gathering" aka we're READY and ABLE to sabotage you so bad Obama, you'll be second coming of Jimmy Carter.
Now in a fight of Obama vs CIA, so far Obama hadn't BLINKED, seriously folks take a moment to remember he's stood up to them by giving them the finger with Panetta (aka you insiders can't be trusted) and releasing the torture memos unredacted. Gates (surprisingly) defended Obama on releasing torture memos, rather pragmatically stating memos would come out soon anyways. Gates knows where a shitload of bodies are buried so he's not easily threatened by CIA...
BUT just in case, Gates fires general and puts in place a military intelligence PRO who does NOT rely on CIA expertise. Actually sounds like new general can out CIA the worse CIA agents, sounds like okay fine we'll fight fire with fire.
So finally a President who didn't cow to the CIA...
Alas in a eerily case of the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, CIA convinces military allies to side with THEM and pressure Obama to block photos. They win b/c while obviously Obama is NOT scared of CIA alone, the prospect of being sabotaged by BOTH the CIA and military is far too much for him.
Wolfe pretty much summed it up, Obama can't fight war on TWO fronts so he caved.
He appeases and yes I am going to use THAT word, appeases the military who I honestly believe are 1) truly worried the photos making their impossible task worse in Afghanistan/Pakistan this summer, AND 2) fear the TAINT of a Abu Graib II won't be as easily scapegoated.
AND alas, he appeases the CIA b/c they have learned ALLIANCE of CIA/military pressure will keep him in line.
Folks, we and Obama are royally fucked if he can't break THAT alliance.