I have yet to read about anyone putting all the details together yet. I could be all wrong to boot, but reading between the lines does not a conspiracy theory make. ( at least that's not my intention ) It's more like I'm thinking out loud if you know what I mean.
In the last severals days I've been reading little snippets and tonight it all just made sense. Many Americans over the last couple decades, at one time or another, has had a problem with some of the acts of the CIA, and the other alphabet agencys. They have gotten too powerful, too secret, too violent, and violated too many of our Civil Rights of late. The Briefings and Nancy Pelosi case is just one of many hundreds of abuses, misdirections, and lies. So should it surprise any of us if a Pres. committed to the old ideas of our Democracy decided to rein them in ? OK, so maybe it is a little strange to watch someone do what should of been done after Nixon, or Iran-Contra. Details after the break.
Before I lay out todays finding we can't forget that in January Obama took away several CIA tools, like torture and Secret prisons and he appointed a Outsider, Panetta, much to the displeasure of many in DC and Arlington.
The first thing that got my attention today was a article about the CIA Station Chiefs overseas and the new DNI Blair.
CIA, intelligence director locked in turf war
WASHINGTON - A turf war between the two senior intelligence chiefs over the role of CIA station chiefs in U.S. embassies has forced National Security Adviser James L. Jones to step in to mediate, according to current and former U.S. government officials.
The jockeying between CIA director Leon Panetta and National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair centers on Blair's effort to choose his own representatives abroad instead of relying only on CIA station chiefs, the current and former officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the dispute.
I would bet many of us remember the faulty intel that came out of the CIA 8 yrs ago and for some time after. Turf has always been a battle between the Agencys, any and all of them at one time or another. This would feel like a major slap in the face to the Old Guard, and many Bush/Cheney holdovers might even feel threatened. Many of our old friend the Neocons could be cut off from old friends and sources too boot.
On to item number 2. This from the Washington Post.
Obama Integrates Security Councils, Adds New Offices
President Obama announced yesterday that he will merge the staffs of the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council to speed up and unify security policymaking inside the White House.
The combined national security staff, about 240 people, will report to national security adviser James L. Jones.
The White House also will add new offices for cybersecurity, for terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction, and for "resilience" -- a national security directorate aimed at preparedness and response for a domestic WMD attack, pandemic or natural catastrophe, officials said.
The US Air Force and DOD has been fighting for a couple yrs now to take control of US Cyber Threats so they will be kinda, maybe, mildly upset. Homeland Security has drug it's feet yrs on setting up any kind of real Computer System and it's past time someone took control, way past time.
As for the combining of Homeland with the National Security Council, it should of happen right after Katrina if not before. Any major disaster is a matter of National Security even if Bush and Brownie never saw it that way. It's safe to assume the CIA will be losing some more juice in this venture too, but I have yet to figure out how or what.
Now what finally started the bells ringing in head poor brain is now on the frontpage of the LATimes. It pulls much of it together for me, and hopefully you. Patience has been a weak spot for me where the actions of Pres. Obama has not seemed to move fast enough at times in my opinion. This may just restore some of the faith that has been slipping away slowly.
FBI planning a bigger role in terrorism fight
Bureau agents will gather evidence to ensure that criminal prosecutions of alleged terrorists are an option. The move is a reversal of the Bush administration's emphasis on covert CIA actions.
The FBI and Justice Department are significantly expanding their role in global counter-terrorism operations, part of a U.S. policy shift that will replace a CIA-dominated system of clandestine detentions and interrogations with one built around transparent investigations and prosecutions.
Under the "global justice" initiative, which has been quietly in the works for several months, FBI agents will have a central role in overseas counter-terrorism cases. They will question suspects and gather evidence to ensure that criminal prosecutions are an option, officials familiar with the effort said.
Now I have to admit I had never really heard the term "Global Justice" initiative, but I did get curious so I googled it. I have to admit I have not taken the time to read through the pdf file found at the link but it seems to make my idea even more sound.
Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative
The Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) serves as a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) and advises the U.S. Attorney General on justice information sharing and integration initiatives. Global was created to support the broad scale exchange of pertinent justice and public safety information. It promotes standards-based electronic information exchange to provide the justice community with timely, accurate, complete, and accessible information in a secure and trusted environment.
Global is a ''group of groups,'' representing more than 30 independent organizations, spanning the spectrum of law enforcement, judicial, correctional, and related bodies. Member organizations participate in Global with a shared responsibility and shared belief that, together, they can bring about positive change by making recommendations and supporting the initiatives of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Let me know what you think and if anyone runs across any mention of the Fusion Centers please let me know. I know for me seeing the CIA taken down a couple pegs after the last decade or two is a fine thing.