Lack of intelligence: is Trump blundering nation into disaster?
Late yesterday and early today, several news outlets reported in a variety of ways that Trump is looking to slash the nation’s ability to gather and analyze intelligence.
The Hill reported it with their typically right-leaning spin and insinuations of nefarious left-leaning institutional bias:
Trump to revamp intelligence agencies
President-elect Donald Trump is crafting plans to restructure at least two of the nation’s top intelligence agencies, according to a new report.
Trump is eyeing overhauls of the CIA and the office of the director of national intelligence (DNI), The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
“The view from the Trump team is the intelligence world [is] becoming completely politicized,” an individual close to Trump’s transition operation said. “They all need to be slimmed down. The focus will be on restructuring agencies and how they interact.”
Trump is targeting the CIA and the DNI as he publicly wars with the U.S. intelligence community over its conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.
The Wall Street Journal echoed this wording in their report:
President-elect Donald Trump, a harsh critic of U.S. intelligence agencies, is working with top advisers on a plan that would restructure and pare back the nation’s top spy agency, people familiar with the planning said.
The move is prompted by his belief that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has become bloated and politicized, these people said.
Combined with Trump’s inane and sometimes childish-sounding criticism of the intelligence community on Twitter – and in public statements – it’s easy to see which way the narrative is pointed.
Josh Marshall had a few words about it late last night:
As Sopan Deb of CBS notes, given Trump’s past behavior, it is possible that is all a planned leak and that it’s all BS – just an effort to get in the CIA’s grill because Trump now sees them as a key adversary over the Russian hacking story. Everything with Trump is about the current fight and dominance. But if we assume that this is the plan and something like this is going to happen, there are several reasons why this is very ominous.
First, let’s start by saying that the President is not obligated to believe the advice he’s given by members of the Intelligence Community. The IC’s job is to give the President full and professional advice and then carry out his policy and orders. A healthy skepticism always serves a President well. We also shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking the current bureaucratic structures that organize the country’s many intelligence agencies are sacrosanct or just as things should be. The office of the Director of National Intelligence is itself a post-9/11 reform, meant to facilitate and coordinate information sharing and goals across agencies, among other things.
What sounds to be in the offing here thought is not some considered reform but institutional vengeance and the rankest kind of politicization.
That’s just for starters. The whole piece merits your attention.
Late this morning, during hearings into the reports of Russian hacking engineered to manipulate the last election cycle, top intelligence officers fired back:
The nation’s top intelligence official, in a comment aimed at President-elect Donald J. Trump, said on Thursday that there was a difference between expressing “skepticism” of intelligence reports that Russia interfered with the American election and “disparagement” of the intelligence community.
The official, James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, was testifying at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where Republicans and Democrats defended Mr. Clapper and others just as Mr. Trump has questioned foreign involvement.
Other highlights from the hearing:
■ Intelligence officials said Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, should not be given credibility.
■ Senator Lindsey Graham accused President Obama of throwing a “pebble” at the Russians. He said he would use a “rock.”
Continue reading the main story
■ The Russian practice of planting “fake news” was an election-year propaganda tactic that remains in use, Mr. Clapper said.Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat of Missouri, was the first to take direct aim at Mr. Trump, wondering aloud “who benefits from a president-elect trashing the intelligence community.”
Mr. Clapper said pointedly that there was “a difference between healthy skepticism” — a phrase Vice President-elect Mike Pence used in defending Mr. Trump’s criticism of the intelligence agencies — and “disparagement.”
“The intelligence community is not perfect,” Mr. Clapper added. “We are an organization of human beings and we’re prone sometimes to make errors.” But he referred to the wall of stars in the C.I.A. lobby commemorating the deaths of agency officers on duty and said the agencies’ efforts to keep the country safe were not always appreciated.
Ms. McCaskill said there would be “howls from the Republican side of the aisle” if a Democrat had spoken about intelligence officials as Mr. Trump has. …
Mr. McCain steered the conversation to Mr. Assange, saying, “I believe he is the one who’s responsible for publishing the names of individuals who work for us who put us in direct danger.”
“Do you think there’s any credibility we should attach to this individual?” Mr. McCain asked.
“Not in my view,” Mr. Clapper replied.
Mr. McCain turned to Adm. Michael S. Rogers, a leader of the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command. “I would second those comments,” Admiral Rogers said
Of course, Donald Trump received props from arguably the most cloying right winger in the Senate:
Perhaps the closest to a defense of Mr. Trump came from Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas. Noting “imprecise language” stating that Russia “hacked the election,” Mr. Cotton referred to Mr. Clapper’s Oct. 7 statement on the matter and pressed him to be more specific about the agencies’ findings.
Mr. Cotton also suggested that the conventional wisdom that Mr. Putin favored Mr. Trump over Hillary Clinton might be wrong. Mr. Trump promised a stronger military and more American oil and gas production — policies Mr. Cotton suggested would not be to Russia’s advantage.
The hearings, sadly, are only a drop in the daily news cycle bucket. Trump is counting on his base believing everything he tweets – including his debasement of intelligence officers and disingenuous whines of “politicization,” something he himself has come to know a few things about. His intended goal of decimating America’s intelligence capability is a recipe for potential disaster.
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Copyright 2017 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
robert January 5th, 2017 at 14:45
At least 4 bankruptcies,failed casinos and he’s a Republican
No lack of Intel here just a lack of common knowledge nationwide
Willys41 January 5th, 2017 at 17:34
Failure is a republican prerequisite, as well as the inevitable result.
robert January 5th, 2017 at 17:55
There has to be a way to get ” donald ” in their sentence
After all the trumpster adores I.o. w.a.
https://youtu.be/VOV7R_PT1Wg
mistlesuede January 5th, 2017 at 18:33
Geezuz that’s revolting.
bpollen January 5th, 2017 at 18:42
In Donnie’s case it’s “Iowa lot to Putin.”
oldfart January 5th, 2017 at 15:05
There is nothing between the mans ears but 140 characters.
Willys41 January 5th, 2017 at 17:33
I’m reminded of the old story about 100 monkeys with typewriters.
bpollen January 5th, 2017 at 18:41
Oh, yeah! “The Founding of Breitbart!”
Jack E Raynbeau January 5th, 2017 at 15:09
Can nothing bring this cretin down?
StoneyCurtisll January 5th, 2017 at 15:54
Trump will eventually bring himself down…
We just have to wait for it to happen…(be patient)
dewired4u January 5th, 2017 at 17:10
the big problem is if he goes down we all go with him.
Willys41 January 5th, 2017 at 17:33
We are probably going down regardless. We should probably assume the worst and if somehow we manage to survive, and the United States along with us, we can be pleasantly surprised.
bpollen January 5th, 2017 at 18:40
Tie me cretin-roo down, sport, tie me cretin-roo down…
Larry Schmitt January 5th, 2017 at 15:50
Lack of intelligence. Is that another way of saying trump is stupid?
bpollen January 5th, 2017 at 18:38
To paraphrase Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
How dumb is he? Let me count the ways…
StoneyCurtisll January 5th, 2017 at 15:53
An ounce of decency goes a long way…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amF7fLJUjCY
eyelashviper January 5th, 2017 at 16:04
And we all know what happened when Dubya just chose to ignore some intelligence reports, especially the dire warnings given to him by Clinton, Richard Clarke, and other intelligence sources….”Bin Laden planning to strike within US using commercial aircraft”.
Had that warning been heeded and ACTED UPON, perhaps airlines would have known to lock cockpit doors, and flight schools would have not accepted anyone wanting to learn to take off in a jetliner, but had no interest in landing it..
The prospects of the danger to all of us from the Orange Jabberwocker is frightening beyond words.
Foundryman January 5th, 2017 at 16:10
Can you really call something deliberate a blunder? Everyone who voted for Trump knew full well he knew nothing of government, it did not matter. Now he’s ‘blundering’ his way? No, he knows exactly what he’s doing and he knows none of it is good for the country.
Duke Woolworth January 5th, 2017 at 16:26
The intel community is pretty good at arranging accidents, and they are even better at covering their asses.
dewired4u January 5th, 2017 at 17:13
it’s part of the plan to get Americans so disgusted with government they will refuse to participate thus letting the cons have it all.
Willys41 January 5th, 2017 at 17:31
It’s part of the plan to give Moscow total control over the US government.
anothertoothpick January 5th, 2017 at 18:08
Americans elected this piece of $hit.
Americans deserve this piece of $hit.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f31bf6f9045ac79a802287516bf801760d38a8da08ca20c95a2c86473010e060.jpg
mistlesuede January 5th, 2017 at 18:34
More Americans did not, than did.
anothertoothpick January 5th, 2017 at 18:45
We live in a country that is so stupid we can’t even agree on the most fundamental issue of health insurance.
The phrase “sucker born every minute” was not supposed to include Americans but it most certainly does..
I wonder when the Chinese will be done laughing at us.
mistlesuede January 5th, 2017 at 18:49
Not for at least four years, right?
anothertoothpick January 5th, 2017 at 18:57
The reality TV star wants to break up the CIA because they disagree with him.
And he has the power to do it.
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 10:20
I fear for my country. A Russian installed moron is taking over the reigns. There is nothing good that is going to happen from here.
The Original Just Me January 6th, 2017 at 10:33
Here I come to save the Day. That means that Mighty Mouse is on His WAY ! There will always be HOPE.
anothertoothpick January 6th, 2017 at 10:37
Do you remember that feeling you got on Nov. 8?
That was hope flying out the window.
The Original Just Me January 6th, 2017 at 12:11
You mean the feeling of being in the bottom of a bucket and looking up to see a Bum. LOL We, so far, have lived through it.
anothertoothpick January 6th, 2017 at 13:53
That’s what General Custer said just before he lost his scalp
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 10:43
I could hear the MM music in my mind! I wish I could agree but I believe hope has left the building.
The Original Just Me January 6th, 2017 at 12:16
Yesterday, we had a foot and a half of snow in our yard. Cold and totally miserable. Today the Sun is very Bright and Not one cloud in the sky. It is still only 4 degrees but it sure looks nice out there. I sure wish I was still into snowmobiling. Life is like the weather in Idaho, if you don’t like the weather, stick around for 15 or 20 minutes and it will change. :+)
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 17:26
That’s what they’ve always said about Buffalo, but it sounds more like it’s true for you.
It’s 14 here and we’ve had about five inches of snow. Going into the single digits overnight. Will be in the 30’s in a couple of days and perhaps some rain. It’s a La Nina weather pattern that is doing this for this winter.
The Original Just Me January 5th, 2017 at 23:05
I’ve got a quarter that says Trump doesn’t make it four years.
whatthe46 January 6th, 2017 at 00:05
i’ve got .50 says he doesn’t make it to summer.
The Original Just Me January 6th, 2017 at 10:32
But there are so many Interns to DO! He will have to HANG ON .
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 10:18
I used to think that, but I don’t anymore when considering all that keeps coming out and he is still allowed to become the nation’s “leader.”
Just look at what is going on right now with his illegitimacy to take the office. He is a mental case who doesn’t believe our intelligence services and it is terribly alarming. He is siding with Putin and Assange because he has financial entanglements and they helped install him where they can use him for the useful idiot he is. What is going to happen to this country?
The GOTP is so power hungry, they are going to let this happen.
The Original Just Me January 6th, 2017 at 10:31
Trump keeps saying that he CIA had Weapons of Mass Destruction all wrong. They had it right. It was Cheney that was LYING about Them.
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 10:44
Exactly. The morning radio show host I listen to is the only one who is stating that. Shrub and company cherry picked the intelligence and fudged it to make it what they wanted. The MSM has not said it one time during this.
The Original Just Me January 6th, 2017 at 13:26
We are fed opinions and NOT the News as it happened.
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 17:23
Right wing corporate opinions.
The Original Just Me January 5th, 2017 at 23:04
No, the population keeps growing so more are doing than not doing. Enjoy :+)
mistlesuede January 6th, 2017 at 10:18
Hehehe!
Angelo_Frank January 5th, 2017 at 18:27
It’s certainly reassuring to know we will have a 7-year old soon running this country.
bpollen January 5th, 2017 at 18:36
The conspiracy theorists have said that his pledge to break the CIA into “a thousand pieces” is why JFK got whacked. Alex Jones, where are you on this?
StoneyCurtisll January 5th, 2017 at 20:05
Alex Jones is howling at the moon…:)
StoneyCurtisll January 5th, 2017 at 20:04
There is something wrong with Donald trump…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv28Hnx9uCg
Suzanne McFly January 5th, 2017 at 21:54
I was at the gym and they play multiple TV in front of the cardio machines. I seen CNN and MSNBC was playing the hearings on Russian hacking and the faux entertainment was showing two women who were going around to different yard sales. They plan on keeping them stupid, it is easier to control idiots than it is to control critical thinkers.
whatthe46 January 5th, 2017 at 22:45
read tRump’s tweet i posted above. he’s an idiot. either his parents paid the school off to graduate tRump or the school allowed this dumb ass to graduate just to get rid of him. seriously.
Suzanne McFly January 5th, 2017 at 23:18
His kindergarten teacher should be interrogated.
whatthe46 January 6th, 2017 at 00:04
he was given drinking water with “lead” in it, but, he’d argue it was “led” instead. that’s gotta be it. OMG he’s so stupid.
StoneyCurtisll January 5th, 2017 at 22:18
Trump does love him some poorly educated…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpdt7omPoa0
whatthe46 January 5th, 2017 at 22:42
tRump is an illiterate fk’n asshole:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/816977032433270784
The Original Just Me January 5th, 2017 at 23:00
You left out; ” With hemorrhoids. ” LOL :+)
whatthe46 January 5th, 2017 at 23:07
lol. here’s more of tRump proving he never was intelligent.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/817071792711942145
The Original Just Me January 5th, 2017 at 23:11
Bullies don’t have NO use for Brains.
granpa.usthai January 5th, 2017 at 23:11
the nation is already well on the road to disaster –
the FBI has become nothing but a nest of deceitful traitorous rats willing to fabricate, report and submit as evidence any LYING BS their republican bosses tell them to do.
james, lord of devonshire January 5th, 2017 at 23:22
oh yeah, and he’s decided to kick out the majority of the ambassadors but we only know of replacements for two of them, both of which are interesting choices.
William January 6th, 2017 at 08:38
When a president elect *gag* chooses the former head of the KGB, and a fugitive espionage defendant over our own intelligence people,…then yeah, I’d have to say we have a problem https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/de5d9a32f88fe70a987bae80bc87c6da624f1b86e1f6d33632b0e9784213fd61.jpg