Are you now, or have you ever been, a card-carrying member of the State Department?
Bolton: US intelligence has become politicized
Jerusalem Post, Jan 21, 2008
Quote:
The 2007 US National Intelligence Estimate, as well as the skewed reporting around it, is a sign of the "illegitimate politicization" of the American intelligence establishment, according to former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds it more than a little ironic that its Bolton leveling charges of politicized intelligence. However, I was more perturbed by this:
Quote:
"I know the people who wrote this intelligence estimate," Bolton continued. "They are not from our intelligence community. They're from our State Department. It was a highly politicized document written by people who had a very clear policy objective."
I assume he's speaking of Tom Fingar (NIC)--who, quite apart from having started his career as a linguist in military intelligence, served with distinction as both Deputy Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary (Analysis) at INR/State (last time I checked, part of the US intelligence community).
Heh - and that differs from
any previous administration within our lifetimes how?
Professional vs. Competent
I have to deal with State a great deal in my present job. Given a choice I would never rely on them for either advice or assistance regarding my or my employee's safety. I have also found the "background" briefings on trade missions and the like to be substantially less informative than Lonely Planet or a solid read of the FT.
No but I did sleep in an embassy or two
Quote:
Are you now, or have you ever been, a card-carrying member of the State Department?
Hmmm 6 embassies/missions, one wife, and a girlfriend :wry: