We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.
Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]
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Interesting times at the CIA I would love to know if this is the result of some nefarious power play or just some good old fashioned ‘hand-in-the-cookie-jar’ naughtiness that got discovered.
Even at the CIA I tend to assume venal cock-ups explain most things rather than dark conspiracies… but I will follow this with interest.
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Perry,
Why do you always post news stories from the Telegraph? There is other media out there…
I’ve even been known to read The Guardian and enjoy it. Sometimes.
It’s not that I’m having a go and it’s an amusing article. Could the CIA have a worse week and all that?
Given the current “War on Terror” and all it is inevitable that the recent massive rapid expansion of such organisations as the CIA has resulted in enormous corruption.
The Indy would be a bridge too far, mind.
PdeH: Your assumption is probably correct. ‘Intelligence’ Services are not what they used to be; witness the apparent uselessness of our own.
There is a foul stench emanating from that boiling stew of corruption. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it.
Nick M… in my previous article I got my links from the Times of India, Channel 4 and Sony Pictures. In the one before that, the link came from the BBC… in the one before that, the blog ‘The Welfare State We’re In’… it has been four articles since I linked to the Telegraph before this one.
Nick M: So there!
The reason this guy and Peter Goss (the ex-head of the CIA) resigned is because the excrement is about to hit the oscillating air circulation device. Goss and Foggo are both tied to a defense contractor/briber that made significant bribes to Randy “Duke” Cunningham (who is now in jail for bribery and other stuff). There are stories of poker parties with hookers at the Watergate and other such nonsense going on.
The supposed “fight” between Negroponte and Goss was that Negroponte was leaning on Goss because Goss (and Foggo) had mishandled themselves in this brewing scandal….
Well I stand corrected Perry.
I rather like the online version of the Times of India.
And I’m rather suprised you took my comment seriously.
Andy, I know the ostensible reasons… I was just musing on whether or not there was more to this than meets the eye (but assuming probably not).
Oscillating, Andy?……………….Surely ‘rotating’..or have I missed yet another scientific development.
“Even at the CIA I tend to assume venal cock-ups explain most things rather than dark conspiracies…”
…should read “Especially at the CIA…”
But, yes. What was that quote? “Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained away by incompetence.”
I know of no instance when a CIA official has had his home searched by the FBI on national television unless they were already under arrest for treason. There will be more heads rolling, and I’ll bet there will be some very interesting revelations in the coming weeks and months.
Further to my earlier comment, today’s DT has articles on MIs 5&6 which should deflect us from criticizing a venal CIA. Our own house badly needs putting in order. I remember when our security services were the envy of others, especially the USSR which particularly admired Klaus Fuchs, Kim Philby & his traitorous pals…..yes, they were the best. Ah, where are you, Kim, now that we need you.
Yes, folks….after WW2 the Septic Isle fell to pieces & is still in free fall. Resources are available to anyone who claims he has a ‘right’, and there are many. The State’s prime purpose of protecting the Realm has been abnegated & those responsible are as culpable as Burgess & MacLean…and as depraved.
The enemy isn’t at the gates, for crying out loud; he is within the bloody gates….and you have continually elected the leaders who not only allowed it….but actually encouraged it. Shame, shame, shame on you all……..you will surely rue the day.
In the latest technology air circulating devices, circa approximately 1923, the descriptive terms “oscillating” and “rotating” are not mutually exclusive. The rotating turbine oscillates – on another axis – to sweep an extensive volume of space.
Thank you for providing an answer to my uninformed confusion on the subject of air circulation devices. Can you please also differentiate, for the sake of clarity, shit, meaning faeces and the same word meaning common detritus. This would help many of us who do not own umbrellas to be better prepared. 😎
The CIA is being dismembered. Das is goot! They have never been more then half competent. The History of the American Intelligence services is rife with previous examples. Long out of print but if you can find it;
“The Armies of iIgnorance” by William R. Corson
The Dial Press/James Wade; New York ISBN 0-8037-0282-5 1977.
Negroponte has taken the best CIA analysists and moved them into his shop (DNI). The Cowboy stuff is being farmed out to SOCOM, No sign yet who will get the actual running of agents ( that is prolly a good sign). The FBI is ‘asorbing’ the counter-intelligence portions of the CIA. Don’t know if that includes the moles and various double agents that infect the CIA. About all that is left is the building at Turkey Run, which being prime real estate will eventually be put to a productive use. All in all the best thing to happen to the US Intelligence community since Van Deman started collecting various reports from concerned citizens and military attaches and analyzing them.
“In the absence of orders, go find something and kill it.”
– Field Marshal Erwin Rommel