Coming around again.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Charles

I think it was more like the Director of the CIA, but I can't remember offhand.

Chas

Yep. It was Leon Panetta, the CIA chief. The intelligence operations of the CIA are friggin' awful. They didn't predict the downfall of the Soviet Union, they forecast WMD's in Iraq (a slam dunk), and seemed clueless with regard to Egypt. In a recent book detailing the history of the CIA, A Legacy of Ashes, it asserts that the CIA has almost got nothing right in its history. In fact, we never had a double agent within the KGB that wasn't discovered and executed. Not a single one.

[merrylander]

There was a recent flap about people in the CIA who make serious errors just getting a slap on the wrist but staying in place. the not for profit I worked for a number of years back had CIA represented I must say the guy did not impress me.

[merrylander]

It seems that the army brass told Mubarak he was out and he agreed. Then as someone put it "He called an audible" and said he was staying. From what I hear the army then went to the presidential palace and put him out. I do not imagine the army has too many Muslim Brothrthood members, so they may be hard put to get a foot in the door. Used to work with an Egyptian lady - software engineer - she sure did not dress like the muslim women.

[Combwork]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Yep. It was Leon Panetta, the CIA chief. The intelligence operations of the CIA are friggin' awful. They didn't predict the downfall of the Soviet Union, they forecast WMD's in Iraq (a slam dunk), and seemed clueless with regard to Egypt. In a recent book detailing the history of the CIA, A Legacy of Ashes, it asserts that the CIA has almost got nothing right in its history. In fact, we never had a double agent within the KGB that wasn't discovered and executed. Not a single one.

"In fact, we never had a double agent within the KGB that wasn't discovered and executed. Not a single one."

How would we know that? By definition, anyone not discovered would not be known about.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Combwork

"In fact, we never had a double agent within the KGB that wasn't discovered and executed. Not a single one."

How would we know that? By definition, anyone not discovered would not be known about.

This came from the book I referenced. Read it if you want a sinking feeling in your stomach about our intelligence capabilities.

[merrylander]

I always thought central intelligence was an oxymoron.

[piece-itpete]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying caviar and roses, I just hope something good comes of it.

Sure caught Obama's admin flatfooted.

Pete