Hartford Courant: Pigs Fly!
The Courant chose to re-print the Washington
Post's account of Porter Goss's resignation. The Post's account is apparently
drawn mostly from White House sources who were, of course, spinning like crazy.
Still, if you read the article, it seems clear that the Post's writer's were at
least reserving judgment about the real reasons for the
firing.
Not so whoever was writing the Courant's headlines and sidebars. The online article is here , but you really have to see the print edition to get the full flavor. As we all know, many people simply skim the paper, so the article titles and sidebars are important. According to the Courant, Bush "Show[ed] him the door", because, among other reasons "He was viewed within the CIA as staunchly partisan and politically weak" and "Under his tenure the agency lost scores of veteran agents". Now both of these statements are undoubtedly true, but can anyone who has even a passing familiarity with the way Bush/Cheney/Rove have operated over the last 6 years believe that they would push someone out for either of those two reasons? Goss was chosen precisely because he was overly partisan and because he could be expected to cleanse the CIA of anyone who refused to drink the Bush Kool-Aid. Remember, this is the guy who, in his previous incarnation as a Congressman, wasn't going to investigate misuse of intelligence unless someone showed him a dress with DNA on it. And as to losing competent veteran staff, what else is new? The Bush administration has made a habit of pushing competent people out of all agencies of government. Loyalty to Bush is the one and only qualification for a government job-just ask "Brownie", or Michael Chertoff. Goss understood that. As soon as he got in he made it known to his personnel that he expected them to support administration policy-facts be damned.
The reasons proferred for Goss's departure are just not consistent with Bush's typical way of operating. It looks far too rushed. There's more to it, and we'll find out sooner or later, preferably sooner.
For the Courant to print such tripe after all we've been through takes a special type of willful ignorance.
Not so whoever was writing the Courant's headlines and sidebars. The online article is here , but you really have to see the print edition to get the full flavor. As we all know, many people simply skim the paper, so the article titles and sidebars are important. According to the Courant, Bush "Show[ed] him the door", because, among other reasons "He was viewed within the CIA as staunchly partisan and politically weak" and "Under his tenure the agency lost scores of veteran agents". Now both of these statements are undoubtedly true, but can anyone who has even a passing familiarity with the way Bush/Cheney/Rove have operated over the last 6 years believe that they would push someone out for either of those two reasons? Goss was chosen precisely because he was overly partisan and because he could be expected to cleanse the CIA of anyone who refused to drink the Bush Kool-Aid. Remember, this is the guy who, in his previous incarnation as a Congressman, wasn't going to investigate misuse of intelligence unless someone showed him a dress with DNA on it. And as to losing competent veteran staff, what else is new? The Bush administration has made a habit of pushing competent people out of all agencies of government. Loyalty to Bush is the one and only qualification for a government job-just ask "Brownie", or Michael Chertoff. Goss understood that. As soon as he got in he made it known to his personnel that he expected them to support administration policy-facts be damned.
The reasons proferred for Goss's departure are just not consistent with Bush's typical way of operating. It looks far too rushed. There's more to it, and we'll find out sooner or later, preferably sooner.
For the Courant to print such tripe after all we've been through takes a special type of willful ignorance.
Posted: Saturday - May 06, 2006 at 04:13 PM
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Published On: Apr 17, 2007 07:20 PM
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Published On: Apr 17, 2007 07:20 PM