“Can you ever recover from a loss of trust?”
This was a question posed by Jim Marcinkowski, a former CIA Officer from 1986-89, during a 2hr and 14 minute Hearing on Security Implications of Revealing Covert Agent's Identity on July 22nd 2005. This panel of former CIA and defense operatives was informative and lucid regarding the importance of CIA agents and their ability to generate human intelligence. Moreover, this type of intelligence was touted as most critical from the 9-11 commission hearings. In fact, this “actionable intelligence” was the cornerstone of the 9-11 commission. It is clear that agents in the field are the most important group of operatives in finding “actionable intelligence” which translates into national security policy and defense.
The distinguished panel has devoted over 50 years of combined service to the intelligence community in the form of case officers, field operatives and defense analysts. The panel included Col. Patrick Lang (ret.), Larry Johnson (CIA), Jim Marcinkowski (CIA), and David Mac Michael (CIA); each gave unambiguous and open information concerning the damage caused by the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.
The panel revealed first and foremost that it was a truly bi-partisan group which formed out of the CIA leak scandal. It was clear that the members of the panel initiated the hearings. They called upon members of congress to establish a hearing to discuss information which the public and elected officials should be made aware. This was not a democratic partisan witch hunt. To the contrary, the panel forced congress to act and finding that no Republicans would participate in the hearing, Democrats participated. However, listening to Tracey Schmitt RNC Press Secretary you would think differently:
“Democrats’ eagerness to hold faux hearings illustrates the partisan nature of their attacks. If Democrats had any confidence in the investigatory process, they would hold their fire and let the investigation proceed rather than rushing to judgment. Considering their own dubious history where sensitive intelligence is concerned, Democrats would be better served embracing restraint.”
Of course, hearings during independent investigations are not new. In fact, hearings were conducted during the Clinton and Nixon administrations. Thus, this type of public hearing is actually quite regular and proper. Moreover, in light of this crime it is important for the public to be aware of all relevant security viewpoints.
According to the panel of experts, trust is the casualty. In fact, trust became the theme of the hearings. Trust, in this instance, is the ability to develop strong ties between American operatives and foreign agents, thus creating actionable intelligence. Trust that the American government will keep its solemn promise to secure the secret identity of agents in the field. Trust is also critical for recruitment of men and women into the field of espionage.
Finally, the panel alluded to the negligence of the White House. In fact, the non-action of the Bush Administration sent a strong message to the intelligence community. Saying that they “do not care” about the agents in the field. Concurrently, creating a situation of “self-inflicted wounds” and “semantic parlor games” instead and action. Action, which could have sent a comprehensible statement, such as firing anyone involved in the leaks. For anyone privileged to view classified information must be held to higher ethical standards. However, action was not taken and repairing the trust lost between the political arm and the practicing arm of government may be lost for some time. Unfortunately, during this “war on terror” an abundance of time, like our trust in government, is notably absent.
The distinguished panel has devoted over 50 years of combined service to the intelligence community in the form of case officers, field operatives and defense analysts. The panel included Col. Patrick Lang (ret.), Larry Johnson (CIA), Jim Marcinkowski (CIA), and David Mac Michael (CIA); each gave unambiguous and open information concerning the damage caused by the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.
The panel revealed first and foremost that it was a truly bi-partisan group which formed out of the CIA leak scandal. It was clear that the members of the panel initiated the hearings. They called upon members of congress to establish a hearing to discuss information which the public and elected officials should be made aware. This was not a democratic partisan witch hunt. To the contrary, the panel forced congress to act and finding that no Republicans would participate in the hearing, Democrats participated. However, listening to Tracey Schmitt RNC Press Secretary you would think differently:
“Democrats’ eagerness to hold faux hearings illustrates the partisan nature of their attacks. If Democrats had any confidence in the investigatory process, they would hold their fire and let the investigation proceed rather than rushing to judgment. Considering their own dubious history where sensitive intelligence is concerned, Democrats would be better served embracing restraint.”
Of course, hearings during independent investigations are not new. In fact, hearings were conducted during the Clinton and Nixon administrations. Thus, this type of public hearing is actually quite regular and proper. Moreover, in light of this crime it is important for the public to be aware of all relevant security viewpoints.
According to the panel of experts, trust is the casualty. In fact, trust became the theme of the hearings. Trust, in this instance, is the ability to develop strong ties between American operatives and foreign agents, thus creating actionable intelligence. Trust that the American government will keep its solemn promise to secure the secret identity of agents in the field. Trust is also critical for recruitment of men and women into the field of espionage.
Finally, the panel alluded to the negligence of the White House. In fact, the non-action of the Bush Administration sent a strong message to the intelligence community. Saying that they “do not care” about the agents in the field. Concurrently, creating a situation of “self-inflicted wounds” and “semantic parlor games” instead and action. Action, which could have sent a comprehensible statement, such as firing anyone involved in the leaks. For anyone privileged to view classified information must be held to higher ethical standards. However, action was not taken and repairing the trust lost between the political arm and the practicing arm of government may be lost for some time. Unfortunately, during this “war on terror” an abundance of time, like our trust in government, is notably absent.
posted by JDAvignon at 6:59 PM
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