Selective Intelligence: interesting article on the Pentagon?s Office of Special Plans

[Fausto]

Kinda long, but an interesting read IMO.

They call themselves, self-mockingly, the Cabal?a small cluster of policy advisers and analysts now based in the Pentagon?s Office of Special Plans. In the past year, according to former and present Bush Administration officials, their operation, which was conceived by Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, has brought about a crucial change of direction in the American intelligence community. These advisers and analysts, who began their work in the days after September 11, 2001, have produced a skein of intelligence reviews that have helped to shape public opinion and American policy toward Iraq. They relied on data gathered by other intelligence agencies and also on information provided by the Iraqi National Congress, or I.N.C., the exile group headed by Ahmad Chalabi. By last fall, the operation rivalled both the C.I.A. and the Pentagon?s own Defense Intelligence Agency, the D.I.A., as President Bush?s main source of intelligence regarding Iraq?s possible possession of weapons of mass destruction and connection with Al Qaeda. As of last week, no such weapons had been found. And although many people, within the Administration and outside it, profess confidence that something will turn up, the integrity of much of that intelligence is now in question.

 

[Zebo]

Long is right. But if you beleive in checks and balances, an open government, honesty and morals this should turn your stomach. CABEL is an appropriate term not mockery.. Oh I get it, they are beating all thier critics to the punch using that term with the feeling it will avert critisim, sorry no dice.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Long is right. But if you beleive in checks and balances, an open government, honesty and morals this should turn your stomach. CABEL is an appropriate term not mockery.. Oh I get it, they are beating all thier critics to the punch using that term with the feeling it will avert critisim, sorry no dice.

Wow. Someone finally read this.