We're all aware of the administrations tendency to distort intelligence to fit their political aims, but does if go farther than that?I read
this today at
Wampum and found it a disturbing thought, although a little tinfoilhat.
Someone is burning US intel assets. An al-Qaida regional communications officer (Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan). Two Federal moles in Arab upstate New York (Yassin Muhiddin Aref and Mohammed Mosharref Hossain). An al-Qaida operations officer (Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani). NSA intercepts and national technical capabilities. CIA covert officers and HUMINT/I capabilities.
I'm concerned that there may be agency in these acts. Agency beyond incompetence, the normal signature of this administration. Agency beyond managing the news cycle, the normal responsive media ploys of many administrations. Agency beyond institutional friction, a normal problem even without the "Homeland Security" re-org.
The net effect is hardening al-Qaida, and softening the United States. Perhaps it is just a series of coincidences, the weekly media gaming of a regime to dumb and venal to govern with consent or campaign on the issues, and not a planned covert reduction of defense, but that appears to be what is in fact happening.
I'm concerned that the Bush regime may be dismantling, not constructing, the structure of our mutual defense.
I know very little about the intelligence community. Am I being cynical if I say I wouldn't put it past them?
The question is, what's in it for them? Are they trying to lengthen the so-called war on terrorism? Protect their Saudi friends? Ensure the continued profits of defense contractors? Or do they really just hate America?
Or [takes off tinfoil hat] perhaps it's all coincidence. What do you think, kosnians?