Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Obama Shies from Real Intel Reform

By Melvin A. Goodman
June 9, 2010

President Barack Obama's appointment of retired Gen. James Clapper as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) demonstrates the Pentagon's enormous influence over the President and indicates that there is little likelihood of genuine reform of the hidebound intelligence community.

Read on.
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2 comments:

rosemerry said...

I feel really disappointed that Obama is frightened to do anything because of any opposition. Why bother to be President if you are not a leader? Bush was terrible but at least did things. Has Obama done even one thing to be proud of?
The great chance to do something with SCOTUS is to be squandered, and the RATS- Kennedy there are the dregs, so he tries to be "tough on terrorists" and take away a few remaining liberties.

Thu Jun 10, 02:28:00 PM 2010
Big Em said...

Having read some leftist criticisms by people like Paul Street*, I was wary of Obama before he was elected, especially when the Wall Streeters were embracing him (which is ALWAYS a warning-sign, in my political viewing experience). As a result, I have not been particularly surprised by Obama's policies, nor 'disappointed' since that implies a higher expectation not being met. I am disgusted with them, just as I was with the policies of Bush, Clinton, Reagan, etc before him - - the potential opportunity to so relatively easily do some long term good by ceasing some horrible practices, yet sacrificing it to political expediency and the hopes of garnishing one's political career with the much-vaunted 'second-term' title. As far as Obama goes, I 98% agree with the assessments of writers like DMGreen**.
Though in no way excusing these presidents and the war crimes that they are all guilty of (and will of course never be tried for), the ultimate responsibility falls to the US public. If they continue to put less thought, research, ethics, healthy-skepticism, and compassion into their political decisions than they do into watching the Super Bowl or American Idol, they will continue to be superficially reactive and be easy marks for the right-wingers. As it presently exists, any ethical, humanitarian candidate for POTUS is quickly selected out in the primaries and the final election is ultimately a choice between lesser-evils (but still 'evils'). It's like looking for a nun at a dog-fight - - it ain't gonna happen.

(* eg; for example, a current Paul Street article on Obama: www.zcommunications.org/remembering-obama-by-paul-street )

(** his most recent criticism being: www.regressiveantidote.net/Articles/The_Do-Nothing_44th_President.html )

Sat Jun 12, 04:23:00 PM 2010

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