Amazing What A Phone Call Can Accomplish

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Wednesday, January 07, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Personally, I hate using the phone and look forward to the day when text-based communications replace phone calls as a matter of course. But last night aspiring CIA director Leon Panetta called Sen. Dianne Feinstein — she called him back, so there was a bit of phone tag — and secured the support of the new Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman.

I wondered when the news broke if Steve Kappes had basically saved Panetta’s nomination. Phil LaVelle, Feinstein’s spokesman, said simply that Panetta gave Feinstein “the very clear impression that if confirmed, he would surround himself with intelligence professionals.” Unclear on Kappes. Unclear on whether that means Panetta will keep current CIA Director Michael Hayden’s CIA basically in place, or if he’ll bring different professionals into the job. My guess is that Panetta hasn’t really sorted that out yet — his nomination hasn’t even been officially announced yet, after all — but all directors want their people in place. LaVelle stressed that the conversation was “warm [and] friendly,” indicating strongly that Feinstein wants to turn the page on this episode. As reported, pending the committee’s due diligence, her intention is to support Panetta now.

Last thing for now, and my apologies in advance for musing on a headache-worthy issue, but I wonder what this means for investigating the CIA on torture and rendition and detentions now that Panetta has had to basically swear he’ll surround himself with career CIA people. It’s hardly the case that the CIA is a den of torturers and lawbreakers, as I keep writing. But it’s worth considering whether torture-opponent Panetta‘s prospective arrival at CIA is supposed to be all the closure we get on this rather dark episode in American history.

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Comments

2 Comments

ManhattanPROJECT
Comment posted February 26, 2009 @ 10:47 am

NO JUSTICE FOR NAZI INSPIRED HEINOUS TORTURE OF INNOCENT AMERICAN CITIZENS EQUALS AMERICA BEING A LIE AND OUR SO CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF WE THE PEOPLE BEING LIARS, HYPOCRITES AND TRAITORS TO OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE SO CALLED IDEALS UPON WHICH THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED….AND WHAT SO MANY BRAVE SOULS LOST LIFE AND LIMB OVER DEFENDING. President Obama and VP Biden had alot of “BALLS” during his Inauguration Day, yet it appears that's where it ended. Eric Holder said WE ARE A NATION OF COWARDS regarding speaking about things that are “uncomfortable” to speak about….WELL WE THE PEOPLE AND COUNTLESS VICTIMS ARE WAITING….WE SPOKE UP….WE SPOKE OUT….WE STOOD UP….WE SPOKE THE TRUTH ABOUT INCREDIBLE EVIL….AND WE WERE ATTACKED BY THOSE THAT COMMIT, SUPPORT, AID AND ABET IN TYRANNY, TREASON AND ABUSE OF POWER AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. May GOD help their pathetic souls. PRESIDENT OBAMA AND OTHERS need to remember GOD WILL JUDGE THEM BY THEIR DEEDS not their hollow, empty words.

TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY? SURELY THE SO CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF WE THE PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR WAY.


ManhattanPROJECT
Comment posted February 26, 2009 @ 6:47 pm

NO JUSTICE FOR NAZI INSPIRED HEINOUS TORTURE OF INNOCENT AMERICAN CITIZENS EQUALS AMERICA BEING A LIE AND OUR SO CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF WE THE PEOPLE BEING LIARS, HYPOCRITES AND TRAITORS TO OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE SO CALLED IDEALS UPON WHICH THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED….AND WHAT SO MANY BRAVE SOULS LOST LIFE AND LIMB OVER DEFENDING. President Obama and VP Biden had alot of “BALLS” during his Inauguration Day, yet it appears that's where it ended. Eric Holder said WE ARE A NATION OF COWARDS regarding speaking about things that are “uncomfortable” to speak about….WELL WE THE PEOPLE AND COUNTLESS VICTIMS ARE WAITING….WE SPOKE UP….WE SPOKE OUT….WE STOOD UP….WE SPOKE THE TRUTH ABOUT INCREDIBLE EVIL….AND WE WERE ATTACKED BY THOSE THAT COMMIT, SUPPORT, AID AND ABET IN TYRANNY, TREASON AND ABUSE OF POWER AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. May GOD help their pathetic souls. PRESIDENT OBAMA AND OTHERS need to remember GOD WILL JUDGE THEM BY THEIR DEEDS not their hollow, empty words.

TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY? SURELY THE SO CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF WE THE PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR WAY.


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