CIA CHIEF JOHN BRENNAN

Under fire, CIA chief has key ally By Julian Hattem and Amie Parnes - 08/06/14 06:00 AM EDT ... Brennan was considered Obama’s first choice to lead the CIA in late 2008. But soon after winning the presidency, the left revolted over comments from Brennan that seemed to show his support for “enhanced interrogation” practices, such as waterboarding. The 25-year CIA veteran was subsequently named the president’s counterterrorism adviser, a position that did not need Senate confirmation and had him working out of a windowless office in the White House basement. While it might not have come with the prestige of leading the country’s most recognizable spy agency, being able to work feet from the Oval Office helped cement his relationship with Obama, Lowenthal said. “People used to say he had more access to the president than the [director of national intelligence] or the head of the CIA did,” he said. “They worked very closely together for all those years before the president sent John to Langley.” In addition to Obama, multiple former officials told The Hill that Brennan has another close ally in Denis McDonough, who is now Obama’s chief of staff. The second senior administration official said it was always clear how much McDonough “really, really loved Brennan.” “They’re cut from the same cloth, in terms of no drama and no theatrics,” the source added. “There’s a lot of mutual respect in the abilities of the other … which is why last week was so shocking.” Obama reportedly used to refer to the trio of Brennan, McDonough and Tom Donilon — who served as national security adviser when McDonough was his deputy — as the “grim Irishmen.” Brennan has often come across as a brusque, dour, no-nonsense figure, yet he has gained a number of acolytes in the intelligence community and the White House. In a 2012 interview with The Washington Post, Brennan said he was rejected by the Bush administration — which he left in 2005 to work for a private contractor before joining Obama’s campaign — “because I was not seen as someone who was a team player.” “I’m probably not a team player here, either,” he added, referring to the Obama administration. “I tend to do what I think is right. But I find much more comfort, I guess, in the views and values of this president.” Brennan finally got his shot at the CIA last year, after a sex scandal led to former director, Gen. David Petraeus’s resignation. While announcing the nomination in January 2013, Obama called Brennan “one of my closest advisers” and “a great friend.” http://thehill.com/policy/technology/214433-under-fire-cia-chief-has-key-ally

CIA Chief, John Brennan:

Looks kinda mean.

Raised North Bergen, New Jersey.

A former FBI director (Louis Freeh) came out of  North Bergen ... as did Ice-T! 

I'm more familiar with Cocoa and Ice-T than I am with Freeh.
Freeh sounds like he had an interesting FBI time (long list dealings) before bowing out to practice law.

Likely favours 'enhanced interrogation' techniques (see snowboarding waterboarding).

Brusque (abrupt).
Dour (severe; stern), no nonsense (no fun).
Does his own thing.  Not a team player.

On the plus side:

No drama.
No theatrics.

I'm not much of a team player either, so maybe that should go in the 'plus' section. :)

Torture's probably part of the job, so you can't hold that against him.  Or can you?  What if the subject has no information?  That's really mean.  Real torture, as opposed to a bit of kinky fun, isn't nice.

If torture's part of the job, maybe they should just run a PR campaign to improve the image of torturing suspects?

No way do I believe that he's there simply because of Obama, because I don't believe that any head of government calls the shots alone.

*Brennan was first to acknowledge CIA drone attacks:    "... in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Afghanistan, and elsewhere."

What?  I thought that was in the military sphere rather than the spy/security domain.

He made a case for the morality, effectiveness and legality of the drone attacks.  But of course.  Like he was going to argue the opposite.

Bystanders killed by drones are 'collateral deaths'.

Brennan said 2011 there had been a single 'collateral death ' ... Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) called him out on that claim.  BIJ research indicates otherwise (76 deaths).  [*HEY, IT'S THE 'FOURTH COLUMN'! -- the Chris Woods, Bureau of Investigative Journalism article - here]

Wikipedia:

The Atlantic has been harsher in its criticism, saying that "Brennan has been willing to lie about those drone strikes to hide ugly realities."

And the Wikipedia on this dude gets more interesting:

Morris Davis, a former Chief Prosecutor for the Guantanamo Military Commissions compared Brennan to Canadian Omar Khadr, who was convicted of "committing murder in violation of the law of war".  He suggested that Brennan's role in targeting individuals for CIA missile strikes was no more authorized than the throwing of the grenade Khadr was accused of.

Hey, I'm glad I looked.  Wasn't going to bother because I didn't even think the head of CIA would have a listing online.  LOL.

Hey, if this stuff is the stuff online, imagine the stuff we don't even know about!!!

Looks like the only one who had anything to say about the Brennan appointment was Kentucky senator Rand Paul:

... citing President Barack Obama and his administration's use of combat drones, stating “No one politician should be allowed to judge the guilt, to charge an individual, to judge the guilt of an individual and to execute an individual. It goes against everything that we fundamentally believe in our country."

 Needless to say, Rand Paul got overruled.  Got in by senate vote @ 63-34.


Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough:

Looks friendly.

Most likely a team player (one of 11 children!).

McDonough was pushing for Brennan and Chuck Hagel to get onboard the security.

Republicans seem to like him because he consults with them.

*** Could this guy be a mover and shaker?



US Secretary of Defence, Chuck Hagel:

Looks really friendly.

Vietnam vet.

A professor at Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service(SFS) - Catholic affiliation + Georgetown Uni, Washington  - a US and international diplomat school and 'global affairs' school.

• Madeline Albright did a stint there, as did a former CIA director and some foreigners.
• School went from 'diplomacy and law' aims to 'research and teaching of global affairs'.
• Faculty members include Albright and Chuck Hagel.
• Supposedly one of the best in world surveys (surveys are just tools for manipulating ppl or taking a punt in business and marketing)
• Qatar financed the opening of branch of SFS in Qatar.

 So is this like a US brainwashing on foreign affairs school?

Tom Donilon

Tom Donilon, former National Security Adviser Obama administration.

"Former member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group".
 Isn't Bilderberg some kinda 'cult'? LOL

Worked under Clinton Administration and was involved in "negotiating the Bosnian peace agreement and the expansion of NATO".

Negotiations probably went something like this:  do as we say or we bomb you.

Donilon's the Afghan Man ... he worked out the 'strategy' for Afghanistan, whatever that might be (see Obama wars).

Might have rubbed up the National Security Council people the wrong way.  Looks like he didn't appreciate their hard work or something.

Wanted China to do something about hacking (cyber attack and commercial espionage?).

Donilon was also the Bin Laden Man -- he was National Security advisor when Bin Laden was killed.

Donilon is a fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations.

His brother's a lawyer of Joe Biden.  His (lawyer) wife was chief of staff to Biden's missus (the 'second lady' (Biden being the vice pres).

Sounds all cosy in Washington.

After all checking, I've lost track of the point of the article that got me interested in this stuff.

Actually, I don't think there was a point.  Obama likes him.  ... So what?


................................................................................
 Sources:

Unless otherwise indicated, data sourced from Wikipedia.

RUSSIA - Council on Foreign Relations / Brookings Institution Interview

Council on Foreign Relations

Fueling the Fire in Ukraine

Interviewee: Steven Pifer, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Interviewer: Robert McMahon, Editor, CFR.org
July 18, 2014

SOURCE - CFR - here.

------------------------------------------------------
BLOGGER SUMMARY


Seek step-up of sanctions against Russia.

Outline what constitutes an unbiased investigation

• Ukraine
• Malaysia
• Boeing
• Neutralis:

• Finland
• Austria
• Switzerland

Suspicions of Russian control of eastern Ukrainians rehashed

Bloomberg 2013 Report:

• Russia had $43 billion in foreign currency bonds, circa Dec 2013
• Jan-Feb 2004, drop to $7billion
• March-date, zero

US - blocking lending to select large Russian corporations

EU - blocking all lending from:

• European Investment Bank
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Question:  will Russia be a part of the resolution or the problem

Will sanctions bring Russia to heel?

--------------------------------------------------------------

COMMENT


This is what stood out for me (not complete summary).

War is much nastier than I imagined.

Being indebted could cripple a country.
It's restrictive  -- particularly if investments and borrowings aren't spread.

Any country that's in debt could find itself dancing to someone else's tune.

Who is Joe Biden?

JOE BIDEN

Joseph Robinette Biden (Junior)

Vice President of the United States
Democratic Party

US Senator from Delaware 1973-2009
A former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, dealing with issues related to drug policy, crime prevention, and civil liberties:

• Violent Crime Control
• Law Enforcement Act
• Violence Against Women Act

Biden has been heavily involved in Obama's decision-making process.

Biden’s ‘ability to negotiate with Congressional Republicans played a key role in bringing about the bipartisan deals ...

”Biden attended the University of Delaware in Newark, where he was more interested in sports and socializing than in studying, although his classmates were impressed by his cramming abilities.”

.... “Syracuse University College of Law ... receiving a half scholarship based on financial need with some additional assistance based in part upon academics.”

”Biden received five student draft deferments during this period, with the first coming in late 1963 and the last in early 1968 at the peak of the Vietnam War.”

“In April 1968, he was reclassified by the Selective Service System as not available for service due to having had asthma as a teenager.”

“Biden was generally supportive of the war during much of this time and never became part of the anti-Vietnam War movement; he would later say that at the time he was preoccupied with marriage and law school, and that he "wore sports coats ... not tie-dyed".”

”Regarding foreign policy, during his first decade in the Senate, Biden focused on arms control issues.”

Biden ... long-time member and former chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.


BOSNIAN WAR

Lobbied for U.S. military  intervention during the Bosnian War.

”Biden was among the first to call for the "lift and strike" policy of lifting the arms embargo, training Bosnian Muslims and supporting them with NATO air strikes, and investigating war crimes.”

“Both the George H. W. Bush administration and Clinton administration were reluctant to implement the policy, fearing Balkan entanglement.” [AS IF ... LOL]

“Biden wrote an amendment in 1992 to compel the Bush administration to arm the Bosnians...”

“... deferred in 1994 to a somewhat softer stance preferred by the Clinton administration, before signing on the following year to a stronger measure sponsored by Bob Dole and Joe Lieberman.
 
SAY HELLO TO:

1995 NATO bombing campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina

FOLLOWED BY:  Dayton Agreement.

“Biden has called his role in affecting Balkans policy in the mid-1990s his "proudest moment in public life" that related to foreign policy.”

“In 1999, during the Kosovo War, Biden supported the NATO bombing campaign against Serbia and Montenegro...

“... co-sponsored with his friend John McCain the McCain-Biden Kosovo Resolution, which called on President Clinton to use all necessary force, including ground troops, to confront Milosevic over Serbian actions in Kosovo.”

Biden ...

“NATO enlargement and the successful passage of bills to streamline foreign affairs agencies and punish religious persecution overseas.”

1991 – GULF WAR

Biden had voted against authorization for the Gulf War in 1991...said the U.S. was bearing almost all the burden in the anti-Iraq coalition.

2001 -  AFGHANISTAN WAR

Biden pro 2001 war in Afghanistan, saying:

"Whatever it takes, we should do it."

2002 - IRAQ

“Biden stated in 2002 that Saddam Hussein was a threat to national security, and that there was no option but to eliminate that threat.”

“The Bush administration rejected an effort Biden undertook with Senator Richard Lugar to pass a resolution authorizing military action only after the exhaustion of diplomatic efforts.”

“2002, Biden voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, justifying the Iraq War.”

“While he soon became a critic of the war and viewed his vote as a "mistake", he did not push to require a U.S. withdrawal.”

“He supported the appropriations to pay for the occupation...”

“... argued repeatedly that the war should be internationalized, that more soldiers were needed, and that the Bush administration should "level with the American people" about the cost and length of the conflict.”

”By late 2006, Biden's stance had shifted, and he opposed the troop surge of 2007, saying General David Petraeus was "dead, flat wrong" in believing the surge could work.”

“Biden was instead a leading advocate for dividing Iraq into a loose federation of three ethnic states.”

“... 2006, Biden and Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, released a comprehensive strategy to end sectarian violence in Iraq.”

“Rather than continuing the present approach or withdrawing, the plan called for "a third way":  federalizing Iraq and giving Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis "breathing room" in their own regions.“

“2007 ..  a non-binding resolution passed the Senate endorsing such a scheme.

However, the idea was unfamiliar, had no political constituency, and failed to gain traction.”

“Iraq's political leadership united in denouncing the resolution as a de facto partitioning of the country, and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a statement distancing itself.”

LIBYA

'2004 - Biden secured the brief release of Libyan democracy activist and political prisoner Fathi Eljahmi, after meeting with leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli.

2008 -  “Biden sharply criticized President George W. Bush for his speech to Israel's Knesset in which he suggested that some Democrats were acting in the same way some Western leaders did when they appeased Hitler in the runup to World War II.

Biden stated: "This is bullshit. This is malarkey. This is outrageous.

Outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset ... and make this kind of ridiculous statement."

Biden later apologized for using the expletive. Biden further stated, "Since when does this administration think that if you sit down, you have to eliminate the word 'no' from your vocabulary?" '

[Source:  wikipedia]
-----------------------------------------------

COMMENT



Council on Foreign Relations sounds like the US 'war house'.


Joe Biden sounds like a jock.

And he hasn't personally seen active military service -- or any military service.

But, hey, he's happy to make war -- and is proud of making war on foreign soil.



Some NGO turned charity ought to do a worldwide survey, asking:

Is Joe Biden the most hated man on the planet? 

If he can do deals with Republicans to get things done and if that's why he's so handy, he's got to be slime.

Not sure what the Israel-Knesset stuff even means.


Did notice that former General David Petraeus got a mention.

So Biden reckons he knows more than a general.

Must read the General David Petraeus Rolling Stone interview with Hastings.

Remember not thinking much about it at the time.  Not interested in politics or politics of war at the time.

However, I did feeling sorry for Petraeus ... I thought he let his guard down and it seemed like this 'intimacy' or whatever it was, was perhaps exploited.

The above isn't some statement about war sides or anything; I don't know about that.  It is just my initial impressions back then.

Anyway, no wonder Biden's got his snout stuck in Ukraine.  It's right down his alley.  LOL!