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| From the DNI: Message to Intelligence Community Employees |
| 2009-08-29 |
| Tuesday, August 25, 2009 Dear Colleagues: As we approach the eight anniversary of 9/11, we in the Intelligence Community can be proud of the work that thousands of us have done, are doing, and must continue to do to help keep the country safe. Against a ruthless enemy that violates the norms of civilized behavior we along with out teammates from other departments and agencies, have carried out our duties effectively, and in ways that exemplify American values. Over the next several days there will be public discussion about individual incidents from the past in which some intelligence officers fell short of the high standards we set for ourselves. Their conduct tarnishes us all. However, the questionalbe actions of a few should not obsure the dedicated, difficult, and correct actions of the many. Most important, we must continue to improve our effectiveness against an enemy still seeking to attack us. In the future we will find and detain more important officials of al Qaida and sympathizer groups. Based on the recommendations of a task force of which I was co-chair, the President has decided that high-value interrogations will be conducted by a dedicated, expert interagency interrogation team, back by a strong analytical team. This team will not use enhanced interrogation techniquest and will be guided by the Army Field Manual. Another important issue in the public domain over the next several days will be Congressional oversight of the Intelligence Community. I and other leaders in the Intelligence Community are committed to keeping the Congress fully and currently informed. We have repeatedly demonstragted our genuine commitment to serious oversight in partnership with the Congress during my seven months as DNI and will continue to do so. So, as you read the articles, watch the television reports, and check out the blogs, remember that the fundemental strenth of this country is to learn from the past and do better in the future. Your job is to sustain the best of what has been developed by those before you and improve on the rest. Meanwhile, we have work to do and a country to keep safe. Press on. Dennis C. Blair |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #10 the past in which some intelligence officers fell short of the high standards we set for ourselves. And they will never be prosecuted. Why? All they will have to do is appoint the lovely Orly to their defense team and that object buzzing around the White House like a ricocheting bullet will be Uhbama in panic mode. He would then come to the conclusion the it would be best to drop the case, in the "national interest" of course. |
| Posted by: tipper 2009-08-29 21:24 |
| #9 psychological trickery, without the extra t. PIMF! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-08-29 18:28 |
| #8 There is one thing that affects the perception, and therefore the nerve, of the interrogatee, outside the widely publicized new house rules: American television, American films, American news. Specifically, all emphasize that Americans break rules when they consider the goal important, and the first two make very clear that Americans consider torture a primary tool for getting bad guys to confess... and even merely for punishment/revenge. Who is going to believe that, faced with the possibility of another 9/11 -- and every jihadi hopes his little plot will become another 9/11 -- the CIA interrogator facing him is not going to use the latest combination of brain chemicals and pain induction, coupled with psychological trickerty? What guarantee does the interrogatee that the interrogator will not go rogue? Other than the Military Field Manual, I mean. Perhaps I've imbibed too deeply of popular American culture in my conjectures. But you see, so have they. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-08-29 18:25 |
| #7 just don't take prisoners amen |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-08-29 15:12 |
| #6 Since anyone can get the Army Field Manual, Al Qaeda operatives can get it and read it too. They can prepare themselves to resist interrogation. If you know that the US will not actually kill you, no matter what the interrogator says, you can resist it. If you know that the interrogator cannot actually beat you, but only lightly slap you on the stomach, you can resist it. If you know that a team of American lawyers will prosecute the interrogators, not you , you can resist almost anything. So get used to much more resistant al Qaeda captures in the future. Or better yet, just don't take prisoners. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-08-29 14:57 |
| #5 This team will not use enhanced interrogation techniques and will be guided by the Army Field Manual. Translation: This team will wield the ultimate threat of serving terrorists room-temperature Chardonnay and forcing them to sleep on sheets with a low thread count. |
| Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2009-08-29 13:17 |
| #4 Highlighting the evil past ("W" years), intelligence officers who....fell short. Hi marks and future political appointments from Barry over this one, I'm sure. Let the show trials begin! I, Dennis C. Blair will SAVE you from Fox, the internetS, greedy gun waving contractors, and evil astro-turf bloggers. All ahead full and all hail THE ONE! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-29 12:53 |
| #3 prolly so, but he's doing the right thing, this one time, at least |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-08-29 12:47 |
| #2 I think this whole thing with Panetta is just a cover for him to keep some type of loyalty with the spooks. |
| Posted by: bman 2009-08-29 12:42 |
| #1 Blair is lying toady. If he had any professional ethics and concern for national security, he would threaten or actually resign, just as Panetta is doing |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-08-29 10:39 |