Posted on: Sunday, November 21, 2004

EDITORIAL
Playing politics while CIA flounders

On one level, it's inappropriate that the battle between the CIA's old guard and its new director, Porter Goss, is playing itself out on the pages of the country's major newspapers.

Traditionally, we'd come to expect a higher level of professionalism. But the Bush administration's misuse of intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq war, and the mauling the intelligence establishment took at the hands of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the 9/11 commission, have reduced morale to scary depths.

The finger-pointing and the resignations are alarming.

The timing of Bush's appointment of Goss, in August, suggested serious tone-deafness. We had suggested then that he hold off on replacing the retiring George Tenet until Congress finished its sweeping intelligence reform legislation, which may now have to wait until next year.

One of the gravest problems with the intelligence community is that it has become unable to tell the president what he needs to hear instead of what he wants to hear.

What Goss is bringing to the agency is certain to make matters worse.

Goss circulated a memo last week setting out his intention "to clarify the rules of the road. We support the administration and its policies in our work. As agency employees we do not identify with, support or champion opposition to the administration or its policies."

The CIA is supposed to tell the truth, as best it knows it, regardless of whether that advances the administration's plans or not.

What started the leaking in earnest at CIA was Bush's assertion that his plan to invade Iraq had full support at the agency. That wasn't true.

Now Goss' attempt to impose political orthodoxy — instead of encouraging a needed sense of objectivity and independent thinking — has prompted a spate of resignations. Some of those departing are probably disappointed Kerry advocates. But some, informed observers say, are the backbone of the agency's clandestine service.

We need to fix the intelligence community, not dismantle it.