From The Los Angeles Times:
Via Terry
Intelligence chief James Clapper causes a stir with remarks on Moammar Kadafi and threats to U.S.
James Clapper draws criticism for telling a Senate panel that Libyan rebels probably can't overthrow Moammar Kadafi and that Russia and China are the biggest threats to the U.S. The White House quickly offers its own views on those issues.
James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, right, talks to Sen. Joseph Lieberman on Capitol Hill Thursday. (Ann Heisenfelt / Associated Press)
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Kadafi victory or stalemate likely in Libya, a top U.S. official says
Libyan government increases attacks; NATO moves ships closer
Kadafi's son tells rebels, 'We're coming'
By Ken Dilanian, Washington Bureau
March 10, 2011, 3:15 p.m.
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WASHINGTON — James Clapper, President Obama's director of national intelligence, is developing a habit that can cause problems in Washington: speaking his mind, unfiltered.
In an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Clapper said two things that drew criticism. He offered his assessment that Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi was likely to prevail, or at least cling to power, in his struggle with rebels. And he gave his view that China and Russia were the gravest national security threats facing the United States, as measured by the capability of their weaponry.
Both conclusions came from a man who is a retired Air Force general with 47 years in the intelligence business, and who also has access to the best information the $80-billion American spying bureaucracy can offer. Clapper offered the kind of candid assessment the Obama administration said it wanted from its top officials after intelligence was distorted and cherry-picked in the buildup to the Iraq War.
But Clapper's first conclusion contradicted the picture the White House is trying to paint of the situation in Libya. And his second had the potential to offend two powerful nations with which the U.S. has myriad complex dealings.
Plus, this wasn't the first time Clapper's words had gotten him in trouble. He was lampooned after he acknowledged in a December network television interview that he was unaware of several terrorism arrests that morning in London; and he had to amend his statement in February after he said that the Muslim Brotherhood is a "secular" organization.
So within hours of his remarks on Thursday, Clapper was pilloried. First Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican and Armed Services Committee member, called for his resignation, citing Clapper's previous faux pas.
"Three strikes and you're out," Graham said.
A Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said Clapper's remarks "send a terrible message to those who are doing battle with Kadafi right now. I don't think it makes sense for us to be articulating that view."
A short time later, White House National Security Advisor Tom Donilon held a conference call with reporters during which he basically repudiated Clapper's Libya viewpoint, saying they didn't take into account the changing dynamics of the situation.
"I don't think that's the most informative analysis, frankly," Donilon said. "I think the analysis needs to be dynamic and it needs to be multidimensional."
The White House also cleaned up any impressions Clapper may have left about Russia and China. That was in response to Clapper's answer to a question from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), who asked: "In your estimation, which is the greatest threat we have in the world against the United States of America, whether it be a buildup of their army or their defenses or their economies they pose, or a combination of both?"
Russia and China pose the greatest threats "from a capabilities standpoint," Clapper answered, using intelligence lingo. Later, Clapper stipulated that he was talking about capabilities, not intent, noting that both nations possessed strategic nuclear arsenals.
Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor, later told reporters in the conference call: "Clearly, China and Russia do not represent our biggest adversaries in the world today, or the nations that we perceive to pose the greatest threat in terms of their intent to harm U.S. interests."
Clapper is lucky, arguably, that he is held in high regard in the military, the intelligence community and on Capitol Hill.
"I was taken aback by Director Clapper's statement about China and Russia and, frankly, I was surprised by how long it took him to correct the impression that he created," said Sen. Carl Levin, who made a point of asking Clapper for clarification at the hearing. "He did finally correct it, however, and I am glad that he did, and I am satisfied with his correction."
ken.dilanian@latimes.com
Staff writer Paul Richter in Washington contributed to this report.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/sc-dc-0311-clapper-20110310,0,1768260.story
Comment that was posted on article:
eric d at 6:04 PM March 10, 2011
The real scandal's not few remarks by a US Intelligence chief. Worse, the US is actively obstructing the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya. Here's the true story from the Guardian.co.uk:"Nato was left paralysed as the US joined Germany in blocking the imposition of a no-fly zone supported by Britain and France. Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels that contingency planning for a no-fly zone would continue, before adding "that's the extent of it." While the Libyan opposition calls for air support & Kadaffi's air force bombs cities & massacres civilians, the US actually vetoes action by NATO to support the Libyan opposition & prevent a civilian massacre. While Britain & France call for action & PM Sarkozy has taken steps to establish liason with the Libyan opposition, President Obama, Sec. Clinton & Sec. Gates make self-righteous speeches about their support for democracy, human rights etc. while refusing to take steps to stop Kadaffi's mercenaries from carrying out a terrorist purge & "cleansing Libya by blood." But not only is this a Libyan disaster. It's also a catastrophe for US foreign policy, likely to result in anti-American backlash, as the Muslim protestors see whose side the US is really on. And protest aginst dictators turns to protest against US.
Via Terry
Intelligence chief James Clapper causes a stir with remarks on Moammar Kadafi and threats to U.S.
James Clapper draws criticism for telling a Senate panel that Libyan rebels probably can't overthrow Moammar Kadafi and that Russia and China are the biggest threats to the U.S. The White House quickly offers its own views on those issues.
James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, right, talks to Sen. Joseph Lieberman on Capitol Hill Thursday. (Ann Heisenfelt / Associated Press)
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Kadafi victory or stalemate likely in Libya, a top U.S. official says
Libyan government increases attacks; NATO moves ships closer
Kadafi's son tells rebels, 'We're coming'
By Ken Dilanian, Washington Bureau
March 10, 2011, 3:15 p.m.
Share
Text Size
WASHINGTON — James Clapper, President Obama's director of national intelligence, is developing a habit that can cause problems in Washington: speaking his mind, unfiltered.
In an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Clapper said two things that drew criticism. He offered his assessment that Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi was likely to prevail, or at least cling to power, in his struggle with rebels. And he gave his view that China and Russia were the gravest national security threats facing the United States, as measured by the capability of their weaponry.
Both conclusions came from a man who is a retired Air Force general with 47 years in the intelligence business, and who also has access to the best information the $80-billion American spying bureaucracy can offer. Clapper offered the kind of candid assessment the Obama administration said it wanted from its top officials after intelligence was distorted and cherry-picked in the buildup to the Iraq War.
But Clapper's first conclusion contradicted the picture the White House is trying to paint of the situation in Libya. And his second had the potential to offend two powerful nations with which the U.S. has myriad complex dealings.
Plus, this wasn't the first time Clapper's words had gotten him in trouble. He was lampooned after he acknowledged in a December network television interview that he was unaware of several terrorism arrests that morning in London; and he had to amend his statement in February after he said that the Muslim Brotherhood is a "secular" organization.
So within hours of his remarks on Thursday, Clapper was pilloried. First Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican and Armed Services Committee member, called for his resignation, citing Clapper's previous faux pas.
"Three strikes and you're out," Graham said.
A Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said Clapper's remarks "send a terrible message to those who are doing battle with Kadafi right now. I don't think it makes sense for us to be articulating that view."
A short time later, White House National Security Advisor Tom Donilon held a conference call with reporters during which he basically repudiated Clapper's Libya viewpoint, saying they didn't take into account the changing dynamics of the situation.
"I don't think that's the most informative analysis, frankly," Donilon said. "I think the analysis needs to be dynamic and it needs to be multidimensional."
The White House also cleaned up any impressions Clapper may have left about Russia and China. That was in response to Clapper's answer to a question from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), who asked: "In your estimation, which is the greatest threat we have in the world against the United States of America, whether it be a buildup of their army or their defenses or their economies they pose, or a combination of both?"
Russia and China pose the greatest threats "from a capabilities standpoint," Clapper answered, using intelligence lingo. Later, Clapper stipulated that he was talking about capabilities, not intent, noting that both nations possessed strategic nuclear arsenals.
Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor, later told reporters in the conference call: "Clearly, China and Russia do not represent our biggest adversaries in the world today, or the nations that we perceive to pose the greatest threat in terms of their intent to harm U.S. interests."
Clapper is lucky, arguably, that he is held in high regard in the military, the intelligence community and on Capitol Hill.
"I was taken aback by Director Clapper's statement about China and Russia and, frankly, I was surprised by how long it took him to correct the impression that he created," said Sen. Carl Levin, who made a point of asking Clapper for clarification at the hearing. "He did finally correct it, however, and I am glad that he did, and I am satisfied with his correction."
ken.dilanian@latimes.com
Staff writer Paul Richter in Washington contributed to this report.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/sc-dc-0311-clapper-20110310,0,1768260.story
Comment that was posted on article:
eric d at 6:04 PM March 10, 2011
The real scandal's not few remarks by a US Intelligence chief. Worse, the US is actively obstructing the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya. Here's the true story from the Guardian.co.uk:"Nato was left paralysed as the US joined Germany in blocking the imposition of a no-fly zone supported by Britain and France. Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels that contingency planning for a no-fly zone would continue, before adding "that's the extent of it." While the Libyan opposition calls for air support & Kadaffi's air force bombs cities & massacres civilians, the US actually vetoes action by NATO to support the Libyan opposition & prevent a civilian massacre. While Britain & France call for action & PM Sarkozy has taken steps to establish liason with the Libyan opposition, President Obama, Sec. Clinton & Sec. Gates make self-righteous speeches about their support for democracy, human rights etc. while refusing to take steps to stop Kadaffi's mercenaries from carrying out a terrorist purge & "cleansing Libya by blood." But not only is this a Libyan disaster. It's also a catastrophe for US foreign policy, likely to result in anti-American backlash, as the Muslim protestors see whose side the US is really on. And protest aginst dictators turns to protest against US.
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