Thursday, February 16, 2017

President Trump Has Appointed A Trusted Ally To Completely Review The U.S. Intelligence Community

Stephen A. Feinberg, right, a founder of Cerberus Capital Management, at the Capitol in December 2008. He is said to be in talks for a White House role examining the country’s intelligence agencies. Credit Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times

New York Times: White House Plans to Have Trump Ally Review Intelligence Agencies

WASHINGTON — President Trump plans to assign a New York billionaire to lead a broad review of American intelligence agencies, according to administration officials, an effort that members of the intelligence community fear could curtail their independence and reduce the flow of information that contradicts the president’s worldview.

The possible role for Stephen A. Feinberg, a co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, has met fierce resistance among intelligence officials already on edge because of the criticism the intelligence community has received from Mr. Trump during the campaign and since he became president. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump blamed leaks from the intelligence community for the departure of Michael T. Flynn, his national security adviser, whose resignation he requested.

There has been no announcement of Mr. Feinberg’s job, which would be based in the White House, but he recently told his company’s shareholders that he is in discussions to join the Trump administration. He is a member of Mr. Trump’s economic advisory council.

Mr. Feinberg, who has close ties to Stephen K. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s chief strategist, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, declined to comment on his possible position. The White House, which is still working out the details of the intelligence review, also would not comment.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The person who should be doing this review is recently retired Sen. Dan Coats who has been nominated to be the Director of National Intelligence .... Trump to tap ex-Sen. Dan Coats as intelligence chief (Politico). I am willing to bet that Sen. Coats is not happy with the appointment of Stephen A. Feinberg, but he cannot do anything because his confirmation is still stuck in the U.S. Senate. My take on this appointment and review is that President Trump wants two reviews on the U.S. intel community on his desk. One from Sen. Coats, and one from Stephen Feinberg. I also expect that their mandates are going to be different. Sen. Coats will conduct his review on how the intel community could better function, while Stephen A. Feinberg will be following a political agenda .... primarily looking at those who were hired by President Obama's team, who and what department is responsible for securing the intel that is being leaked to the press, and .... more importantly .... who to fire and who to replace. Should anyone be surprised by this development .... no. The intel community has been at war with President Trump since the beginning .... and this is the elected political process now reigning in those individuals and offices that have .... quite bluntly .... gone  rogue. In the long run this is not going to help U.S. intelligence nor national security .... but frankly .... the intelligence community and how it has become politicised where they are more focused on the new President and his administration than on the threats that America faces has brought this down on themselves.

More News On President Trump Appointing A Trusted Ally To Completely Review The U.S. Intelligence Community

Report: Trump ally to review intelligence agencies -- The Hill
White House considering outsider to review intelligence agencies -- CNN
Trump wants Jewish billionaire to vet spy agencies – report -- Times of Israel
Amid Deepening Rift, Trump Plans Review of Intelligence Community -- NYMag
Trump ally to review intelligence agencies -- The Statesman
Trump’s War with Intelligence Agencies Escalates Dangerously -- Rob Garver, Fiscal Times

1 comment:

James said...

They gave Trump the weapons he needed. I doubt if much if any of the professional cadre have anything to worry about.