President Barack Obama is briefed by members of his national security team in the Situation Room of the White House, October 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Obama Alone: This President Does Not Need Intel Briefers -- Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post
How long had it been since President Obama attended his daily intelligence meeting in the lead-up to the Sept. 11 attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Egypt and Libya? After all, our adversaries are known to use the anniversary of 9/11 to target the United States.
According to the public schedule of the president, the last time the Obama attended his daily intelligence meeting was Sept. 5 — a week before Islamist radicals stormed our embassy in Cairo and terrorists killed our ambassador to Tripoli. The president was scheduled to hold the intelligence meeting at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, the day after the attacks, but it was canceled so that he could comfort grieving employees at the State Department — as well he should. But instead of rescheduling the intelligence briefing for later in the day, Obama apparently chose to skip it altogether and attend a Las Vegas fundraiser for his re-election campaign. One day after a terrorist attack.
Read more ....
My Comment: Marc Thiessen is a fierce critic of President Obama .... and he does not disappoint in his commentary on President Obama skipping intel briefs. What's my take .... I would have to say yes and no. President Obama should attend his meetings more than what he has been doing .... you intend these meetings to ask questions, and more to the point .... to offer suggestions and/or to emphasize what needs to be followed up. Reading a brief and then sending a memo will not cut it. On the other hand .... these briefings have probably not satisfied President Obama that he should make it a daily routine .... hence the "skipping" of the daily briefings. He probably also has confidence in his staff .... that they would stress what is important and will inform him when an issue needs to be looked at right away.
Still .... every past President's made it a routine to always be present at these briefings .... President Obama should also make this same effort.
Update: Here is an interesting article on how technology is changing White House intel briefings.
Update #2: Wow .... even the New York Times is raising questions. But the part of this NYT's article that surprised me was that President Clinton only met his CIA Director privately once a year!!!!
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