The Obama transition team has selected Leon E. Panetta, former California Congressman, White House Budget Advisor and Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton, as the new head of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Panetta has no experience with intelligence directly, but has a wealth of managerial and government experience. Perhaps the Obama team is looking for a reformer, whether that means structural change or just reputational. The agency has seen harsh international criticism in recent years for its conduct during the war on terror, to which Panetta is free from association.
The NY Times described Panetta as a man with a "reputation in Washington as a competent manager with strong background in budget issues." The choice, although unusual, is not unprecendented. Both John McCone and George H.W. Bush, two successful CIA heads, had no intelligence experience before taking the helm, the Times article points out.
Obama initially sought someone with extensive experience in the field of intelligence gathering but had difficulty looking for someone in the community not tied in some way, at least in popular opinion, to the Bush Administration.
The task now seems to be to build a strong team of high-level intelligence officials to aid the new man in charge.
Monday, January 5, 2009
First of the Year
The State Department held its first daily press briefing of the new year earlier this morning.
Not surprisingly, Gaza was at the top of State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack's brief. McCormack expressed concern with finding what he called a "sustainable, durable cease fire." "Of course everybody would like to see violence end immediately, but you also don't want it to end so that it recurs again in the same, if not, worse fashion in the future," he said.
McCormack highlighted three pillars of what the department sees as necessary for such a resolution; an end to the Gazan rockets, the opening of crossings into and out of the strip, "and also," he said, "the issue of the tunnels would be addressed," whatever the hell that means.
McCormack sees an opportunity to build negotiations with regards to the crossings upon the 2005 Movement and Access Agreement, a previous agreement to which the Palestinians (before Hamas came to power) and the Israelis were signatories.
When asked if Mr. McCormack would call the humanitarian situation a crisis, he opted for a slightly more ambiguous adjective.
"Well, the humanitarian situation is dire," he said. "I don't want to rehash for you all the reasons behind that, but they have primarily to do with Hamas and their management of the situation there." (Which is odd. I thought the stray Israeli bullets and missiles would prove a more pressing humanitarian concern at the moment.)
When asked if getting to a more immediate cease fire was more important in the short term, from which point something more lasting could be built, McCormack slyly placed one hand over his mouth to itch his upper lip and made a "KKsshhHH, SHkkkhh," noise, then said "I'm sorry, I think your microphone is getting some feedback. Someone please check that out. Next question."
Cutting through the obtuseness of his language, McCormack basically said that Gaza made a decision to increase rocket fire, which provoked Israel to come with full force, a sort of "final solution," if you will. Not in so many words, he said the State Department thinks the best shot at reaching an agreement is to allow the Israelis to continue their campaign until Hamas loses all power or is ready to surrender. "Look, Hamas made a calculation to provoke this - provoke the crisis," he said (oops, I bet he didn't mean to say crisis). "They can make - you know, they can make the opposite calculation."
When asked directly, was it a good idea for Israel to go in with ground forces, all McCormack would say is "Look, I'm not going to comment on that . . . every sovereign state needs to decide for itself how best to defend itself."
Thats basically a pass, right? Couldn't Russia have been said to be making a sovereign decision to defend herself in August? We did veto a U.N. cease fire and statement condemning Israel's actions.
Heres a tasty little exchange from the briefing:
QUESTION: Is it fair for us to conclude, though, that from this statement that the United States supports the Israeli decision to move from the aerial bombardment to a ground invasion?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, this is – you know, this is a question that always comes up. We don’t give green lights, red lights, yellow lights. I think you heard from the Vice President they’re – they didn’t seek our permission or advice, and we didn’t seek to offer any of that. As I – as I said --
QUESTION: You know, that’s not – that’s just manifestly not true.
MR. MCCORMACK: As I – yes, it is.
QUESTION: No, no – maybe in – maybe in this, but all over the world you are involved in giving green lights, red l lights and yellow lights. I remember when –
MR. MCCORMACK: Am I talking --
QUESTION: -- when Musharraf --
MR. MCCORMACK: Am I talking about anywhere else in the world, Matt? Am I talking about a specific circumstance?
You can watch a video of the briefing, or read the transcript here.
Not surprisingly, Gaza was at the top of State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack's brief. McCormack expressed concern with finding what he called a "sustainable, durable cease fire." "Of course everybody would like to see violence end immediately, but you also don't want it to end so that it recurs again in the same, if not, worse fashion in the future," he said.
McCormack highlighted three pillars of what the department sees as necessary for such a resolution; an end to the Gazan rockets, the opening of crossings into and out of the strip, "and also," he said, "the issue of the tunnels would be addressed," whatever the hell that means.
McCormack sees an opportunity to build negotiations with regards to the crossings upon the 2005 Movement and Access Agreement, a previous agreement to which the Palestinians (before Hamas came to power) and the Israelis were signatories.
When asked if Mr. McCormack would call the humanitarian situation a crisis, he opted for a slightly more ambiguous adjective.
"Well, the humanitarian situation is dire," he said. "I don't want to rehash for you all the reasons behind that, but they have primarily to do with Hamas and their management of the situation there." (Which is odd. I thought the stray Israeli bullets and missiles would prove a more pressing humanitarian concern at the moment.)
When asked if getting to a more immediate cease fire was more important in the short term, from which point something more lasting could be built, McCormack slyly placed one hand over his mouth to itch his upper lip and made a "KKsshhHH, SHkkkhh," noise, then said "I'm sorry, I think your microphone is getting some feedback. Someone please check that out. Next question."
Cutting through the obtuseness of his language, McCormack basically said that Gaza made a decision to increase rocket fire, which provoked Israel to come with full force, a sort of "final solution," if you will. Not in so many words, he said the State Department thinks the best shot at reaching an agreement is to allow the Israelis to continue their campaign until Hamas loses all power or is ready to surrender. "Look, Hamas made a calculation to provoke this - provoke the crisis," he said (oops, I bet he didn't mean to say crisis). "They can make - you know, they can make the opposite calculation."
When asked directly, was it a good idea for Israel to go in with ground forces, all McCormack would say is "Look, I'm not going to comment on that . . . every sovereign state needs to decide for itself how best to defend itself."
Thats basically a pass, right? Couldn't Russia have been said to be making a sovereign decision to defend herself in August? We did veto a U.N. cease fire and statement condemning Israel's actions.
Heres a tasty little exchange from the briefing:
QUESTION: Is it fair for us to conclude, though, that from this statement that the United States supports the Israeli decision to move from the aerial bombardment to a ground invasion?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, this is – you know, this is a question that always comes up. We don’t give green lights, red lights, yellow lights. I think you heard from the Vice President they’re – they didn’t seek our permission or advice, and we didn’t seek to offer any of that. As I – as I said --
QUESTION: You know, that’s not – that’s just manifestly not true.
MR. MCCORMACK: As I – yes, it is.
QUESTION: No, no – maybe in – maybe in this, but all over the world you are involved in giving green lights, red l lights and yellow lights. I remember when –
MR. MCCORMACK: Am I talking --
QUESTION: -- when Musharraf --
MR. MCCORMACK: Am I talking about anywhere else in the world, Matt? Am I talking about a specific circumstance?
You can watch a video of the briefing, or read the transcript here.
CSM Op-Ed
In a nice op-ed piece on Israel's "muddy goals" in Gaza, the Christian Science Monitor seems to agree heartily with my own assessment, posted below.
Gas Problems
Russia and Ukraine are at it again. Russia cut off the flow of gas to the Ukraine on New Years Day, citing a $1.6 Billion bill. Russia is accusing Ukraine of stealing 25 million cubic meters of gas, disturbing its flow to European markets. Ukraine, in turn, says the shortage came from Russia's "technical manipulations."
European nations have been hesitant to get involved. While Europe gets a quarter of its gas supply from Russia -- Ukraine being the primary route -- they say they have enough reserves to cope with any interruptions for the time being.
European nations have been hesitant to get involved. While Europe gets a quarter of its gas supply from Russia -- Ukraine being the primary route -- they say they have enough reserves to cope with any interruptions for the time being.
Breaking News
Breaking news - the war on drugs is not working.
Having sent $6 Billion to Colombian president Alvaro Uribe since 2000 and instituted Plan Colombia (which sent pilots, equipment and training to Colombia to eradicate drug production), land used for coca production is up 15 percent and productivity up four percent.
Newsweek International explains the seemingly impossible odds against anti-drug efforts.
Newsweek International explains the seemingly impossible odds against anti-drug efforts.
El Salvador Hangs a Left
Mauricio Funes, leader of El Salvador's left-most political party, is expected to win presidential election there. The party, known locally as the Frente, is the political offspring of leftist guerrilla groups involved in the nation's civil war.
Funes himself was not a fighter. An outspoken critic of the government, he was a long-time television journalist for El Salvador's Channel 12, reports the Miami Herald.
Critics call Funes a communist who will realign relations towards Venezuela and away from the United States and set up an unworkable economic model that will ruin the nation. Supporters contend Funes will be able to allow economic growth while also reducing poverty and inequality, and Funes has pledged to keep friendly relations with the U.S.
Funes himself was not a fighter. An outspoken critic of the government, he was a long-time television journalist for El Salvador's Channel 12, reports the Miami Herald.
Critics call Funes a communist who will realign relations towards Venezuela and away from the United States and set up an unworkable economic model that will ruin the nation. Supporters contend Funes will be able to allow economic growth while also reducing poverty and inequality, and Funes has pledged to keep friendly relations with the U.S.
Elections in Ghana
John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Party (NDC), the opposition party in Ghana, appears to have won the recent election. Elections were so close that official results had to be postponed for further scrutiny.
With elections as close as they were, and coming in the wake of unsuccessful elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe, Ghana is all the more in the spotlight to show its tenacity in making democracy work.
The Economist describes Mills as a moderate, "basically free-market" kind of guy leading a leftist party. His NDC party made some gains to become the nation's biggest party, but it is not a majority.
Afghan Schools
In another defining element of a failed state, Afghanistan is seeing a dramatic reduction in primary education rates; 141 teachers and students killed this past year and 173,000 dropouts largely due to safety concerns, reports quqnoos.
Evidence
India handed over the evidence Pakistan requested in tying the Mumbai attacks to "elements in Pakistan," as India is diplomatically putting it. No word on whether or not Pakistan is convinced. Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving militant of the attack, claimed to have received his training in Pakistani and calls himself a Pakistani national, though Pakistan claims no record of his being a citizen.
Unlikely Bedfellows
Whether it's cooperation on terrorist threats or trade deals, Iraq and Iran are forging diplomatic ties.
Meanwhile, In Gaza . . .
NY Times reports today that while the death toll has passed 500, the civilian total is around 100. I don't know if a civilian death toll of 100 is ever good news, but at least it's less than what popular wisdom has seemed to suggest.
Though resisting pleas for a cease-fire, Israel did seize rocket launching sites in the strip, which presumably may signal some end in sight.
But then again, maybe not. Israeli defense minister Ehud Barack defined Israel's objective to Israeli Radio as “(changing) the reality of security for the south” of the country, which he said has not yet been accomplished. With objectives as abstract as that, Israel may allow itself to do whatever it wants.
Israel needs to define clearer objectives to put forth for the international community, and then pursue those objectives narrowly defined (secure all rocket launching sites, apprehend specific Hamas officials, perhaps?), if they want to save any face they may or may not still have to save.
Though resisting pleas for a cease-fire, Israel did seize rocket launching sites in the strip, which presumably may signal some end in sight.
But then again, maybe not. Israeli defense minister Ehud Barack defined Israel's objective to Israeli Radio as “(changing) the reality of security for the south” of the country, which he said has not yet been accomplished. With objectives as abstract as that, Israel may allow itself to do whatever it wants.
Israel needs to define clearer objectives to put forth for the international community, and then pursue those objectives narrowly defined (secure all rocket launching sites, apprehend specific Hamas officials, perhaps?), if they want to save any face they may or may not still have to save.
Another One Bites the Dust
Washington Post-owned (I think?) Foreign Policy Magazine has gone the way much of the news world has in the past year. Today the magazine has switched over to an all online model and expanded their blogs. Often insightful, check them out at www.ForeignPolicy.com
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