Hayden's appointment continues the consolidation of intel...

[mike_c]

...under Pentagon and military control, IMO. The Bush fascists have learned one of the fundamental lessons of propaganda-- you can order the military to produce specific intel in support of imperialist foreign policy. Civilian analysts are much more likely to let their professional scruples get in the way of parroting the party line. The best-of-both-worlds solution is to put a military man in charge of the civilian spooks. He decides the overall direction of the agency, he filters intel under orders from the political arm of the White House, and his appointment links the military intel ops directed from the Pentagon with the civilian intel ops run by the CIA, effectively circumventing any checks and balances in the intel community. And of course it consolidates Negroponte's power, which seems to be growing more Stalinesque by the day.

[Windy]

1. I agree

Goss' departure isn't about Hookergate

[lyonn]

2. Yup, it gets scarier and scarier

What doesn't make sense is so many people want Rummy out and yet with this move to put Hayden in it gives Rummy more power. Hope this becomes obvious to the people that vote in Congress, and, make speeches to inform the public that can't be dismissed by the media (our stalinist media, ha).

Edit: Have you read Robert Parry's recent article on Negroponte at his site Consortium News. He is making a point that Negroponte is bucking the White House on the Iran issue and whether they are an "immenient" threat. I have read it a couple of times thinking I am missing something since Negroponte also scares the hell out of me.