Look, Grenell is a hack who doesn't value the search for truth and doesn't care about the credibility of the IC.
nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/…
His appointment could be a disaster, but maybe not a permanent one. Silver linings ahead:
nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/…
His appointment could be a disaster, but maybe not a permanent one. Silver linings ahead:
1) Grenell as an acting DNI can't serve in the position permanently. Eventually, like Maguire he'll have to be replaced.
2) He doesn't know how intelligence works well enough to inflict permanent damage on the institutions.
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2) He doesn't know how intelligence works well enough to inflict permanent damage on the institutions.
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3) The ODNI isn't a particularly strong institution. It has no operational capacity.
4) ODNI gets its strength from the experience & moral authority of the Director. Grenell doesn't have any.
5) ODNI plays a coordinating role, & Grenell doesn't know how to play w/others.
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4) ODNI gets its strength from the experience & moral authority of the Director. Grenell doesn't have any.
5) ODNI plays a coordinating role, & Grenell doesn't know how to play w/others.
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BUT, silver linings aside, Grenell is a net negative over what we've had before. Because...
a) Past DNIs have been willing to contradict the President when the analysis warrants.
b) Maguire stood up for whistleblowers in testimony. Grenell would bury dissenters.
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a) Past DNIs have been willing to contradict the President when the analysis warrants.
b) Maguire stood up for whistleblowers in testimony. Grenell would bury dissenters.
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c) Grenell would use past accumulated trust in the IC to buttress Trump's claims false or not.
d) Grenells hackishness will lead professionals to recede from coordinating through the ODNI, increasing stove-piping.
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d) Grenells hackishness will lead professionals to recede from coordinating through the ODNI, increasing stove-piping.
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So, tl;dr:
Grenell's appointment is bad. But putting a bad appointee into a weak job cabins the damage.
Grenell's appointment is bad. But putting a bad appointee into a weak job cabins the damage.
