Tomorrow the Senate Intel Committee takes up the nomination of Rep John Ratcliffe of Texas to be Director of National Intelligence (@ODNIgov). Never has anyone more unqualified been formally nominated by a President to lead the US Intelligence Community. /1
But I'm going to surprise everyone and say, screw it--@SenatorBurr and @MarkWarner please confirm Ratcliffe and do it as quickly as possible! Because there's never been anyone less qualified to sit in the DNI's chair than the current acting DNI Ric Grenell. /2
As a critic put it, Grenell isn't even qualified to make coffee for the DNI. Hallmarks of his tenure have included the dismissal of experienced non-partisan career intelligence officials such as the acting deputy DNI, the leadership of the Nat'l Counterterrorism Center, ... /3
...and the Inspector General of the IC. He's pursuing an LGBQT purity test for intelligence cooperation, talks of ending politicization of intelligence INSIDE the IC, and has spent way too much time this past week in attacks on news reporters. /4
Not to mention, he remains US Amb to Germany. The IC is a very complex beast--one requiring more than full-time attention of its leader as he serves as integrator-in-chief of 16 separate elements without the direct authorities of his Cabinet dept peers. /5
Ratcliffe should not be given a free pass, however. Senators should grill the Congressman about his qualifications, particularly what makes him a viable candidate after having withdrawn before under pressure for his lack thereof. /6
Ratcliffe should also be questioned about his unabashed blind support for the President and his conspiracy theories about the purported deep state, and how or whether he can be expected to operate in a non-partisan manner, representing ... /7
... the non-political intelligence assessments crafted by the men and women of the Intelligence Community. Or will he suppress the "inconvenient facts" found in assessments that may run counter to Pres Trump's preferred views on issues like Russia, Iran or N Korea. /8
Ratcliffe should be queried for his views on Russian interference in our elections, Iran's compliance with the JCPOA, and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. On the former, he should be asked to clarify his views regarding the partisan HPSCI report on the subject. /9
Ratcliffe needs to address the dismissal of career intelligence professionals within the ODNI and whether he supports those dismissals, as well as Grenell's plans to dismantle parts of the ODNI. He needs to explain his vision for the ODNI and his role. /10
Ratcliff should commit to proper intelligence oversight , incl a commitment to cooperate with the Congressional oversight committees in the production of witnesses and documentation, and the independence of inspectors general. He should offer protection for whistleblowers. /11
The Senate Intel Committee should also obtain Ratcliffe's commitment to schedule immediately the annual worldwide threat briefing, indefinitely postponed by the current Administration. /12
Ratcliffe should also address how he will address the serious impact coronavirus is having on intelligence operations, idling significant portions of the workforce. /13
But we shouldn't get our hopes up for this hearing. Ratcliffe knows that the President has cornered the committee with the Grenell appointment and subsequent dismissal of all other Senate-confirmed individuals at the ODNI. The President has the committee over a barrel. /14
If the committee fails to confirm Ratcliffe, the President is likely to allow Grenell to remain in the job for another 210 days rather than nominate someone else. So, the hearing will be just an endurance test for Ratcliffe--stay calm, answer some questions, ... /15
... promise answers to others, showboat a bit for the base, and it will all come out okay in the end. So, go ahead and confirm Ratcliffe, @SenatorBurr and @MarkWarner. Let's get rid of Grenell, hope we are in the twilight of the Trump presidency, ... /16
... and pray Ratcliffe does little harm for the next 8 months And then, with a little luck, the curtain can finally drop on this amateur hour at the top of the IC with the swearing in of a new President in Jan 2021. /17
