Comments on: Obama’s Intelligence Agenda: More of the Same from the “Change Administration” http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:21:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: citizenbfk http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-37426 citizenbfk Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:15:14 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-37426 Of course this comment can claim to have a more up-to-date assessment of Obama's actions and our expectations, now that he has actually become president. But, anyhow, isn't it a bit unsound to write an article about Obama's policy expectations based on the comments of someone else? It seemed a lot of this was done while Obama was President-elect; almost all of it negative. The reality, imo, is that in President Obama's first ten days he has done more positive good that most presidents could hope for in their first hundred days and more, certainly, than the damage of Bush's last eight years. Of course this comment can claim to have a more up-to-date assessment of Obama’s actions and our expectations, now that he has actually become president.

But, anyhow, isn’t it a bit unsound to write an article about Obama’s policy expectations based on the comments of someone else?

It seemed a lot of this was done while Obama was President-elect; almost all of it negative.

The reality, imo, is that in President Obama’s first ten days he has done more positive good that most presidents could hope for in their first hundred days and more, certainly, than the damage of Bush’s last eight years.

]]> By: Lloyd Rowsey http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32107 Lloyd Rowsey Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:27:51 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32107 I agree with you John Hatch. My previous problem with Tom, however, was that he under-appreciated the role of secrecy in the American political economy and made too much of the role of discoverable information differentials. The following passage from Tom’s piece indicates to me that he is beginning to appreciate more the role of “effective secrecy,” at least - ie, secrecy based on lies that by the time they are uncovered, cannot reverse courses of action protected by the secrecy: (Quotation Marks) It should be kept in mind the $57.5 billion doesn’t include the Pentagon and other intelligence agency’s “black budget” for undisclosed programs and “special operations” hidden within ultra-secretive “special access programs” (SAPs) kept off the books. According to defense and security analyst William M. Arkin, There are also additional categories “above” Top Secret called “special access programs” that are used to protect presidential, military, intelligence, anti-terrorism, counter-drug, special operations, and “sensitive activities,” as well as classified research and development efforts where it is deemed that extraordinary secrecy is needed to protect capabilities and vulnerabilities. Special access programs are regulated by statute and are defined as deliberately designated programs where “need-to-know” or access controls beyond those normally provided to classified information are created. The clearance and access requirements are identical to, or exceed, those required for access to sensitive compartmented information, and SAPs require special (and expensive) security, access, and communications measures. (William M. Arkin, Code Names: Deciphering U.S. Military Plans, Programs, and Operations in the 9/11 World, Hanover, NH: Steerforth Press, 2005, p.18) Additionally, we have no way of determining what other secret slush funds are available to the “intelligence community” from a welter of illegal ventures such as the laundering of illicit funds by CIA intelligence assets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Balkans, Colombia and Mexico. Derived from the international narcotics trade and “cleansed” as they pass through a series of off-shore banks and U.S. financial institutions, far-right narcotrafficking assets involved in the murder of trade unionists, journalists, leftist opponents or indeed, the 9/11 attacks which kick-started America’s “war on terror,” are readily available for planetary-wide U.S. “special operations.” (Quotation Marks) I agree with you John Hatch. My previous problem with Tom, however, was that he under-appreciated the role of secrecy in the American political economy and made too much of the role of discoverable information differentials. The following passage from Tom’s piece indicates to me that he is beginning to appreciate more the role of “effective secrecy,” at least – ie, secrecy based on lies that by the time they are uncovered, cannot reverse courses of action protected by the secrecy:

(Quotation Marks) It should be kept in mind the $57.5 billion doesn’t include the Pentagon and other intelligence agency’s “black budget” for undisclosed programs and “special operations” hidden within ultra-secretive “special access programs” (SAPs) kept off the books. According to defense and security analyst William M. Arkin,

There are also additional categories “above” Top Secret called “special access programs” that are used to protect presidential, military, intelligence, anti-terrorism, counter-drug, special operations, and “sensitive activities,” as well as classified research and development efforts where it is deemed that extraordinary secrecy is needed to protect capabilities and vulnerabilities. Special access programs are regulated by statute and are defined as deliberately designated programs where “need-to-know” or access controls beyond those normally provided to classified information are created. The clearance and access requirements are identical to, or exceed, those required for access to sensitive compartmented information, and SAPs require special (and expensive) security, access, and communications measures. (William M. Arkin, Code Names: Deciphering U.S. Military Plans, Programs, and Operations in the 9/11 World, Hanover, NH: Steerforth Press, 2005, p.18)

Additionally, we have no way of determining what other secret slush funds are available to the “intelligence community” from a welter of illegal ventures such as the laundering of illicit funds by CIA intelligence assets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Balkans, Colombia and Mexico. Derived from the international narcotics trade and “cleansed” as they pass through a series of off-shore banks and U.S. financial institutions, far-right narcotrafficking assets involved in the murder of trade unionists, journalists, leftist opponents or indeed, the 9/11 attacks which kick-started America’s “war on terror,” are readily available for planetary-wide U.S. “special operations.” (Quotation Marks)

]]> By: lloyd rowsey http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32105 lloyd rowsey Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:17:28 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32105 I agree with you John Hatch. My previous problem with Tom, however, was that he under-appreciated the role of secrecy in the American political economy and made too much of the role of discoverable information differentials. The following passage from Tom's piece indicates to me that he is beginning to appreciate more the role of "effective secrecy," at least - ie, secrecy based on lies that by the time they are uncovered, cannot reverse courses of action protected by the secrecy: (Quotation Marks) It should be kept in mind the $57.5 billion doesn’t include the Pentagon and other intelligence agency’s “black budget” for undisclosed programs and “special operations” hidden within ultra-secretive “special access programs” (SAPs) kept off the books. According to defense and security analyst William M. Arkin, There are also additional categories “above” Top Secret called “special access programs” that are used to protect presidential, military, intelligence, anti-terrorism, counter-drug, special operations, and “sensitive activities,” as well as classified research and development efforts where it is deemed that extraordinary secrecy is needed to protect capabilities and vulnerabilities. Special access programs are regulated by statute and are defined as deliberately designated programs where “need-to-know” or access controls beyond those normally provided to classified information are created. The clearance and access requirements are identical to, or exceed, those required for access to sensitive compartmented information, and SAPs require special (and expensive) security, access, and communications measures. (William M. Arkin, Code Names: Deciphering U.S. Military Plans, Programs, and Operations in the 9/11 World, Hanover, NH: Steerforth Press, 2005, p.18) Additionally, we have no way of determining what other secret slush funds are available to the “intelligence community” from a welter of illegal ventures such as the laundering of illicit funds by CIA intelligence assets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Balkans, Colombia and Mexico. Derived from the international narcotics trade and “cleansed” as they pass through a series of off-shore banks and U.S. financial institutions, far-right narcotrafficking assets involved in the murder of trade unionists, journalists, leftist opponents or indeed, the 9/11 attacks which kick-started America’s “war on terror,” are readily available for planetary-wide U.S. “special operations.” (Quotation Marks) I agree with you John Hatch. My previous problem with Tom, however, was that he under-appreciated the role of secrecy in the American political economy and made too much of the role of discoverable information differentials. The following passage from Tom’s piece indicates to me that he is beginning to appreciate more the role of “effective secrecy,” at least – ie, secrecy based on lies that by the time they are uncovered, cannot reverse courses of action protected by the secrecy:

(Quotation Marks) It should be kept in mind the $57.5 billion doesn’t include the Pentagon and other intelligence agency’s “black budget” for undisclosed programs and “special operations” hidden within ultra-secretive “special access programs” (SAPs) kept off the books. According to defense and security analyst William M. Arkin,

There are also additional categories “above” Top Secret called “special access programs” that are used to protect presidential, military, intelligence, anti-terrorism, counter-drug, special operations, and “sensitive activities,” as well as classified research and development efforts where it is deemed that extraordinary secrecy is needed to protect capabilities and vulnerabilities. Special access programs are regulated by statute and are defined as deliberately designated programs where “need-to-know” or access controls beyond those normally provided to classified information are created. The clearance and access requirements are identical to, or exceed, those required for access to sensitive compartmented information, and SAPs require special (and expensive) security, access, and communications measures. (William M. Arkin, Code Names: Deciphering U.S. Military Plans, Programs, and Operations in the 9/11 World, Hanover, NH: Steerforth Press, 2005, p.18)

Additionally, we have no way of determining what other secret slush funds are available to the “intelligence community” from a welter of illegal ventures such as the laundering of illicit funds by CIA intelligence assets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Balkans, Colombia and Mexico. Derived from the international narcotics trade and “cleansed” as they pass through a series of off-shore banks and U.S. financial institutions, far-right narcotrafficking assets involved in the murder of trade unionists, journalists, leftist opponents or indeed, the 9/11 attacks which kick-started America’s “war on terror,” are readily available for planetary-wide U.S. “special operations.” (Quotation Marks)

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32076 Don Hawkins Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:25:55 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32076 Security analysts say profound dangers are just years, not decades, away. They already see evidence of societies at odds. Although still controversial in some circles — Congress has split along partisan lines over whether the military should plan for global warming. The military plan for global warming I wonder what that could look like in just the States? For some reason I think to start to make plans now would be a good idea. If the military would like to help move cities and build low- loss power lines and solar thermal in a few states and wind and geothermal and new mass transit well heck maybe when they got out of Iraq we could look at the military in a new way. No much to simple and logical using reason probably could never work. Security analysts say profound dangers are just years, not decades, away. They already see evidence of societies at odds.
Although still controversial in some circles — Congress has split along partisan lines over whether the military should plan for global warming.

The military plan for global warming I wonder what that could look like in just the States? For some reason I think to start to make plans now would be a good idea. If the military would like to help move cities and build low- loss power lines and solar thermal in a few states and wind and geothermal and new mass transit well heck maybe when they got out of Iraq we could look at the military in a new way. No much to simple and logical using reason probably could never work.

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32057 Don Hawkins Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:11:34 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32057 Bozhidar glad to see you back. Maybe it's just me but the people I see on TV in American seem to be losing there edge. That edge as we all know was nothing but nonsense but it seems to be falling apart. I guess moving into another great depression has a lot to do with that. I am very sure we are going into a depression the only question for me is could it be worst than in the thirty's? Bozhidar glad to see you back. Maybe it’s just me but the people I see on TV in American seem to be losing there edge. That edge as we all know was nothing but nonsense but it seems to be falling apart. I guess moving into another great depression has a lot to do with that. I am very sure we are going into a depression the only question for me is could it be worst than in the thirty’s?

]]> By: bozhidar bob balkas http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32056 bozhidar bob balkas Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:35:31 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32056 obama is not going to do anything that uncle sam disapproves of. he'l do what every prez before him did. that means no heatlh care, higher education; no end to warfare but expansion of it. obama as every other prez is a mere manager and not a ruler/innovator/changer drugs will still come in because sam needs addicts to fight forever and not just for a year. and thus receives accolades for guarding nonadddicts from addicts. but, first he makes certain that drugs do get in. uncle even goes to moon and mars before he wld spend any money on prevention of drugs import. and how much money is spent on military and cia? and cia can find 'terrorists' but not drug fields/labs or the way drugs get in? so if cia cannot do this much, what's wrong with doubling the number of agents or deploying soldiers around poppy fields instead being busy killing cildren? thnx obama is not going to do anything that uncle sam disapproves of.
he’l do what every prez before him did.
that means no heatlh care, higher education; no end to warfare but expansion of it.
obama as every other prez is a mere manager and not a ruler/innovator/changer
drugs will still come in because sam needs addicts to fight forever and not just for a year.
and thus receives accolades for guarding nonadddicts from addicts. but, first he makes certain that drugs do get in. uncle even goes to moon and mars before he wld spend any money on prevention of drugs import.
and how much money is spent on military and cia? and cia can find ‘terrorists’ but not drug fields/labs or the way drugs get in?
so if cia cannot do this much, what’s wrong with doubling the number of agents or deploying soldiers around poppy fields instead being busy killing cildren? thnx

]]> By: Tom Burghardt http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32050 Tom Burghardt Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:12:28 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32050 Thanks for the compliment, John, I really appreciate it! Like Fox Muldar, "I Want to Believe," but can't, won't and don't. ;) Thanks for the compliment, John, I really appreciate it!

Like Fox Muldar, “I Want to Believe,” but can’t, won’t and don’t. ;)

]]> By: John Hatch http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/obamas-intelligence-agenda-more-of-the-same-from-the-change-administration/#comment-32046 John Hatch Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:11:14 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4726#comment-32046 I've said so before- Tom Burghardt is one of the finest journalists in existence. If Obama continues the fiction of 'bipartisan cooperation' (as if the Republicans wouldn't bump off the Democrats if they could), if he continues along the cowardly Pelosi 'do-nothing' path, then all the hype will have been for nothing, and Obamamania will quickly turn to Baracknophobia. If Obama's going to put black kids in jail for smoking pot while allowing the Bush criminals to go free, then he will deserve the contempt that will arise. Some things can't be ignored. I’ve said so before- Tom Burghardt is one of the finest journalists in existence.

If Obama continues the fiction of ‘bipartisan cooperation’ (as if the Republicans wouldn’t bump off the Democrats if they could), if he continues along the cowardly Pelosi ‘do-nothing’ path, then all the hype will have been for nothing, and Obamamania will quickly turn to Baracknophobia.

If Obama’s going to put black kids in jail for smoking pot while allowing the Bush criminals to go free, then he will deserve the contempt that will arise.

Some things can’t be ignored.

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