Comments on: Dennis Blair: Corporatist Candidate for Director of National Intelligence http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/dennis-blair-corporatist-candidate-for-director-of-national-intelligence/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mike Huntburns http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/dennis-blair-corporatist-candidate-for-director-of-national-intelligence/#comment-34818 Mike Huntburns Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:02:55 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5642#comment-34818 Dennis Blair is a good man who has served his country with distinction. Upon his retirement, he has done well in the defense industry, but it does not detract from his history of national service. As far as contractors in the Intelligence Community, there are a number of reasons that this dynamic exists. From a government perspective, contractors are more expensive short-term, but more expensive long term with benefits and pensions. Second, contractors are easier to fire for unsatifactory performance... I have seen a government employee who defacated in her pants and sat in it until she was sent home for the day. This same government employee is responsible for GROSS security violations and nothing has happened to her because she is a government employee. But I digress... The fact is that while I did not vote for Obama, it is aparent that he is more of a centrist than most people who read this blog are comfortable with. While most of you are not happy with his intelligence community picks, you never will be if he gets someone competent who knows what is going on. I got a news flash for all of you. We are a nation at WAR. While you sit in Starbucks with your cafe latte and laptop, criticizing the way we are fighting it, many of us are risking and sacrificing our LIVES. While it does not mean anything to most of you who know nothing about serving a cause greater than yourself (and no, greenpeace does not count) - it means a lot to the rest of us. We do not ask your gratitude, as your ignorance of any concept of sacrifice would only make it an empty gesture. We do not ask for your silence, as a vigorous debate is required for a strong democracy - however uninformed the loudest debaters may be. We only ask that our service and our sacrifice not be disrespected by questioning our motives. So hug your child and pray that they do not have to make the same sacrifice as the thousands of those whom you despise. Dennis Blair is a good man who has served his country with distinction. Upon his retirement, he has done well in the defense industry, but it does not detract from his history of national service. As far as contractors in the Intelligence Community, there are a number of reasons that this dynamic exists.

From a government perspective, contractors are more expensive short-term, but more expensive long term with benefits and pensions. Second, contractors are easier to fire for unsatifactory performance… I have seen a government employee who defacated in her pants and sat in it until she was sent home for the day. This same government employee is responsible for GROSS security violations and nothing has happened to her because she is a government employee.

But I digress…

The fact is that while I did not vote for Obama, it is aparent that he is more of a centrist than most people who read this blog are comfortable with. While most of you are not happy with his intelligence community picks, you never will be if he gets someone competent who knows what is going on.

I got a news flash for all of you. We are a nation at WAR. While you sit in Starbucks with your cafe latte and laptop, criticizing the way we are fighting it, many of us are risking and sacrificing our LIVES. While it does not mean anything to most of you who know nothing about serving a cause greater than yourself (and no, greenpeace does not count) – it means a lot to the rest of us. We do not ask your gratitude, as your ignorance of any concept of sacrifice would only make it an empty gesture. We do not ask for your silence, as a vigorous debate is required for a strong democracy – however uninformed the loudest debaters may be. We only ask that our service and our sacrifice not be disrespected by questioning our motives. So hug your child and pray that they do not have to make the same sacrifice as the thousands of those whom you despise.

]]> By: Brian http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/dennis-blair-corporatist-candidate-for-director-of-national-intelligence/#comment-34525 Brian Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:54:48 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5642#comment-34525 Other than Solis for Labor has there been any other decent Cabinet picks? Couldn't McCain have picked more than a few of these people? Other than Solis for Labor has there been any other decent Cabinet picks?

Couldn’t McCain have picked more than a few of these people?

]]> By: Red http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/dennis-blair-corporatist-candidate-for-director-of-national-intelligence/#comment-34512 Red Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:46:09 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5642#comment-34512 I don`t know about you but I`m REALLY getting P###ed off with the number of Blairs in high places. I don`t know about you but I`m REALLY getting P###ed off with the number of Blairs in high places.

]]> By: John http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/dennis-blair-corporatist-candidate-for-director-of-national-intelligence/#comment-34511 John Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:29:08 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5642#comment-34511 Blair should be rejected as National Director of Intelligence because of his role in the East Timor crisis of 1999. He undermined the Clinton administration's belated efforts to support human rights and self-determination in the Indonesian-occupied territory and opposed congressional efforts to limit military assistance. In fact, he downplayed human rights concerns and essentially gave a go ahead to the Indonesian military to violate human rights. see <a href="http://etan.org/news/2008/12blair.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a> for more details, or sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/blair01/petition.html Blair should be rejected as National Director of Intelligence because of his role in the East Timor crisis of 1999. He undermined the Clinton administration’s belated efforts to support human rights and self-determination in the Indonesian-occupied territory and opposed congressional efforts to limit military assistance. In fact, he downplayed human rights concerns and essentially gave a go ahead to the Indonesian military to violate human rights. see here for more details, or sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/blair01/petition.html

]]> By: Ron Horn http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/dennis-blair-corporatist-candidate-for-director-of-national-intelligence/#comment-34479 Ron Horn Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:31:32 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5642#comment-34479 Another fine piece of investigative reporting and analysis from Burghardt. The more I learn about the ODNI and with all its incestuous connections in the so-called defense industry, the more I am convinced that it represents the command center overseeing the Empire. It appears to me that it is also in effect the real government of the US with the official government centers of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Executive playing under the rules of the Constitution as mere public relations. It operates in secret without any independent civilian oversight. It is fascism American style. This is a very frightening prospect. The only mitigating factors that I see is that the widespread corruption that infests this fascist network will reduce its effectiveness and that the Empire is going broke. 2009 should be a very interesting year. Another fine piece of investigative reporting and analysis from Burghardt. The more I learn about the ODNI and with all its incestuous connections in the so-called defense industry, the more I am convinced that it represents the command center overseeing the Empire. It appears to me that it is also in effect the real government of the US with the official government centers of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Executive playing under the rules of the Constitution as mere public relations. It operates in secret without any independent civilian oversight. It is fascism American style. This is a very frightening prospect. The only mitigating factors that I see is that the widespread corruption that infests this fascist network will reduce its effectiveness and that the Empire is going broke. 2009 should be a very interesting year.

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