The American Spectator

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p> DEFEND YOURSELF br> Re: Jed Babbin's The CIA Disinformation Campaign : /p>

Mr. Babbin, in his usual excellent manner, has posted a wonderful analysis of the situation and synopsis of what needs to be done. His prescription has one perhaps fatal flaw, however. That flaw or obstacle is named George W. Bush. Bush consistently refuses to stand up for himself, his administration, or his appointees when faced with critics on the left and center/left of the political spectrum.

Bush kept George Tenet in place at CIA when he came into office. That was a crucial mistake. Then Bush continued to defend Tenant when conservatives and Republicans aired the various missteps of the CIA under Tenet's watch. Then, when Tenant does go, Bush awards him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Bush appoints Negroponte to be the new national intelligence Czar. That new fiefdom is being populated at the highest levels with dedicated critics of the President, the new reforming CIA, the President's foreign policy, etc. In addition, Porter Goss is no longer responsible for the President's daily intel briefing, Negroponte's shop is.

Bush refuses to issue the orders to the right people to clean up this Wilson/Plame mess. Bush refuses to issue the orders to the right people to clean up the mess that is the Able Danger/911 affair and to protect the officers being thrown overboard to affect the cover-up. Bush refused to issue the orders to prosecute to the fullest Sandy Berger for his attempt to steal and destroy classified government documents.

p>If Bush will not stand up for himself, it is difficult to get others to go out on a limb to protect Bush and his administration. It starts at the top. But hey, Bush is too busy trying to set a new record for aggravating as many on the conservative side of the spectrum as possible. After all the Minutemen are vigilantes, Harriet Miers critics are sexist and elitist, and he doesn't like anyone that criticizes Alberto Gonzales. br> -- Ken Shreve br> New Hampshire /p>

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