For Your Amusement: INTELLIGENCE

Last week our President, The DJT fired Admiral Joe Maguire, his acting Department of National Intelligence director, who he had appointed after firing Dan Coats the previous DNI director three days after the infamous “perfect call” with the newly elected president of Ukraine. The removal came after a House Intelligence committee was briefed by the DNI on Russia’s efforts to influence the 2020 elections. It was reported The DJT unloaded on Maguire when he learned they were told the Russians wanted him re-elected. He didn’t have any problem with the DNI Intelligence that said the Russians were trying to help Bernie Sanders win the Democratic nomination.

But The DJT insists Maguire was relieved of his duties because, “March 11–his time comes up–he ran out of time.” Yes men appearing on the Sunday morning talk shows repeated this mantra. They blamed the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and not politics for his removal. Robert O’Brien, National Security Adviser told ABC This Week that Maguire was being replaced by “a highly qualified person Ambassador Grenell.” He claimed Richard Grenell, who has no Intelligence experience, had been previously confirmed by the senate as Ambassador to Germany. What he failed to point out was that Maguire was confirmed by the senate in 2018 as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

However, the aforementioned Vacancy Act allows an acting director to remain in office until a candidate is confirmed, as long as The DJT appoints someone by March 11. So, all the President needed to do to extend Maguire’s time in office was to name his choice for a permanent director.

Now, it’s time for an Intelligence test:

Is Intelligence important? What if the Intelligence is unfair to The DJT? Does it matter if the Intelligence director has no Intelligence experience? Should a President appoint an Intelligence director who only tells him what he wants to hear? Is it all right for a President to accept the word of a ruthless dictator (i.e. Vladimir Putin) over his or her own Intelligence?

OK, all you Intelligent people, it’s your chance to respond. Answer one of the questions in my Intelligence test, or tell us what you think about any of the issues raised. Don’t worry about leaving your name and email. That’s just Blue Host protecting the integrity of this website. They don’t publish the email address and you can use a pseudonym if you like. Hope to hear from you!