I have no idea what the facts are about the FBI investigation that led to the Petraeus resignation. I also do not know the details behind the investigation of the Benghazi Attack. However, I had the experience of investigation an extremely political issue just prior to a Presidential election. I was asked by CIA Director George Tenet to run the investigation of Iraq WMD in 2004–an election year. Among the earliest decisions I took were two that I feel to this day were critical. One, that I would have an detailed and completely declassified report. The Intelligence Community was attacked on all sides for everything and I did not want the public to thing there was hidden data or assessments lurking in any secret annex. It was a tough thing to get done in the bureaucracy, but I got the entire report and supporting data declassified and published. I would note that the White House supported this decision.<\/p>\n
The second early decision I made was that I would complete the investigation and issue a comprehensive report the total picture of Iraq’s WMD–past, present, and future–before the election<\/em>. I made this clear to the White House from the start. Our team was expending a lot of resources and, indeed, lives, to gather the data. It was a critical issue that had been at the heart of wars in the region on multiple ocassions. I did not want the report to be vulnerable to criticised for being in any way a political document–and it would have if I had let the work slide until after the election in November 2004. Here, again, the White House at the most senior levels, did not dispute my approach. I am convinced to this day that these decisions were the best for all concerned–whether they were politicians or not.<\/p>\n The track record evident to the public so far in both the FBI\/Petraeus case and the Benghazi case look like incrementally bad decisions. It certainly appears that either explicit or implicit concerns about getting past the election played a role. It does not appear that anyone determined that they needed to conclude or report anything–even in a status report–before the election. Truth and credibility are in short short supply in Washington–particularly around elections. It is a shame to see intelligence and law enforcement arms of the government look increasingly political–even if they have explanations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have no idea what the facts are about the FBI investigation that led to the Petraeus resignation. I also do not know the details behind the investigation of the Benghazi Attack. However, I had the experience of investigation an … Continue reading