Mongoose: CIA as Pawn — the Candidates — and the Nominee is…

UPDATE:  Brannan nominated.  We wish him well.  The drone program will be his death unless he wises up quickly and transfers the drone program to the military.  During his tenure CIA will face legal challenges in world courts, direct assassination of not-so-secret CIA case officers operating with impunity, and a president very disappointed that CIA …

Marcus Aurelius: Matt Damon on Politics — Game is Rigged

Leftwing sage…. Matt Damon talks politics Huffington Post, 28 December 2012 Matt Damon is not only one of Hollywood’s best actors, but also a top interviewee. The 42-year-old star rarely censors himself in interviews, offering unfiltered opinion and honesty that belies his standing as an A-list star. In a new chat with Playboy, Damon continues …

Reference: Atlantic Council Envisioning 2030: US Strategy for a Post-Western World

Document:  Envisioning 2030: US Strategy for a Post-Western World (Atlantic Council, 10 December 2030) Executive Summary Agree that we are at a potentially historic transition point.  However, the Atlantic Council lacks the strategic analytic model to make the most of its otherwise formidable brain trust.  Agree on the need for a new mental map, but …

Richard Wright: Secret Intelligence Cloud, Charlie Allen’s Warning, Comment by Robert Steele

This piece quotes Charlie extensively and generally he is supportive of the concept, but noted that it would require strong leadership from the DCI and that a new “business model” for intelligence would be needed.  He warned that: “Specifically, the data connectivity requirements will be huge, Allen said. The intelligence community already has a prodigious …

Chuck Spinney: Reality Reporting from Syria — USG Has No Idea….

Below is an excellent sitrep on the Syrian civil war.  The author, Patrick Cockburn, is one of the very best observers of the Middle East. Chuck Spinney DECEMBER 17, 2012 What is Really Happening in Syria Descent Into Holy War by PATRICK COCKBURN, Counterpunch EXTRACT: Syria today resembles Iraq nine years ago in another disturbing …