From Scripps Howard by Dan K. Thomasson:
Those who consider Rep. Porter Goss too "old school" to run the CIA are missing the point entirely. What the agency has needed for some time is a more old-fashioned approach to spying when cloak-and-dagger meant just that and not an exercise in technological analysis.
It is true the Florida Republican's extensive experience dates back to the days when the Cold War was waged primarily by the "company's" elite covert-operations division. He has conceded that his personal skills as an agent in clandestine services are probably not suited for today's intelligence-gathering needs. A working knowledge of Eastern languages, for instance, isn't terribly useful in dealing with Middle Eastern Muslim cultures.
What he does bring to the post, however, is an understanding that intelligence gathering can't be limited to spy satellites and electronic interceptions of bits and pieces of conversation. As perhaps never before, it requires a human infiltration and understanding of the families that produce the radicals bent on wreaking havoc on world democracies. To be successful in the struggle against terrorism, "in-country" teams and networks that always have been the stuff of CIA legend must be re-created and refitted to deal with fanatics fed on theocratic fundamentalism.
Matt's Chat
That is exactly what we need. Can a politican, even one who was a spy, achieve this in today's climate? I am not so sure. I hope so.
There is speculation that the Goss appointment to CIA is really a trial balloon to see if the Senate would consider him for National Intelligence Director. I'm really not sure about that.
Mark's Remarks
This Goss thing is very interesting. I must say that while I agree with the author's premise, that we need real cloak and dagger as opposed to intel from 100,000 feet in space; I am not sure if someone like Goss is the one to do it. Some of the proposals I have heard he is floating are very controversial, and I am not sure that his approach may be right. I don't know, but I do agree that old school is exactly what we need. Technology is great, but it cannot read people, it cannot see everything or hear intent or things like that; there is no replacing hard intel from the field. Just ask the Allies during WWII.
