George W. Bush has ended his search for a director of national intelligence. He has nominated John D. Negroponte, the current "ambassador" to the puppet regime in Iraq. It's a strange choice, unless you understand how George W. Bush chooses his friends.The choice is strange because "Ambassador" Negroponte's recent record is one of repeated failure. While a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, he used false intelligence reports and phony claims in a failed attempt to rally support for our invasion of Iraq. After that invasion he went to Iraq, where he failed to quell the so-called "insurgency" against the American occupation - and also failed to find any of the resistance forces' leaders. And now, as a reward for his repeated failures, he has been named to head America's intelligence community.
Why?
In choosing top advisors, George W. Bush values loyalty above everything else, even competence. He would rather have someone tell him what he wants to hear than tell him the truth. He would rather his people obsequiously followed his directions, no matter how misguided, than commit the unforgivable political crime of behaving independently.
Paul O'Neill and Richard Clarke learned first hand just how vindictive George W. Bush and his friends can be when you break ranks. John D. Negroponte has shown repeatedly that he'll never be in that hot seat. He was forced to accept virtual exile for years after tangling with Henry Kissinger, and he has learned his lesson well. So don't expect him to write any books soon.
Mr. Negroponte wasn't George W. Bush's first choice for the job. But it stands to reason that those chosen above him weren't willing to accept the subservient posture that working for George W. Bush requires. They would rather have done their job than kowtow to the dogma of the far right wing. So the appointment went to the man who has proven time after time that he can put aside his own views - if he even has any views of his own - and serve the master.
George W. Bush's final choice means that we'll get an intelligence director who doesn't direct. Instead, he'll be the consummate team player. It is, at the very least, unfortunate, and quite probably dangerous. The national intelligence director will have to coordinate information coming from several disparate sources and paint a picture for the President in order to warn him of impending attack. This is, for all practical purposes, the same thing the National Security Advisor was supposed to do in 2001.
Condoleezza Rice failed in her job, but she remained loyal to the boss, and now she's the Secretary of State. All signs point to Mr. Negroponte following the same formula. It's a formula that begins with absolute loyalty, and could end in disaster.
Perhaps George W. Bush needs a few more fair weather friends.
Copyright 2005, Dan Jacoby
For a PDF version of this document, click here.
To contact Dan Jacoby, click here.
Return to the Main Menu