Former FBI, CIA Dir Cautions Against Patel and Gabbard

Sunday, December 29, 2024

The only man to lead both the FBI and CIA spoke out against Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, two of President-elect Trump's top intelligence picks, saying both positions require "complete independence from political influence."

Posted by Corky at 07:31 PM | 30 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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William Webster, who led the agencies under both Democratic and Republican presidents, made the comment in a letter to senators, saying he was "deeply concerned" about both picks.

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"While Mr. Patel's intelligence and patriotism are commendable, his close political alignment with President Trump raises serious concerns about impartiality and integrity.

Statements such as He's my intel guy' and his record of executing the president's directives suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of law"a dangerous precedent for an agency tasked with impartial enforcement of justice," Webster wrote."

;

"Gabbard, meanwhile, has come under fire for parroting Russian narratives about the country's invasion of Ukraine and also visited now-deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad as he was facing accusations of using chemical weapons against his own people.

"Congresswoman Gabbard's profound lack of intelligence experience and the daunting task of overseeing 18 disparate intelligence agencies further highlight the need for seasoned leadership," Webster wrote."

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2024-12-27 07:31 PM | Reply

... "complete independence from political influence." ...

Well, yeah.

But succumbing to political influence (a.k.a. adulation of Pres-elect Trump) seems to be the reason Pres-elect Trump has chosen those candidates.

Will the Senate evaluate their qualifications for the position, or will the Senate just take a pass, and obey Pres-elect Trump?

Time will tell.

January will be interesting.

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-12-27 08:32 PM | Reply

Industry - State of the Nation (1983)
drudge.com

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-12-27 08:34 PM | Reply

@#3

Oops, wrong link in the copy 'n' paste buffer.

Here's the correct one ...

www.youtube.com

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-12-27 08:38 PM | Reply

"51 former intelligence agents claim the laptop story has all of the halmarks of Russian disinformation"

(Paraphrased)

#5 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-12-28 05:09 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

With Trump, make the shade of Rudolf Abel DNI, what's the difference? It's all for sale anyway.

#6 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2024-12-29 06:24 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"51 former intelligence agents claim the laptop story has all of the halmarks of Russian disinformation"

(Paraphrased)

#5 | Posted by BellRinger

ahhaha

well played.

makes no difference if this guy worked for dem or gop....

TDS has no political party...

#7 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2024-12-29 03:28 PM | Reply

Listen to the dumfux who voted for the------------- after he disappeared the Russia binder. Lol

www.reuters.com

#8 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2024-12-29 03:31 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

laptop story
#5 | POSTED BY BULLBRINGER

You're one of the people Elon Musk considers a ------.

#9 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-12-29 03:50 PM | Reply

Apparently once one supports Trump's New Fascist World Order... there's no coming back to being a patriotic American who detests adjudicated insurrectionists.

"Trump was disqualified for insurrection in the only three states that heard evidence"

www.citizensforethics.org

#10 | Posted by Corky at 2024-12-29 03:56 PM | Reply

"51 former intelligence agents claim the laptop story has all of the halmarks of Russian disinformation"

Gee ... no provenance, other than Russian hands, about the son of a candidate, right before an election, and hawked by a known political operative who had been to Russia, and admitted he wanted the story published before the hard drive inspected.

"Has all the hallmarks" is accurate.

And that's why Fox, Newsmax, and OANN all passed on the story, and why the byline in the NY Post was a surprise to the "author" when she read her name.

#11 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-12-29 04:25 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 5

They can "caution" all they want, but you ------- are done making the rules.

#12 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2024-12-29 08:00 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

@#5 ... "51 former intelligence agents claim the laptop story has all of the halmarks of Russian disinformation" ...

What does your current alias have to say about the provenance of evidence for that laptop?

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-12-29 08:19 PM | Reply

@#12 ... They can "caution" all they want, but you ------- are done making the rules. ...

So, you seem to admit that the rule of law will no longer apply under the next administration?

#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-12-29 08:21 PM | Reply

"51 former intelligence agents claim the laptop story has all of the halmarks of Russian disinformation"

(Paraphrased)

#5 | Posted by BellRinger

After all these years, you still haven't bothered to read the two page letter...

#15 | Posted by jpw at 2024-12-30 01:11 AM | Reply

Listen to the dumfux who voted for the------------- after he disappeared the Russia binder. Lol

www.reuters.com

#8 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2024-12-29 03:31 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)
| Newsworthy 1

Maybe the binder was with the Jan 6 committee's files that they destroyed.

#16 | Posted by fishpaw at 2024-12-30 10:54 AM | Reply

Maybe the binder was with the Jan 6 committee's files that they destroyed.

POSTED BY FISHPAW

Or maybe it is with the 22 million emails GW Bush "lost"?

But it's most likely still lost somewhere under Dotards copious fat arse.

#17 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-12-30 11:59 AM | Reply

"the Jan 6 committee's files that they destroyed."

Nothing was destroyed; it's all online.

What "news" outlet is lying to you?

#18 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-12-30 12:09 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" After all these years, you still haven't bothered to read the two page letter..."

Haven't you noticed? That's Bellringer's M.O.

He only learns enough for his talking points. For example, he didn't watch the J6 hearings because he said they were too "partisan".

Meanwhile, anyone who actually watched, noticed all but two of the folks who testified were longtime Republicans.

Bell ringer is either pretending to be stupid, or isn't pretending.

#19 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-12-30 12:49 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

51 said laptop was russian blah blah.....
oh but THIS TIME....they're not LYING !!..
you people are nuts / certifiably...

--"We know the "51 former intelligence officers" letter was suggested by now-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was at the time working for the Biden campaign."

--and the next line of BS is Musk is a 'security risk"....( ny times op ed.)]

when will you dopes get it...WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU OR YOUR TAINTED BIASED DISHONEST SOURCES ANY MORE !

#20 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2024-12-31 08:06 AM | Reply

"The playbook is boringly predictable

We should all get set for a sex scandal' involving Musk at some point, sooner than later .. it'll likely follow an unnamed female who alleges meeting him 20yrs ago .. she'll swear there were drugs involved, and maybe even some racial slurs"

--Clamhead on X.

#21 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2024-12-31 08:07 AM | Reply

oh yeah.....and every word written, read, repeated here and elsewhere about biden's mental state

was a lie.....calculated / intentional and premeditated lie.

Oh.. but I'm sure these people are telling the truth.....**

**( translation available for the sarcasm impaired )

#22 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2024-12-31 08:58 AM | Reply

We should all get set for a sex scandal' involving Musk at some point, sooner than later ..

#21 | Posted by shrimptacodan

I wouldn't doubt it. Sex scandals and money scandals.

You can't tell me such things matter to you people.

You give permission to the aristocracy for such things.

#23 | Posted by Zed at 2024-12-31 09:00 AM | Reply

oh yeah.....and every word written, read, repeated here and elsewhere about biden's mental state

was a lie.....calculated / intentional and premeditated lie.

#22 | Posted by shrimptacodan

Jeez.

Biden's smarter than Donald, or you for that matter.

But, once again, you people complaining about lies.....That's rich.

#24 | Posted by Zed at 2024-12-31 09:01 AM | Reply

#21 | Posted by shrimptacodan

Nothing you say matters because anything you people say of others you do ten times worse.

Just accept that you're a bunch of evil f---s and let's get on with it.

#25 | Posted by Zed at 2024-12-31 09:03 AM | Reply

WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU OR YOUR TAINTED BIASED DISHONEST SOURCES ANY MORE !

#20 | Posted by shrimptacodan a

Then why come here?

Seriously.

You haven't grasped that sane people suffer from your beliefs. Damn, man. You people are a bunch of flat-earthers. You think and do as you please no matter how damn stupid it is. Being stupid, being a mark, is a requirement of your "movement".

#26 | Posted by Zed at 2024-12-31 09:07 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

We should all get set for a sex scandal' involving Musk at some point, sooner than later ..

#21 | Posted by shrimptacodan

He already had one, exposed himself to a flight attendant.

#27 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2024-12-31 09:14 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

They can "caution" all they want, but you ------- are done making the rules.

#12 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTHRDS

You maggats and Trumpy don't "make the rules" either.

The rules have already been made. They are in a little document called the US Constitution.

Good luck changing it.

#28 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-12-31 01:36 PM | Reply

As Trump already proved once before, competence is not a requirement.

#29 | Posted by moder8 at 2024-12-31 01:56 PM | Reply

WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU

#20 | Posted by shrimptacodan

And this is the problem. You haven't believed legitimate sources about anything in almost 10 years (probably way more). At this point the cult has you so brainwashed that I'm certain there's no return. I've never plonked anyone before. But you're such a ridiculous character that perhaps it's time...

#30 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2024-12-31 05:16 PM | Reply