Egyptian state media was certainly fueling the expectation that Hosni Mubarak’s resignation was in the offing, but what really sparked attention the world over was that CIA Director Leon Panetta, testifying to Congress, told them that there was a “strong likelihood” the resignation was coming.
His aides quickly started downplaying the comments, saying he was referring strictly to media reports. The CIA director, with untold billions of dollars at his disposal, was relying purely on media rumors?
Whether that was really true or not, Panetta was clearly incorrect in his assessment, and the US-backed Egyptian dictator pledged to hang on to power, sparking fury across his nation and confusion across the US: was the CIA really so clueless?
It seems right now the indication is absolutely yes, that despite massive aid, decades of close ties, and the largest spying infrastructure on the planet, the US intelligence community appears to have no real grasp on the Egyptian situation, and really is just watching TV and hoping the media analysts are right in their predictions.
Trump, Rummy, and Cheney to join Mubarak in Fuhrerbunker.
I think it's time for the CIA (and, for that matter, all the US intelligence services) to order a new Magic 8-Ball so they'll have a better chance at getting it right.
It is inconceivable that the US isn't in private talks with the Egyptian president, and equally unbelievable that they are not giving him advice. If he has decided to stay, then my guess is that this is what the US-Israel wants.
I think it,s time for CIA to keep away from destructive policies to help dictators power.
We know what CIA harmed Pakistan as they appoint their agents and then kill them when they don,t follow their dictations and the game in FATA with 10-20 thousand agents to destroy pakistan army and now war has started in Pakistani ISI and CIA.
Even CIA is behind bombay affairs and is in the interest of america that Indi and pakistan remain as enemy with each other.
Quite right John_Mohammad. If true that they don't know what is happening and need to wait for news reports, then this is terrible. Perhaps we should get a message to our congressmen that the agency clearly needs more resources in order to function properly. Is everyone with me?
LOL!
What more might one expect from that vast multi-billion dollar intellectual wasteland?
Someone should send Panetta a white cane for him to find hiz way back to foggy bottom…….
Who the F**** is Leon Panetta ??? How did he get the top job at CIA…… &&&&& Why…….???
Nice how he kept the Crime Spree by the Bush Cabal all quietuded in warm fuzzy folk-speak………. "psychopathic"
I guess he must be another "fixer" for the "right" people…. Gee, I wonder who that would be..??
Leon Panetta should have "Brain Dead Political Hack tattoed on his forehead" so all of thoze without a scorecard don't mistake him for a person, just another piece of the furnishings………at best..!!! I will be waiting for Ray McGovern's take on this latest "O", CIA fiasco…………….
If you believe CIA is clueless in the Egyptian affair, you probably believe they were clueless about 911. This is the equivalent of testifying "I dont recall". Bull sh$t.
CIA and the endless DC NGO think tanks DESIGNED the Egypt Uprising. Do some research.
Your right terrier, I need to do some homewerk….. I guess the street pedler story was too quaint for serious consideration…!!! So…tell me… Where do "they" plan to find a better lapfrog for IsReal than Hoze-ni…?? Tell me that and I will f'off….an do that werk you were givin me….!!! you Will be happy to hear terrier that I do not subscribe to the off(ici?)al 911 BS..!!
The following is an excerpt published in Ha'aretz today on the subject. I thought it was quite telling:
Israel needs to help the U.S. to stabilize the region
Neither U.S. nor Israeli intelligence predicted the recent events in Egypt. In fact, when the protests began Egypt's chief of staff was in the midst of an official visit to the Pentagon.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/isra…
[…]
One can guess that, in addition to the local gossip – for example, the anticipated attendance of U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at next week's farewell party for the outgoing Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi – the two chiefs were whispering mainly about U.S. President Barack Obama in light of the upheaval in Egypt, and what Barak will say to whom on the "urgent" trip to Washington he invited himself to.As an experienced lip-reader, I assume that in his great modesty he will "explain" to them what the situation is and how to deal with it.
Neither U.S. nor Israeli intelligence predicted the recent events in Egypt. In fact, when the protests began Egypt's chief of staff was in the midst of an official visit to the Pentagon. The Obama administration panicked and without thinking twice called President Hosni Mubarak a dictator who must be removed immediately, without considering who would take over and the implications for the peace with Israel and for the U.S. position in the region.
[…]
Who knows or really cares….what came first… Being chicken or the flying eggs… It seems beyond crazy to tinker with such a smooth runnin toy….and worse than a mistake if true. Equal to waking a herd of sleeping dogs as the old lion staggers toward the trapdoor/exit…. Yes it appears to be the highest of sins, the unforced error, like driving home from the mistresses place drunk…. Sometimes fate steps in ………….or on your toes…
You guys may be wrong. Maybe the Egyptian rising was a panty raid type of "spontaneous politics". Someone set themselves on fire to protest top down Senmace dictated and controlled puppet nation state government in Egypt.
The people in Egypt, just like the people in most of the other nations of the world, may be tired of the elected and appointed officials "taking" for themselves and "governing" in response to the needs and wants of the wealthy and powerful SENMACE and may have decided to do something about it.
Didn't the DI (1776) justify toppling governments that d/n respond to the people?
Are you sure the Egyptian people did not just object to a top down, SENMACE controlled, governance system? Are you sure the Egyptian people did not just want a government that would respond to the bottom up will of their average everyday person majority? What a universal will the people displayed once the panty raid started! What ever it was that inspired their actions, it was universal among the population.
Senmace dictating to the nation states has become a universal world-wide problem faced by the governed humanities around most of the world. SENMACE controlled and influenced governments have used treaties and international conformed laws to turn nation states into corporate work camps and the able bodied into captive workers and the governed populations into markets targeted by global products at the expense of local economies, local competition and local banking. Security imposed by the governments and international agreements has served as a guise to fence the people in.
There is more to life than sweat factories and spending pay check earnings to pay credit cards, avoid foreclosure and to survive, just to return "again" and "again" to work. Maybe the nation states have become the company store instead of servants to the needs and wants of the people? Maybe that is why the CIA with it billions did not see this coming; it was foreseeable, but not observable, until it happened.