In April 1951 President Harry Truman flew from Washington to Wake Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where he personally fired General Douglas MacArthur. The actual dismissal came a bit later, but Harry Truman gave hell to Douglas MacArthur and suggested he start packing. With that act President Truman gave birth to a new presidential reality: If you work for the President of the United States and the President makes a special trip just to come see you - chances are - you are in BIG trouble.
That's what happened to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Monday, 58-years after Truman's trip to Wake Island. The President went to CIA headquarters at Langely, Virginia, where everyone was called into an auditorium. It was a brief and pointed message.
In the wake of recent grumbling and complaints from CIA staffers that the President released too much information to the public about CIA torture practices under the criminal Bush - Cheney administration, the President decided to look the staffers in the eye and set things straight.
President Obama stated his case clearly: "Now, I have put an end to the interrogation techniques described in those OLC memos, and I want to be very clear and very blunt. I've done so for a simple reason: because I believe that our nation is stronger and more secure when we deploy the full measure of both our power and the power of our values – including the rule of law. I know I can count on you to do exactly that."
The President's visit to Langley was both a pep talk and a warning. It was a pep talk in that the President encouraged the CIA staffers to work within the Constitution, within the law and within his directives. The warning was unspoken, but it is reasonable to assume that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who is widely regarded to be as tough as a pit bull if crossed, will be the enforcer. Some of the colorful terms used to describe Emanuel when he was in the Congress are "attack dog", "warrior" and "political gangster".
While those terms are exaggerated, they do represent a basic truth: Rahm Emanuel can function very effectively as the President's hatchet man if needed.
The clock is now ticking. The CIA has been warned by a personal visit from the President. It was cordial and included a brief pep talk, but despite the frill, the visit was a disciplinary address from the boss. If anyone at Langely failed to get the message, Rahm Emanuel is waiting in the wings to decapitate the offenders.
And yes, make absolutely no mistake about it, if staffers continue to disregard, oppose and resist the directives of the President, Rahm Emnauel will make sure the offending CIA heads roll.
Over the past 8 years years the CIA has been given a free hand by a lawless administration to disregard both international law and disregard the Constitution of the United States. Those days are over and if CIA employees don't get the message, their careers may be over as well.
Also read: The U. S. Constitution, not the U. S. Bible
Watch the President's address at Langely. Just turn-up the sound and push the play button:
For more information go to the White House website. Remember, the White House website is http://www.whitehouse.gov/. It does not end with .org, .com or dot anything else. It is a .gov website.
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