Report: CIA Chief Leon Panetta Based Congressional Testimony On Mubarak Departure On ‘Media Broadcasts’

The CIA Director Leon Panetta testifies yesterday using the media for his source but didn't tell members of Congress that was his source which put the CIA.

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon E. Panetta, testified before the House of Representatives on Thursday morning that there was a “strong likelihood” that Mr. Mubarak would step down by the end of the day.

Panetta needs to resign as CIA Director today. He had no intelligence background when he was named and looks he has none today. You cannot hide the fact that his source was the media which the CIA tried to spin after the hearing that everyone 'misunderstood' which is typical of this Administration -- what we hear is not what was said even though it is on video.  Why let a little video tell the real story when you can spin?

You add in Intelligence Chief John Clapper's fairy tale of the Muslim Brotherhood which was also spun after his comments hit the internet, and you have a prescription for an intelligence nightmare where you have two high ranking people testifying who should not be anywhere near any intelligence organization.

What effect did the testimony of Panetta have on what was happening with the protesters in Cairo? Not every day the CIA Director goes public that the President of a Country is stepping down in this case Murbarak when it is not happening. Using the media for a source in testimony should be grounds for removal. Will it happen? Doubt it because Obama would have to choose someone else and don't think he is up to the task. Maybe he can ask Bill Clinton who to pick since he seems to be choosing all new staff for Obama.

Report: CIA Chief Leon Panetta Based Congressional Testimony On Mubarak Departure On ‘Media Broadcasts’by Colby Hall | 10:30 pm, February 10th, 2011

CIA Director Leon Panetta testified to Congress today of a “strong likelihood” that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would step down by the end of the day. The report of his impending resignation was only eclipsed by the news that Mubarak would NOT be stepping down as Panetta had indicated to congress. The worse part isn’t that Panetta was basing his statement on on media reports (and not intelligence.) No, National Intelligence Director James Clapper outdid Panetta with his erroneous claim that the Muslim Brotherhood is a “secular” organization.

Certainly the current upheaval unfolding in Egypt is a fluid situation, best described as a leaderless revolt that has put the State Department, the Pentagon and the CIA all on their heels. As it turns out, the true diplomatic stars so far in this story has been the media, who’s on the field reports have not only created compelling visuals for cable news outlets around the world, but also, strangely, informed the CIA director in his statements to Congress.

According to a report by Mark Landler and Mark Mazzetti for the NY Times (emphasis mine):

Mr. Obama watched Mr. Mubarak’s speech on board Air Force One, returning from a trip to Michigan, the press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said. As soon as he arrived at the White House, Mr. Obama huddled with his national security aides. The administration appeared as taken aback by Mr. Mubarak’s speech as the crowds in Tahrir Square. The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon E. Panetta, testified before the House of Representatives on Thursday morning that there was a “strong likelihood” that Mr. Mubarak would step down by the end of the day.

American officials said Mr. Panetta was basing his statement not on secret intelligence but on media broadcasts, which began circulating before he sat down before the House Intelligence Committee. But a senior administration official said Mr. Obama had also expected that Egypt was on the cusp of dramatic change. Speaking at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, he said, “We are witnessing history unfold,” adding, “America will do everything we can to support an orderly and genuine transition to democracy.”

Wait, what? The head of the CIA was giving information to congress that he was getting from the “teevee”? Hmmm…I could have done that.

Panetta was only outdone by the strange claim that the Muslim Brotherhood is “largely secular.” It is true that that the many media outlets and commentators have mischaracterized the group as a “terrorist” affiliated group when they are among the more moderate factions in Egypt, it’s factually incorrect to claim that they are secular.

According to FoxNews.com:

The term ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ … is an umbrella term for a variety of movements, in the case of Egypt, a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence and has decried Al Qaeda as a perversion of Islam,” Clapper said.

But the DNI later issued a statement to “clarify” that claim.

“To clarify Director Clapper’s point, in Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood makes efforts to work through a political system that has been, under Mubarak’s rule, one that is largely secular in its orientation. He is well aware that the Muslim Brotherhood is not a secular organization,” DNI spokesperson Jamie Smith said.

While the Brotherhood has renounced violence, one of its goals is to pursue the creation of an Islamic state. The CIA’s own website lists the Brotherhood as a “religious-based” party.

 All in all not a proud moment for American intelligence efforts.  Click on the Link to watch Clappers comments, courtesy of Fox News.