Analysts Behind Iraq Intelligence Were Rewarded

"Two Army analysts whose work has been cited as part of a key intelligence failure on Iraq -- the claim that aluminum tubes sought by the Baghdad government were most likely meant for a nuclear weapons program rather than for rockets -- have received job performance awards in each of the past three years, officials said."

Ok what is it about this administration at all levels that makes them reward incompetence, or more exactly to reward loyalty even over incompetence?

"The problem, according to the commission, which cited the two analysts' work, is that they did not seek or obtain information available from the Energy Department and elsewhere showing that the tubes were indeed the type used for years as rocket-motor cases by Iraq's military. The panel said the finding represented a 'serious lapse in analytic tradecraft' because the center's personnel 'could and should have conducted a more exhaustive examination of the question.'"

Ok so the commission that investigated these intelligence failures are basically saying that this was some serious lapse in judgment. So what does the Pentagon have to say about these awards that these two analysts received?

"In a written statement, the Pentagon, speaking for the NGIC, confirmed that Norris and Campos had received awards, and it said that they were based 'on their overall annual performance -- not on a single contribution -- and supervisors were encouraged to reward individuals on the basis of their annual contributions.' The awards were given as part of a government-wide incentive program to recognize high-performing employees with cash or time off. An internal NGIC newsletter listed Norris and Campos as among those who received performance awards, lump-sum cash payments, in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004."

Um. You have got to be kidding me. Saying that these were awards for performance over an entire year, in one year where these analysts had serious lapses of judgment and performance, is just plain stupid. It is like awarding a police officer who was found guilty of serious negligence in a shooting death, with a performance award for the year. It just doesn't make sense. Hold the award for some other year, for god's sakes!

But really it just goes with the overall attitude in this administration that loyalty trumps everything else. Paul Wolfowitz, John Bolton, Condi Rice, and on and on! Its wrong and it is costing this country dearly. I just hope it doesn't cost us more than we can afford. This is the single most destructive administrations that this fine country has ever had.

GN