Let’s discuss security clearances and Mr. John Brennan, former CIA Director, being “stripped” of his.Quite frankly I was surprised he still had an active clearance once he stepped down as CIA Director. Security clearances are all based on “need to know” and closely controlled. During World War II, Vice President of the United States Harry Truman did not have access to or knowledge of the Manhattan Project, the effort to build “the bomb.” The knowledge was Top Secret Codeword, and he did not have a need to know. Only after becoming President of the United States was he read in on the information.
Like Mr. Brennan or not, his calling the President a traitor and calling for his removal from office by “any means” is without a doubt immediate grounds for his security clearance to be removed. Mr. Brennan is a man with a following in the clandestine community, and his openly calling for the removal of the President is unquestionably grounds for his clearance to be removed.
Mr. Brennan is a pundit, a talking head, a journalist; he is no longer a government official, so why in the name of national security did he have a clearance after leaving office? Be damned if I know. The argument could be made that his knowledge gained in years of service is needed; the question to ask is, would you take advice from a man who calls for your imprisonment, removal or worse?
The good folks on the left will wax eloquently about how much they hate the President. OK, fine, but what that has to do with pulling Mr. Brennan’s clearance is beyond me. The charge is that Mr. Brennan, a millionaire, is being denied the ability to make a living; every hour of every day good Americans lose security clearances when they depart the military or federal service. I must have missed the liberal’s outrage for the average American, not a rich pundit?
Mr. Brennan is quoted as saying: “When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe but will not destroy America… America will triumph over you.”
Ah, really; the CIA and NSA are America and an elected President is not? Now that is concerning.
Mr. Brennan set the security clearance revocation process in action when he became a paid, exceptionally well-paid member of the on-air media. His estimated net worth is between 2.3 and 33 million dollars, depending on who is counting. The left using the lower figure the right the higher. As a capitalist, I feel wealth is a good thing; however, he is not a champion of the poor and downtrodden, but a man getting richer every time he attacks the President.
Mr. Brennan is an angry old man full of hate. Folks will argue that he has reasons to hate the President; he may indeed, but a person with that level of plain old fashioned hatred should not be allowed to have a Top Secret Codeword clearance. A person who refers to himself as a leader of our shadowy, clandestine, black operations community while calling for the overthrow of our lawfully elected government should not have Top Secret access.Mr. Brennan wrote, “Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high crimes & misdemeanors.’ It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you?”
A call to arms? Had this quote been made by anyone against President Obama, want to bet on having their security clearance being pulled and the media calling for their heads on a platter?
The security clearances/classifications Ranger Rick, Mr. Basura and I had, along with every military veteran, were revoked the day we departed service and should have been. No one should be surprised Mr. Brennan lost his.
I found dozens of media stories that maintained that the President should not be able to remove “a senior intelligence agency official” or deny them the “right to a security clearance.”
If that does not scare the crap out of you it should. The Deep State, answerable to no one –is that what they truly want?
In an interesting coincidence, we were just talking about security clearances last night. We had visitors from Western New York. He works in a very secret industry – I don’t know much about what he does (he can’t even tell his wife) and carries some very high level security clearance. He was bemoaning, just a little, the amount of paperwork he had to complete to come to Grand Rapids by the best route. There was also a brief interview. The best way is to cross the bridge at Buffalo, NY, drive through Ontario, and then recross into Michigan at Sarnia/ Port Huron. He was, after all, proposing entering a foreign country. Which they often when their son attend university in MI. The young man graduated as a chemical engineer and accepted a job with a big company. He’s headed to Korea for three weeks tomorrow, but the plan will be for him to spend two year assignment in China within the next couple of years. He’d like to go with his wife to visit their young son. He wonders how much he’ll need to do for that trip (if it even will be apprrved).
I think the problem with yanking Brennan’s clearance, while people like Jared and Ivanka retain theirs (&Flynn?) is that it appears to be just another pouty Trump move because he feels pick on. Brennan has been harshly critical, beyond a doubt, and although Donald can dish it out, he does appear to be surprisingly thin-skinned.
Brennen is avowed Communist, like most Obama appointees. He never should have a job in government.
Mr. Basura,
Sir,
Please read your comment, your friend must jump over hurdles to go into Canada. Mr. Brennan keeps his when he calls for the physical demise of the President? A CIA Director or former Director who advocates directly or indirectly for the over though of the American Government is a dangerous person.
LTG. Flynn has no security clearance.
Mr. Brennan should scare the crap out of anyone who supports the Constitutional process, left or right.
Thanks for the comment.
I thought you guys believed in freedom. What happened to that? I don’t agree with everything Brennan has said, but he’s an American and has constitutional the right to freedom of expression. I don’t know if he should have a security clearance, but perhaps it shouldn’t be jerked because he says controversial things. Surely you’re OK with controversial comments, right?
What a bunch of Trumpy bears! Wake up.
Its hard understand why the same people who remained silent as President Trump’s special advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was allowed to read daily presidential security briefings for well over a year while he got three do-over opportunities to fill out his SF86 are so worked up by Mr. Brennan’s remarks.
In that time Mr. Kushner also was traveling to Saudi Arabia and Israel. On those official visits, he met with individuals who also have connections with financial institutions that have provided capital for Mr. Kushner’s real estate portfolio. All while he had regular access to the briefings that are supposed to be read only by those with the highest security clearances.
Where was the same outrage last year? The author has stated he had a high level security clearance and that it was needed because he was in charge of nuclear weapons security and inventory. In my USN experience, the sailors I knew who needed security clearances didn’t get three shots at filling out their application and according to my commanding officers, “One Aw Crap and they go on to the next enlisted candidate who can do the job and pass the security clearance.”
We now have a president who requires all his aides and people he selects to work for him in the White House, including those being paid by federal funds and even those who volunteer for his campaign, to sign a wide-ranging 2,271-word non-disclosure agreement promising not to say anything disparaging about Trump, his family, or any related company, “and to prevent [their] employees from doing so.” The non-disparagement clause covers the duration of the volunteers’ service “and all times thereafter.”
Think about that, the President is so concerned about what someone may say he makes even volunteers agree to open themselves up to lawsuits if you say bad things — forever.
In Donald Trump’s world we only have freedom of speech if we agree with Donald Trump.
And so it goes…
Mr. Couchman
Sir,
Per the Government accountability office:
“GAO found that 48 federal agencies reported that: (1) government and contractor employees signed about 144,000 and 98,000 nondisclosure agreements, respectively, between October 1, 1989, and March 31, 1990” was President Trump the President then?
Google non-disclosure agreements and you would think President Trump invented the concept of the NDA, not so but the media will leave you with the belief he did. Fake news well if not fake highly manipulated news. And yes President Obama did require NDAs.
Jared is special. Ivanka, too. Well said, Mr. C.
Mr. Couchman,
Thank you for your service.
Your words: “The author has stated he had a high-level security clearance and that it was needed because he was in charge of nuclear weapons security and inventory”. Never said it, never maintained I inventoried nukes nor said I was “in charge of nuke security”. I did work in that area as a Military Police Officer.
The Top-Secret Special Background clearance was for working in the Army CID (you sailors called it NCIS).
The Standard Form 86 is well known for being returned for further information even if properly filled out.
The President of the United States can grant an interim clearance to anyone he wishes.
The column was about Mr. Brennan by the way.
Isn’t America great? People like myself can address big picture issues and don’t have to take orders on what specifically has to be addressed.
I wrote about Jared Kushner’s lack of security clearance because you and others seem to have your collective shorts in a knot about Mr. Brennan not being worthy of keeping his security clearance, but never voiced an issue with Mr. Kushner reading the daily Presidential security briefings without a clearance.
Until January 2017, former ranking personnel of the NSA, CIA, FBI, Secret Service and retired military O-6 and above who had worked in the intelligence community kept their security clearances. That has been done so if a matter occurred where current members of an administration wanted to consult with a former CIA Director, Secretary of State an Admiral or General who had experience with dealing with a particular country or technology being used against our country time wouldn’t be lost having to recertify security clearances. It does not mean that Mr. Brennan had on demand, automatic access to classified information, though that’s what President Trump, Sean Hannity and the Fox & Friends morning crew would like the American public to believe.
Mr. Brennan was outspoken with his criticism of President Trump regarding his conduct and words at the press conference while standing next to Putin. Brennan’s remarks offended President Trump and offended Trump supporters. I agree with Mr. Brennan on all points and think there are major issues with this President because he refused to allow notes or recordings for transcripts to be taken at his meeting with President Putin. Subsequently President Trump has refused to allow the U.S. translator to be interviewed by the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated under oath he doesn’t know what was said. What did President Trump say or what did President Putin say that couldn’t be shared with his Secretary of State and the others with security clearances and recorded so others could use it as reference at a later date?
To date, President Trump has shown himself to be a petty, vindictive leader who threatens our allies and belittles many U.S. citizens who have dedicated their careers to serving our country. After taking away Mr. Brennan’s security credentials, President Trump went on record threatening the clearances of nearly a dozen other people who have served in other administrations, including Robert Gates.
As a reminder, Robert Gates was Presidents Reagan and Bush 41’s Deputy Director of the CIA Bush 41’s Deputy National Security Advisor, Bush 41’s Director of the CIA, Presidents Bush 43 and Obama Secretary of Defense. Yet because he stated disparaging words regarding President Trump’s actions regarding North Korea and Russia, the status of his security clearance was threatened.
A rock song released 15 years ago has the line “Paranoia will destroy ya”. Given this President’s pettiness and continually finding new bogeymen that began tweeting about “Fake News” in December 2016 to last week claiming Google is out to get him and conservatives. I believe President Trump’s paranoia might destroy our free press and free speech.
And so it goes
Mr. Couchman,
Sir,
One more time you wrote “The author has stated he had a high-level security clearance and that it was needed because he was in charge of nuclear weapons security and inventory”. Never stated it, your answer is a smoke screen to the made-up stories you write. Please address your false statement and made up words you can dance around them by stating “Isn’t America great? People like myself can address big picture issues and don’t have to take orders on what specifically has to be addressed”. Please address your untruthful incorrect made up statement.
You sir are worse than the people you accuse of being untruthful. Stolen valor is a very serious charge you are placing me a position I never held is just wrong, and an old-fashioned prevarication. Have the intestinal fortitude to explain your words.
I make no apologies or back down from my opinions regarding President Donald Trump’s pettiness and what former President Jimmy Carter described as his “Carelessness with the truth.”
You regularly write opinions that seem to mirror Fox News. Does Trump Derangement Syndrome ring a bell?
Army Bob, when you wrote about your security clearance, you implied it was a high level security clearance. I took that to mean it was one of a level. You imply John Brennan is somehow less than American and a threat, so President Trump was justified in his action.
Finally, regarding saying I used prevarication in my response, I disagree and believe the word you used was an attempt to belittle people with whom one disagrees.
It comes down to a major difference in how the U.S. treats its intelligence community. Post-WW2 people like Mr. Brennan, along with the dozen or so others on the list who still have their security clearances and others have been treated as individuals whose expertise was considered a resource for national security.
In the era of the Trump Presidency, our intensely secretive President wants to surround himself who those who only agree with him. Based on my reading of multiple opinion pieces you authored, I have come to the conclusion you think we need to follow a president who says he knows the truth despite facts that refute it, tweets/says major media is “Fake News,” NBC “fudged” a video interview and Google isn’t fair.
I fully support your right to believe and state what kind of American leadership you support and promote when writing your opinions.
And so it goes.
Mr. Couchman,
Sir,
One more time you wrote “The author has stated he had a high-level security clearance and that it was needed because he was in charge of nuclear weapons security and inventory.” I never stated it, your answer is a smokescreen to the made-up stories you write.
Please address your false statement and made-up words. You can dance around them by stating, “Isn’t America great? People like me can address big picture issues and don’t have to take orders on what specifically has to be addressed.”
Please address your untruthful, incorrect made-up statement.
You attack the President and FOX News, fine go right on, what it has to do with your lie no one knows. For God’s sake man stand up and answer for your words, stop the smokescreen, stop telling one lie to cover the last and show some backbone.
I never stated I was in charge of nuclear weapons security and inventory. Why did you lie and why do you then try to cover the lie with attacks on the President? You condemn him for lying in the same comment you lie in.
This is not about President Trump or FOX News, it is about you saying, “I was in charge of nuclear weapons security and inventory” Stop making this about the President and tell us why you lied about me.
Robert M. Traxler
Mr. Couchman,
Sir,
What’s wrong, you who never were at a loss for words before, can’t explain your lie? It is an easy thing to do just say why you made up a story concerning my military service.
Army Bob, I wasn’t aware of your response until this evening Wednesday because I haven’t been on the Townbroadcast.com site.
I took your comments about your security clearance and your time in U.S. Army security as a statement of your clearance being top secret and involved protection of highly classified documents and locations of our country’s nuclear arsenal.
You obviously are very angry because I took your remarks about your military service to include duties you didn’t have. You have my apology for misrepresenting your duties in the U.S. Army due to my misinterpretation of your security clearance and duties when you were on active duty.
Hopefully, this public apology clears the air regarding my misrepresenting your security clearance and your assigned duties as a member of the US Army.
Yes it does, thank you Mr. Couchman.
As you are a Navy combat veteran I honor your service, thank you and as a historian I am interested in what ship, team, aircraft or Marine unit (Corpsman) you served in, the history will be interesting to study.
Thank you once again for your honorable and heroic service.