What’s Happening at the CIA Isn’t Intelligence

Re “2 More Top CIA Officials Quit Over New Leadership,” Nov. 16: How exactly does new Director Porter J. Goss make us more secure at home by destroying the CIA at such a crucial time? It takes years and years to groom high-level CIA officers, and now, in a matter of a few weeks, three major directors have resigned -- not over policy differences but in protest over an abuse of power. This is the height of amateurish incompetence.

Who on Earth would bring over four arrogant, abrasive and ignorant congressional staffers and put them in charge of some of the most sophisticated, highly trained and brightest professionals in the U.S. government?

Goss has lost all credibility to lead the CIA. He is a disgrace to the Bush administration and is putting me and all Americans at greater security risk.

Christine Speed

Newport Beach

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President Bush’s choice to lead the war on terror, Porter Goss, has already made us less safe. He replaced several senior CIA officials with his own people, whose arrogance toward the intelligence staff caused others to quit in protest.

Among those who left were the leaders of the “clandestine service,” men whose field experience in covert operations is considered unparalleled. Goss had no intention of firing them -- they reportedly left because their opinions and those of their colleagues were summarily dismissed.

Bush’s team had a similar attitude to what the experts of the outgoing Clinton administration told them about global priorities in fighting terrorism. Once again, our leadership has made us less secure by alienating those who would help us.

John Wolfenden

Sherman Oaks

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If, as Goss says, the role of the CIA is to “support the administration and its policies” (Nov. 18), why have a CIA at all? Let’s just disband the agency and spend the money on something productive like healthcare.

Constance Pencall

Whittier