Robert Gates
Things to remember:
Gates was a career analyst.
While Deputy Director under Casey he came under fire for politicizing analysis.
Knee deep in Iran-Contra.
His tenure as CIA Chief was during the revolving door period of the early 90s.
The DO spiraled down the drain during that time period.
Also:
Ever since Robert Gates, as deputy director of intelligence, reorganized the Directorate of Intelligence in the early 1980s, it has been rare for an analyst to spend more than a few years working on one country. Promotions, especially promotions to managerial grades, come more quickly to generalists who have covered several areas. Sitting in six-by-six, usually windowless, cubicles, and confronted daily with demands for short-order “finished” intelligence, analysts rarely have the desire to sacrifice their careers by slowly building the skills that give uncommon insight into foreign countries.
-Shlok
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