The Washignton decoder.

This month: Excerpts from a leaked May 18, 2006, letter from Intelligence Committee Chair Pete Hoeskstra to President Bush.

THE WASHINGTON DECODER

Excerpts from                        Translation
Hoekstra Letter

Dear Mr. President ... First, I am   First, I thought we had a plan
concerned that the nominations       to staff the CIA with rightwing
for Director and Deputy Director     shills. These choices suck.
of the Central Intelligence Agency
signal a retreat from needed
reforms of the Agency ...

... and I think it would be an       And you shafted us.
understatement to say that I am
disappointed that Congress was
never consulted on either of
these choices.

Collaboration is what got us         But you're only shafting yourself.
successful intelligence reform.
Why should we want to eschew such
a process and relationship that
proved so helpful?

[T]here was such hope for progress   Remember? We were so set to shaft
after 9/11 and the successful        the CIA.
passage of the reform bill in
December of 2004.

I have long been concerned that a    Then the CIA shafted us.
strong and well-positioned group
with the Agency intentionally
undermined the Administration and
its policies.

Everyday we suffer from the          Everyday, we suffer from the
consequences of individuals          consequences of individuals other
promoting their personal             than Pete Hoekstra promoting their
agendas.                             personal agendas.

Regrettably, there are other         You're shafting me so many ways I
issues that need to be discussed.    could fill a book. But I'll stop
What I've provided here are the      here, since you don't read
most pressing.                       those anyway.

Thank you for consideration of       Go Cheney yourself.
these items.