DVD Clearance Alert... New DVDs Added DAILY...
Save as much as 90% - See them all at:
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/14481/c/186/a/3289
------------------------------------------------------------
THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW - May 24, 2010
Obama Asks Director of National Intelligence
Dennis Blair to Resign
by: Jonathan S. Landay
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON ? The nation's top intelligence officer,
Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair,
announced his resignation Friday after months of friction
and repeated duels with White House officials.
The retired Navy admiral gave no reason for his departure
in his public statement, which he circulated to the 16
intelligence agencies that he oversees, nor did he express
thanks to President Barack Obama for the opportunity to
serve under him.
A U.S. official indicated that Obama had asked Blair to
resign, saying that a job search was already well under
way.
The White House has "been interviewing several strong
candidates to be his (Blair's) replacement," said the
U.S. official, who declined to elaborate. The official
requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to
speak publicly.
"Dennis Blair has a remarkable record of service to the
United States, and I am grateful for his leadership as
Director of National Intelligence," Obama said in a
statement Thursday evening. "Over the course of many
decades, Admiral Blair has served with great integrity,
intellect, and commitment to our country and the values
that we hold dear. During his time as DNI, our intelligence
community has performed admirably and effectively at a
time of great challenges to our security, and I have valued
his sense of purpose and patriotism."
Among the possible candidates to succeed Blair are retired
Air Force Gen. James Clapper, the under secretary of
defense for intelligence; former Nebraska senator Chuck
Hagel, a Republican who co-chairs the President's
Intelligence Advisory Board; and Marine Gen. James Cart-
wright, the deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Blair's resignation follows intelligence lapses over the
failed Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner
and the unsuccessful bid to detonate an SUV filled with
explosives and propane in Times Square in Manhattan earlier
this month.
------------------------------------------------------------
Lighted Ear Wax Remover
Remove Ear Wax...Fast, Safe & Easily...
Normal Price: $7.99
OUR PRICE: $1.99
The bright LED light lets you see deep in the ear drum
for easy wax removal. The sleek design comes with 3
interchangeable tips:
- Big spoon tip for adults
- Little spoon tip for children
- Tweezer tip
Tips conveniently store in handle when not in use.
Keeps ear clean and pain free from annoying ear wax.
You can even use as a flashlight when not using with
attachments! Requires (3) LR41 button cell batteries...
And YES they are included.
FEATURES:
- The safest & easy way to clean ears & remove wax
- Ear pick (with clear tip) lights up the ear canal
by running through the transparent ear pick
- Great for removing wax in babies and children
To get more info or place an order, visit:
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/14443/c/120/a/3289
------------------------------------------------------------
The Senate Intelligence Committee issued a report Tuesday
cataloguing 14 intelligence failures that led up to the
attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 alleged-
ly by a 23-year-old al Qaida operative from Nigeria using
plastic explosives hidden in his underwear.
The list included failures inside the intelligence
community to share information that was known about Umar
Farouk Abdulmutallab's links to the al Qaida branch in
Yemen and his extremist views before he boarded the flight
in Amsterdam.
Blair has served as director of national intelligence since
January 2009, and has provided Obama with his morning
intelligence briefing most days of the week. He'll be the
highest official to resign from the administration since
Obama was sworn in.
Blair's office was created in the wake of the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks as part of an effort to coordinate the
operations of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies better.
"It is with deep regret that I informed the President today
that I will step down," Blair said in his statement. "I
have had no greater honor or pleasure than to lead the
remarkably talented and patriotic men and women of the
intelligence community."
Blair began his tenure on a controversial note, drawing
fire from lawmakers for tapping as head of the intelligence
community's top analytical council a veteran U.S. diplomat
who'd made controversial statements about China and Israel
and had ties to foreign governments.
The diplomat, Chas Freeman, withdrew his nomination.
U.S. officials also have cited tensions between Blair
and Obama's top counter-terrorism adviser, John Brennan,
a former senior CIA officer.
------------------------------------------------------------
Handy Trends Upside Down Tomato Planter
World's Easiest Way To Grow Vegetables...
Normal Price: $19.99
CLOSEOUT PRICE: $7.99
The Handy Trends Upside Down Tomato Planter is an ingenious
tomato/vegetable planter turns gardening upside down! Grow
delicious, juicy tomatoes all season long simply by hanging
it on a deck, balcony or patio.
Simply plant a seedling plant in the wire basket, hang,
water, and watch it grow... yep it is that easy.
This efficient growing system yields up to 30 lbs of
tomatoes per plant. As we said... The Tomato Planter can
grow more than just tomatoes... try cucumbers, eggplants,
herbs and more. You'll love how easy it is to have a
garden on your patio. To get more info or order, visit:
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/1084/c/120/a/3289
------------------------------------------------------------
In November, Brennan sided with CIA Director Leon Panetta
in a fight with Blair over the power to appoint the top
U.S. intelligence officers in individual countries. The
CIA director traditionally has named one of his officers
? but Blair sought the power to assign the posts to
officials from other intelligence agencies.
While not defending Blair, who they said spent more
time organizing meetings than he did coordinating the
intelligence community's feuding fiefdoms, two U.S.
intelligence officials asserted that Brennan had "been
on Blair's case" for some time, as one of them put it.
Among other things, they said, Brennan privately criticized
Blair's handing of the failed Christmas Day bombing
attempt.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the chair of the Senate
Intelligence Committee, praised Blair's "long and
distinguished service" but said the country faces "serious
national security developments." She also said that by law,
Blair's deputy, David Gompert, a former State Department
official, would assume his position until a new director
is confirmed.
Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri, the top Republican on the Senate
Intelligence Committee, said he learned of Blair's resign-
ation from the media.
Blair "deserves this nation's thanks for his long service
to our country. It must have been challenging to be forced
on the sidelines by the attorney general, but still catch
all the blame for failings," Bond said.
Bond has been critical of the way Attorney General Eric
Holder has handled the investigation into the Christmas
Day bombing attempt and the recent failed car bomb in
Times Square.
"It has been very obvious that the DNI is not the one who's
running the agencies. (Holder) has, in effect, taken over
the intelligence community, and I don't think that's the
best way to keep America safe," said Bond.
(Margaret Talev and David Goldstein contributed to this
article.)
------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR VIDEO SNACK BAR
Top Viewed Videos...
1. Amos N´ Andy - In the IRS Office
http://c.gophercentral.com/TIfh
2. Preventing High Blood Pressure
http://c.gophercentral.com/pnq7
3. Celebrities: Before and After Make-Up
http://c.gophercentral.com/mV2J
4. Sherlock Holmes - A Clever Disguise
http://c.gophercentral.com/NU7P
5. Unmasked - Original Phantom 1925
http://c.gophercentral.com/jNrH
6. Get ready for some amazing abs
http://c.gophercentral.com/vbNZ
------------------------------------------------------------
ARCHIVES: http://progressivereview.gophercentral.com
Follow Your Favorite GopherCentral Publications on Twitter:
http://www.gophertweets.com/ More Coming Soon!
------------------------------------------------------------