Sticky fingers at the CIA

Porter Goss, who promised to be non-partisan, began his tenure as head of the CIA by appointing four Republicans to top jobs. So much for promises. But who cares about political affiliations, as long as he picks the right person for the job, you say?

Goss Choice Quit CIA In 1982 Under Fire
By Walter Pincus
Sunday, October 3, 2004; Page A09

Michael V. Kostiw, chosen by CIA Director Porter J. Goss to be the agency's new executive director, resigned under pressure from the CIA more than 20 years ago, according to past and current agency officials

While Kostiw, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, longtime lobbyist for ChevronTexaco Corp. and more recently staff director of the terrorism subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has been through the CIA security vetting procedure, final clearance to take the job has not been completed pending review of the allegations. The job is the third-ranking post at the CIA

In late 1981, after he had been a case officer for 10 years, Kostiw was caught shoplifting in Langley, sources said. During a subsequent CIA polygraph test, Kostiw's responses to questions about the incident led agency officials to place him on administrative leave for several weeks, according to four sources who were familiar with the past events but who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information.

Way to go Porter. I feel safer already.

And yes, everyone makes mistakes, but the reason you try not to make mistakes is that they can have serious ramifications for you far down the line. This is one. You steal one lousy package of pantyhose, and you never, ever get to control the budget of the largest intelligence agency in the world. Isn't that the lesson we all teach our children?

And for cripes sake, a longtime lobbyist for ChevronTexaco? Do you have to be in the back pocket of big oil to get a job in this administration? Oh, don't even answer that.