NEWS: United Nations U.S. Nominee under Investigation, page 1

Under Secretary John Bolton, the United States nominee for the position of Ambassador for the United Nations is under investigation by Congress after allegations that he once demanded the removal of an Latin America expert intelligence analyst. The analyst who was working for the national Intelligence Council, disputed comments made in a 2002 speech draft by Mr. Bolton on Cubas biological warfare capabilities. Mr Bolton is believed to have visited CIA headquarters to demand the removal which intelligence officials said risked undermining the objectivity of intelligence Judgements.

story.news.yahoo .com
The impartiality of U.S. intelligence judgments remains a highly charged issue because of assertions by some lawmakers that analysts were pressured to produce assessments on Iraq that supported Bush's case for war but turned out to be wrong. Several top-level inquiries have rejected those claims of political pressure.

The inquiry into Bolton's actions was confirmed by U.S. officials who requested anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity and because Bolton's nomination has become enmeshed in fierce partisan lobbying campaigns involving e-mails, telephone calls and television ads.

Otto Reich, former assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, said he went to CIA headquarters in 2002 to hand deliver a letter calling for the replacement of the senior analyst.

A former senior intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, responded: "I think it's highly improper. Having policy differences is one thing. But to tamper with the hiring practices of another agency and the implicit intimidation that

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This action by John Bolton sends a message to intellgience officials and analysts that they would be punished if they did not tell policy makers what they wanted to hear.

The CIA is believed to have rebuffed Bolton the the analyst was promoted, instead of Boltons intended removal of them.

[edit on 8-4-2005 by Mayet]