Dennis Blair’s Resignation: What Really Matters

Jena McNeill / May 25, 2010

On Friday, May 21, 2010, Admiral Dennis Blair (ret.), the Director of National Intelligence resigned. What really matters in his resignation, however, is not Dennis Blair but the Obama Administration’s chaotic counterterrorism strategy—one that is proving incapable of effectively preventing acts of terrorism against Americans.

President Obama has made it clear to the American public that he has changed course on counterterrorism matters. Terrorism is now viewed largely as a matter for law enforcement, not an actual war on terrorism. His actions demonstrate this new strategy. For example, he would use his first day in office as President to issue an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility within one year and another order limiting what interrogation techniques the Central Intelligence Agency may use to obtain information from terrorist detainees. He would then move to prosecute foreign terrorists in civilian courts. This was coupled with lackadaisical support for the PATRIOT Act, a vital tool for gathering intelligence on terrorist operations. (more…)