Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R., Mich.) ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee lauds Blair as “the one person you could count on for rationality among Holder, Napolitano and Brennan.” He says the resignation is “the result of the Obama administration’s rampant politicization of national security and outright disregard for congressional intelligence oversight:”

Daniel Foster at NRO

Quick take: Whatever his other flaws, there is no question Blair was in part a victim of the post-9/11 intelligence “reforms” that made the U.S. intelligence and national security structures even more byzantine and balkanized than they already were. Since it now appears that CIA Director Leon Panetta won the turf war with Blair, whoever Obama taps to replace Blair will have to get wise to the food chain.

UPDATE: Here’s a statement from Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R., Mich.) ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. Hoekstra lauds Blair as “the one person you could count on for rationality among Holder, Napolitano and Brennan.” He says the resignation is “the result of the Obama administration’s rampant politicization of national security and outright disregard for congressional intelligence oversight:”

“Dennis Blair was the consummate public servant who dedicated much of his professional life to the safety and defense of our great nation. He pushed for openness, transparency and the participation of the congressional intelligence committees in conducting intelligence oversight. I had high hopes for his willingness to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to ensure that America’s intelligence professional had the tools, resources and authorities they need to help protect our homeland.

“That a man who has willingly dedicated himself to the cause of our nation’s freedom would rather step down than continue to serve as America’s top intelligence officer is a disturbing sign of the stranglehold the Obama White House has placed on America’s intelligence agencies. Clearly, and understandably, Director Blair was frustrated by the White House’s micromanagement and sidelining of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on national security issues.

“Blair’s resignation is the result of the Obama administration’s rampant politicization of national security and outright disregard for congressional intelligence oversight. Blair’s resignation is disturbing and unfortunate. The concerns I have come from how the Obama administration conducts national security, not over the director of national intelligence, who they never allowed to do it.

“Congressional Republicans we will be watching closely who the president plans to name as a successor. Right now, the Obama administration’s national security apparatus is broken, dysfunctional and in disarray. Dennis Blair was the one person you could count on for rationality among Holder, Napolitano and Brennan—and he’s the one the president let go.”

FULL STORY

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