The Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, recently had a disastrous interview with Sawyer on national TV. Sawyer asked his opinion about a recently broken up London terrorist plot, and he clearly had not heard a thing about it. It was later found out that his staff had never told him about it.
Diane Sawyer informing James Clapper
A recent interview was broadcast on the ABC News featured veteran anchor Diane Sawyer interviewing Secretary Janet Napolitano of the Department of Homeland Security, White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. There had been 12 individuals caught in Britain trying to start a London terrorist plot that didn’t end up happening. Sawyer asked them about it. The people arrested weren’t engaged in an act of terrorism, but in the planning of it. Sawyer asked DNI Clapper about London, but only referred to the incident by saying “first of all, London.”. Even though the incident had been covered by the news network all that day, Clapper then responded that he didn’t know what she was talking about.
Clapper was not briefed
Initially, it appeared that the person most responsible in the White House for national intelligence matters didn’t know about a major terrorist plot being busted. However, according to CNN, Clapper had not been briefed as he had been occupied with other matters. Clapper was watching the North and South Korea situation very closely. Also, the START treaty required his help in Congress. Clapper will be briefed quicker in the future, according to the spokeswoman for him. This was just a minor incident.
Clapper hailed as outstanding
ABC reports that John Brennan said that Clapper was “the consummate DNI” in defense of him. Clapper is still doing well in his work even though he probably should have been informed better. Sawyer’s interview questions were very “ambiguous” though according to DNI office staff.
youtube.com/watch?v=G3mQ9koEgok
Articles cited
CNN
edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/22/clapper.terror.arrests.interview/?hpt=T2
ABC News
blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/12/after-early-administration-denials-director-of-national-intelligence-admits-he-hadnt-been-briefed-on.html
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