Thursday, November 06, 2008

The next Commander in Chief

In his first speech as victor, to more than 100,000 supporters at Grant Park in his home town of Chicago, President-Elect Barack Obama cataloged the challenges ahead. “The greatest of a lifetime,” he said, “two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.”

Senator John McCain called his former rival to concede defeat — and the end of his own 10-year quest for the White House. “The American people have spoken, and spoken clearly,” McCain told disappointed supporters in Arizona. McCain remains in the Senate. Governor Sarah Palin, returns to Alaska after a tumultuous debut on the national stage. In a congratulatory call to Obama Tuesday night, President Bush pledged to make a smooth transition and extended an invitation to the Obama family to visit their new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

In Washington, the Democratic leaders of Congress celebrated. “It is not a mandate for a party or ideology but a mandate for change,” said Senate Majority leader Harry Reid. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “Tonight the American people have called for a new direction. They have called for change in America.”

Obama, in his speech, invoked the words of Lincoln and seemed to echo John F. Kennedy. “So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder,” he said. He and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, will take their oaths of office as president and vice president on Jan. 20, 2009. He will move into the Oval Office as leader of a country that is almost certainly in recession, and fighting two long wars, one in Iraq, the other in Afghanistan.

Obama will begin receiving highly classified briefings from top intelligence officials tomorrow, as the rush of his campaign gives way to intensive preparations to take over as commander in chief and build a Democratic administration. The briefings typically last 45 minutes to an hour, but Obama’s initial one is expected to be longer. Vice President-Elect Biden will also begin receiving briefings this week.

The president’s daily brief that Obama will receive is mostly written by the Central Intelligence Agency and will include the most critical overnight intelligence for the president. They sometimes dig deeply into a specific topic to give the president an in-depth understanding. National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell will launch the intelligence briefings. CIA Intelligence Director Mike Morell will be Obama’s prime contact with the intelligence community throughout the transition.

Obama will have access to vastly more intelligence, including ongoing covert operations, than he was privy to as a senator, said CIA Director Mike Hayden. “Through expanded access, greater than what he had in his briefings as a candidate or as a Senator, he will see the full range of capabilities we deploy for the United States.”

It was not clear at this time when UNETIDA would read the president-elect into it's ongoing operations but it would be assumed to be some point early next week.

Source: AP

4 comments:

Declan said...

"Obama will have access to vastly more intelligence, including ongoing covert operations, than he was privy to as a senator"

Maybe but with Bush and Cheney on the way out who will tell the CIA what their intelligence is supposed to says?

I think it's a great opportunity for the USA to become great again. He still has lots of work to do and things to prove but he has the potential.

Declan said...

"supposed to says". Damn I need my coffee.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Lt.Col, does this mean he'll get to see the file on you and all those dirty black Ops missions?

Anonymous said...

Yes, that's a very nicely written article and all, but you have neglected one of the most important aspects of the Obama transition to the White House: What about the selection of the Canine in Chief? The Presidential Puppy? The Furst Lady and the Tramp?

Why do you consistently refuse to cover the cute news, Colonel???