Obama Adviser Brennan Now A Lesser Intelligence God: That Contractor Thing Bit Him

John Brennan, Obama's former leading pick for a top intelligence post, will get a seat at the table, where he can make a valuable contribution to counterterrorism policy. But DNI Blair and CIA Director Panetta will need to keep Brennan at arms length on thorny resource issues-especially contracting.

The New York Times reported Wednesday, that Obama's top campaign adviser on intelligence issues and one-time presumptive CIA Director, John Brennan, would be named as a deputy national security adviser overseeing terrorism and domestic disaster response. That's a new portfolio for the NSC, marking a sweeping revamp of Bush administration homeland security and national security management.

On Friday, however, the Washington Post served up more dish on how John Brennan's star fell just enough to knock him out of the running for a top intelligence post. The Post reported that Brennan's employment with a prominent intelligence contractor, The Analysis Corporation, or TAC, had raised red flags about his suitability for such a senior post, subject to a grilling in the Senate. The article skips over Brennan's chairmanship at INSA, the industry association representing intelligence contractors, where he, other contractor executives, and senior intelligence officials "share ideas" (read: collude-we'll never know because their proceedings are super secret!) on intelligence contracting.

The Post article marks the first mainstream media acknowledgment that Brennan's armpit-deep involvement in the intelligence contracting racket caused heartburn for Obama's vetting crew.

Up to now, only "has-beens, wannabes, or never-weres" in the blogosphere (like me and Tim Shorrock) have called attention to this troubling aspect of Brennan's resume.

Brennan already has been a valuable asset to the Obama team during the campaign, and will continue to be a loyal servant in his new role. He will provide continuity and a valuable insight into Bush administration intelligence policy formulation, such as it was. After all, he knows where at least some of the (metaphorical, we hope) bodies are buried.

Plus an added bonus: Brennan's continued presence and influence is sure to placate the whiny intelligence officer brigade, who mostly loathe change (although a few authentically fear accountability).

Whether Brennan's influence will have the meaningful and distasteful impact his detractors fear is largely a function of how well incoming DNI Dennis Blair and CIA Director Leon Panetta keep him in check. For example, Brennan should be excluded from any major outsourcing or resource decisions.

In other words, if Brennan sticks to intelligence analysis and large strategic policy issues, then the taxpayer will get the best he has to offer. And America may end up safer and recover some of the greatness lost in the past few years.