Dead Drop: December 14

TOLD YA SO:  On December 7^th, a variety of major news organizations reported that the CIA has selected Beth Kimber, a 34-year Agency veteran, to become Deputy Director of Operations – the first woman to lead its clandestine arm.  Dead Drop readers got an early heads up on that nugget of intel before any of the networks reported it as confirmed. Hopefully, you picked up your November 16^th Dead Drop, sharing that Kimber was the frontrunner for the job.  On news of the official appointment, Agency spokesperson  Brittany Bramell issued a statement saying Kimber will lead the CIA’s efforts to “strengthen national security and foreign policy objectives through the clandestine collection of human intelligence and by conducting Covert Action as directed by the President.”  The reaction to Kimber’s appointment was almost unanimous in its praise. Including very positive comments from Cipher Brief experts like John McLaughlin on NBC.com and John Sipher on CBS.com. CBS did find two unnamed former intelligence officials who cast some shade, though.  One opined that (Kimber) “is going to have to work to win the loyalty of all of those officers who have done the hard stuff,” (implying that she had not spent sufficient time in war zones and other difficult areas.) CBS granted that naysayer anonymity because they were “not authorized to speak on the record.” Of course, no such authorization for former officials is required. But attaching your name to your kvetching is the kind of “hard stuff” some former officials avoid. The anonymous officials were not the only ones to criticize the appointment.  Sputnik News also took some shots at Kimber in an article headlined “Ex-Head of CIA’s ‘Russia Group’ Promoted Amid Russiagate Frenzy.”

ARMY’S GOOD DAY: The U.S. Army had a good day on Saturday.  The Black Knights of the Military Academy won their third Army/Navy game in a row.  The lads from West Point beat the Navy midshipmen by a score of 17-10. The cadets win was no surprise. They have played well all season and the Mids have been disappointing.  Earlier in the day, President Trump announced his intention to nominate Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, to become the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  JCS Chairmen typically are appointed to two two-year terms and the change of command almost always happens around October 1^st. Announcing the replacement for the current Chief, General Joe Dunford, this early is somewhat odd. Presidents typically name their nominee in May or June.  To make matters odder – Trump tweeted that the timing of the turnover was “to be determined,” hinting that Dunford might get the heave ho ahead of his expected departure date. We have no idea what “Fightin’ Joe” Dunford might have done (if anything) to annoy the Commander in Chief.