The Root of the Problem

Speaking to the Powerline criticism of the NIE as mush-mouthed and useless, comes this:

Ms. Lopez,

I am the former CIA analyst whose email was posted by Mario Loyola yesterday on the Corner. I'm not surprised by your reaction (and the reaction of your readers) to the NIE. The CIA long ago stopped trying to provide top-notch analysis to policymakers. Instead, the focus is on not being wrong. As a result, the analysis that comes out of Langley tends to be nothing but mush that can be interpreted to mean almost anything to anybody, or, if you prefer, means absolutely nothing. That is why I am no longer at the CIA.

I guess we'll find out if it's possible to win a war while routinely shooting ourselves in the foot.