As we all know, this President is ruled by women. I mean, look at all the women he surrounds himself with - Michelle, Malia, Sasha and of course, his MIL (of all horrors), Ms Marian Robinson.
And not to speak of....
Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Janet Napolitano, Kathleen Sebelius, Hilda L. Solis, Regina Benjamin, Melody C. Barnes, Carol Browner, Lisa P. Jackson, Susan E. Rice.
Now, he had to go do this.
Via HuffPo
The United States has had three female secretaries of state – but until now has never had a woman lead one of its 16 major intelligence agencies.
Letitia A. Long, 51, was praised by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as the right person for the job, as she took up her post as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in a ceremony Monday at the agency's half-built, high-tech campus in Springfield, Va.
Did Obama even know her qualifications when he chose her ?
Long's 32-year career has led to a series of senior management positions: deputy director of Naval Intelligence, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and, most recently, second in command at the Defense Intelligence Agency.
oh. shoot...
Oookay. How do her colleagues feel about her ? I mean that's a mother-lode of grapevine that should yield something for the msm to go on a feeding frenzy, right ?
Long's old boss and mentor, James R. Clapper, newly confirmed as director of national intelligence, noted her 32 years of service, with 16 of them often working in agencies under his purview. Clapper warned her that as soon as he is sworn in as DNI, his "meddling" would continue in her next mission
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Long represents the vanguard of women in the intelligence community.
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Long has the science-and-technology credentials to do it, with a degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech, and a masters in mechanical engineering from the Catholic University of America.
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Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said Long's "experience and position make her an important role model for all the women in the intelligence community." Eshoo is a member of the House intelligence committee and a longtime proponent of women in top intelligence roles.
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Long has taken over one of the "top computer geek shops" in the national security world. The NGA synthesizes satellite imagery, using everything from the number of electric lines a city has to the density of the soil, to create three-dimensional, interactive maps of every spot on the planet. They're used by everyone from invading troops gauging whether a country's roads or deserts can handle tank tracks, to oil spill cleanup crews trying to decide where to deploy resources.
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Some of Long's new women staffers at the NGA say her example will surely change how the largely male-dominated work force sees them.
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Intelligence executive Carrie Bachner, a former Air Force officer, worked as the legislative adviser to Charles Allen when he was the Department of Homeland Security's top intelligence official.
That meant she advised him daily on how to deal with the 86 congressional committees responsible for DHS oversight.
Still Bachner says, when she'd walk into a room of intelligence officials or congressional staff with Allen, "they'd automatically ignore me, assuming I was the executive assistant or a note taker until they'd realize, 'Oh, wow, she's the person we're supposed to talk to.'"
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And now, when "they" look for the director of the NGA, that will be Letitia Long.
Dang it all, now all those macho, national security 'suits' have to got to listen to a woman ?
Damn you, Obama.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
A Great Update (which I really wanted to put at the top but silly dkos diary rule wouldn't let me). Hopefully, someone can do a better diary on this BFD ?
BP has made an initial deposit of $3bn (£1.8bn) into a $20bn compensation fund for the oil spill, after completing talks with the US Department of Justice, according to BP officials.
The fund, called an escrow account, was set up by the oil giant to compensate victims of the Gulf of Mexico spill.
BP's response has cost $6.1bn already.
Meanwhile, BP's relief well will reach the damaged well by the end of the week and start the final "kill", the government's incident commander said.
An additional deposit of $2bn will be made in the fourth quarter by BP, with deposits of $1.25bn being deposited each of the following quarters until the $20bn has been paid in full.
"The purpose of the escrow account was to assure those adversely affected by the spill that we indeed intend to stand behind our commitment to them and to the American taxpayers," BP's incoming chief executive Bob Dudley said in a statement.
Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli later said the justice department was "pleased that BP made an initial contribution and has taken an important step toward honouring its commitment to the president and the residents and business owners in the Gulf region".
The account will be overseen by lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, who managed compensation claims made by victims of the 9/11 attacks.
Linky thingy : http://www.bbc.co.uk/...
Damn you again, Obama.