U.S. INTELLIGENCE
U.S. intelligence expert on Cuba loses job
The intelligence community mission manager for Cuba and Venezuela is to
be replaced as a new U.S. intelligence chief takes over.
BY PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON - The nation's new spy chief is replacing Norman Bailey as
the intelligence community's point man on Cuba and Venezuela just three
months after Bailey took the job, The Miami Herald has learned.
Bailey's departure came as Director of National Intelligence Mike
McConnell told a Senate panel that Fidel Castro's domination over Cuba
would end this year and that his brother Raúl was consolidating his
position in power.
There was no immediate word on how Bailey's departure will affect U.S.
intelligence gathering and analysis on Cuba at a sensitive time, when
the ailing leader Fidel Castro, 80, has been ''temporarily'' replaced by
Raúl Castro.
Bailey told friends about the decision in an e-mail Sunday, a copy of
which was obtained by The Miami Herald. It said McConnell was
overhauling the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and
eliminating the three country ''mission managers'' who supervise
intelligence gathering in critical countries like North Korea and Iran.
Intelligence officials denied Bailey's version, saying that the Cuba and
Venezuela position will be retained and that several candidates already
were being considered for the post.
''It's not unusual for changes in leadership to be followed by changes
in personnel,'' said a senior intelligence official, who spoke on
condition of anonymity in accordance with government rules.
He gave no specific reason for Bailey's dismissal.
''But mission managers will continue to be a critical component of the
ODNI to ensure the best intelligence community collaboration against
many of our top priorities, including Cuba and Venezuela,'' the official
added.
Bailey told The Miami Herald he would not comment on McConnell's
decision. A former Reagan administration official and a Cold War expert,
Bailey was appointed in late November by McConnell's predecessor, John
Negroponte, who was sworn in Tuesday as deputy secretary of state.
The intelligence agency coordinates the work of the nation's 16
intelligence gathering agencies.
The Bush administration created the Cuba-Venezuela position last year
after Castro fell ill.
U.S. officials have accused leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of
undermining democracy in his oil-rich nation and trying to destabilize
Latin America.
The Cuban government insists Fidel Castro's hand over of power to Raúl
after a still undetermined intestinal surgery was temporary and that
Fidel was recovering.
McConnell, speaking Tuesday to the Senate Armed Services Committee, said
Fidel Castro's era is nearing an end and Raúl is bolstering his position.
''Significant positive change immediately following Castro's death is
unlikely,'' McConnell said. ``The long period of transition following
Fidel's operation in July of 2006 has given his brother Raúl the
opportunity to solidify his position as Fidel's successor.''
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