Intel analysts revolt

CENTCOM Embroiled In Climate of Fear

Army Gen. Joseph Votel is expected to take over as the head of U.S. Central Command later this month, and he’ll be leading the military campaign against ISIS at a troubled time for his own organization.

In interviews, half a dozen current and former officials have described the environment at CENTCOM headquarters as “toxic” and “hostile” owing to a long-simmering dispute over whether political influence was brought to bear on intelligence analysts whose job is to objectively assess the strength of ISIS and the effects of the U.S.-led efforts to destroy the group.

The subjects of the analysts’ frustration are the the head of intelligence for CENTCOM, Maj. Gen. Steven Grove, and Gregory Ryckman, his civilian deputy. Some analysts have complained that they felt “bullied” into reaching conclusions favored by their bosses that weren’t supported by facts, two individuals familiar with analysts’ complaints told The Daily Beast. They say the written and verbal pressure created a climate at CENTCOM in which analysts felt they had to self-censor some of their reports.