Comments on: CIA Moving Domestic Headquarters to Denver

By: kappiy

kappiy — Fri, 06 May 2005 20:41:55 +0000

They should move the CIA back to the REAL capital of America: Richmond. Its about time we offer reparations for the War of Northern Aggression!

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Fri, 06 May 2005 19:29:37 +0000

I think a strong case could be made for most federal agencies to move the majority of their staffs outside the beltway. Each could keep a small--200 person--headquarters in DC to handle Congress and Executive links. But most of the grunt work can be accomplished in Peoria as well as Pentagon City. Why isn't the bulk of Agriculture in Iowa or Kansas? Why couldn't Commerce work as well out of New Orleans? HHS? GAO? FCC? DOE? Absolutely no reason they couldn't be impressing people in the heartland with how hard they work, rather than taking flack for their simple geographic location. Other than State--which has no real consitutents-and DOD--which has alert constituents in 50 states--they should all decentralize. The last time the CIA yipped at having part of their offices relocated to WV, they had to go around telling people they couldn't move. WV offered lower cost of living and housing, decent schools, and a much better lifestyle. But so many wanted to go they had to put on the brakes.

By: James Durbin

James Durbin — Fri, 06 May 2005 14:29:29 +0000

I think it's a fantastic idea. And while they're at it - wouldn't it be a good idea to split Washingon up too? I'm thinking that putting a big chunk of the federal bureaucracy in Missouri, maybe out by Columbia, would be good for the country.

It would reduce the terrorist threat of wiping out the entire government, improve the housing situation in D.C., and my little brother would be sure to get a job when he graduates from Mizzou.

By: Jem

Jem — Fri, 06 May 2005 14:22:41 +0000

I found the quote from "Other CIA veterans" who believe that "such a relocation would make no sense, given Denver's relative distance from major corporate centers." says a lot more about their relative competence than they intended. Having grown up near Denver, I can say confidently that the area IS a major corporate center, and has been for years (moreso, in all likelihood, than Washington DC, for that matter). If the CIA wants to use corporate ties as a means to infiltrate agents, you DO NOT want them leaving from and returning to Washington DC--any mimimally competent foreign service will place additional scrutiny on someone whose "home office" is within spitting distance of the Beltway than they will on someone from Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Colorado Springs, or Salt Lake City. And some people wonder why the CIA is taking a beating over its performance...sheesh!

By: bryan

bryan — Fri, 06 May 2005 13:44:26 +0000

One would think that in these days of telecommuting, such a move wouldn't be so difficult to conceive. It's not like they gain a great benefit by being located so close to Washington if they're trying to recruit people who don't work in government.