Endorsing MG Flynn's Critique of Intel Ops in Afghanistan is...

... Secretary Gates?

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Gates found Flynn's analysis "brilliant" and his findings "spot on."

But Morrell said Gates had "real reservations about the general's choice of venue for publication." Flynn's report was issued on Monday by a private Washington think tank, surprising Pentagon officials.

Some saw it as a breach of the established military chain of command and an unusually public flogging of intelligence agencies that Flynn is meant to lead in Afghanistan.

Flynn said in his report that he had directed intelligence officers and analysts to gather more information on a wider range of issues at a grass-roots level, as well as to divide their work along geographical lines.

Just earlier this past year, the Secretary told folks around the Pentagon to stop leaking memos and talking out of turn. Makes you wonder if MG Flynn ran his analysis through the SecDef's office before publishing.

By: Brant