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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

John Brennan, son of Irish immigrants, now Obama's top gun

Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 08:32 PM

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John Brennan, son of Irish parents, has become the most valued foreign policy aide to President Barack Obama says the Washington Post.

The Post reports that Brennan shares a small west wing office with Denis McDonough, another key Irish aide to Obama and that both men have major access to the president.

Brennan was the man the president turned to after the near explosion on board a flight on Christmas day.

"Within two weeks, Brennan had produced a sharply written report that caught other intelligence heads by surprise -- and caused an uproar in some quarters for its harsh assessment of intelligence agencies' performance." the paper reports.

"Brennan has grown only more powerful within the White House, according to numerous officials. His allies -- and there are many -- say he is abundantly competent with a reassuring style." the Post reports.

The paper says that Brennan has built a "high-voltage security hub in the White House, one that far outmuscles that of his predecessors. From a windowless, lower-level West Wing suite that he shares with Denis R. McDonough, the chief of staff to the National Security Council, Brennan has frequent access to the president."

He is Obama's 'Invaluable go-to person'

Brennan, 55, was in the CIA most of his working life.

He speaks fluent Arabic and was once CIA station chief in Saudi Arabia.

He was born in Northern New Jersey to Irish parents from Roscommon.

Now he is at the right hand of Obama for every major foreign policy crisis.It is a major achievement for the son of immigrants from the old sod.

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33 comments

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manofaran | Jun 08, 2010, 10:10 PM EDT

Fran, socialism is not the reason for the failing Irish economy. Fianna Fail have been running the show for over ten years. They had a surplus in ther budget for years while the boom was on, bur managed tit very poorly. They privatised alot of medical services and other state companies. They were in bed with the bankers and the big builders. They are right wing not left wing.They were the Capitalist tide and see where it got us.

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willieboy | Jun 08, 2010, 07:35 PM EDT

Oh great. The great one needs an Irishman to fix things. Hey, maybe that's the answer to Obama's screwed-up administration...

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irishwxman | Jun 08, 2010, 06:00 PM EDT

and it reflects poorly of Irish Americans.

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irishwxman | Jun 08, 2010, 05:59 PM EDT

manofaran it has everything to do with it you goon. The person of which the article is written is an incompetent moonbat just like his boss, and well the rest of you moonbats.

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Fran Connor | Jun 08, 2010, 04:00 PM EDT

Maybe Brennan can explain to Obama what terrible damage socialism has done to European economies from Greece to Ireland. Capitalism is the rising tide that lifts all boats.

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hyattsville | Jun 08, 2010, 03:39 PM EDT

Right enough Manofaran. Irishwxman your anti-Obama crusade, and your blind obsession with bashing him at every opportunity, is beyond monotonous. Bula bos to John Brennan, it’s always good to see an Irish person get in the news for outstanding achievements.

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manofaran | Jun 08, 2010, 01:02 PM EDT

WXman , What has that quote got to do with an Irish American getting on of the top jobs in Washington.Never a good word out of your mouth.

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irishwxman | Jun 08, 2010, 02:03 AM EDT

'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' -Ronald Reagan

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manofaran | Jun 07, 2010, 08:37 PM EDT

Its good to see the children of immigrants do well for them selves. I thought that was the American Dream and such, NO?

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hyattsville | Jun 07, 2010, 08:11 PM EDT

Nothing wrong with some positive support boys. Beats your old negative armchair begrudgery any day! Mind you I ran out of optimism real early with the previous administration and it turns out I was right.

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DLW12183 | Jun 07, 2010, 04:23 PM EDT

DeaconJack--are you talking about THE HEAD CLOWN or Hyattsville?

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Strongbow | Jun 07, 2010, 04:18 PM EDT

Who cares if his parents are from Ireland? What has that got to do with the price of chips in China. Niall O'Dowd displays a classic case of an ethno-centric narcissistic psyche.

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DeaconJack | Jun 07, 2010, 03:09 PM EDT

Maybe he can help His Royal Highness to discover where his head is really at!!

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Advocate | Jun 07, 2010, 01:25 PM EDT

Poor fellow! Having to work with/for Insane Hussein has to make him sad! Insane Hussein is workinghard to bring down what's left of OUR America for the One-World, Socialist Agenda of the Zionist elite... The enemies of OUR America. Sadly, We the SHEEPle don't seem to care. If we did, you'd see PoliticalScumBags, CrimeScumBags, DrugScumBags, DrunkScumBags, hanging in trees all accross our great land... Deut. 17:15 & 28:43

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hyattsville | Jun 07, 2010, 12:42 PM EDT

Good news Lynch & DLW…. while you were in your respective comas The Clown, and his sideshow, was replaced by President Obama who’s been making a heroic effort in cleaning up the messy Circus that America became. Thankfully he continues to surround himself with bright and able staff. Congrats on the Brennan appointment.

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