President-Elect Barack Obama is getting his first official intelligence briefing today, something he'd never be privy to if he'd actually had to get a security clearance. I imagine it goes something like this:
Spook: Our assessment is that Iran will have enough weapons-grade fissile material to produce as many as four low to medium yield weapons within 12 to 18 months, and that --
Obama: Uh...just a second. What's "fissile" mean again?
Spook: Fissile...capable of being split, you know, as in atoms. We think they --
Obama: Oh, so, uh, they want to split these atoms so they can, uh, share them?
Spook: (Sighs) Well, if by "sharing" them you mean "detonating" them over a densely-populated part of --
Obama: OK. I, uh, get it. I think. Go on.
Spook: Right, then. Moving on to the topic of Iraq. We believe we can commence withdrawal of combat troops when --
Obama: Alright! I knew it! (Fist bumps intel spook). Next topic!
Spook: Well, I'm not quite done expl --
Obama: No, no...I got it. Move on (chuckles).
Spook: Well, OK Mr. President-Elect. Our analysis of Russia's decision to move offensive missiles into --
Obama: Why are we still talking about Russia? That's so early 1960s. I mean, I was still crapping in my diapers then. I'm all about the future, man! Next topic.
Spook: Mr. President-Elect, I really think you should hear this...it's pretty impor --
Obama: No, no...I, uh, got it. Next agenda item.
Spook: Right, sir. (Looks at ten more pages in briefing book) Uh, actually, that about wraps it up. Congratulations and best of luck in your new job. (Whips out Blackberry, googles one-way airfares to Australia).
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