again, people wonder how Obama got a clearance

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I dunno about Obama - but I'm wondering whether other recent presidents and presidential candidates would pass the FBI character checks to receive the security clearance that a prospective agent would need.

In a word - the standards that apply to Average Joe don't apply to these guys. No surprise there.

[Niels Bohr 72]

A Professor of mines from China has military clearance. He's doing research on lasers with DARPA. He visited the Navy base in Fresno, CA almost every two weeks. I still talk to him. Very smart guy.

Edited November 4, 2008 by Niels Bohr

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I think this issue is so silly given what we, as people who passed through an FBI clearance, know about the system.

Could Obama have gotten a clearance? After they ran a Soundex check on his last name and cross matched it to any person referenced in files stored in 265 locations around the country?

I think he could have. But it would have taken a really, really, really, really, really, really long time.

that sounds like a nac to me. he probably got at least a ssbi which is more than just a name check.

Must have been nice to get fast-tracked on that SSBI too. Nevertheless, it isn't surprising some of our friends here need help in understanding how clearances work.

getting fast tracked can happen, just not often, yet it's amazing how fast it can be completed. most take 6-12 months, or longer.

[HAL 9000 96]

I think this issue is so silly given what we, as people who passed through an FBI clearance, know about the system.

Could Obama have gotten a clearance? After they ran a Soundex check on his last name and cross matched it to any person referenced in files stored in 265 locations around the country?

I think he could have. But it would have taken a really, really, really, really, really, really long time.

that sounds like a nac to me. he probably got at least a ssbi which is more than just a name check.

Must have been nice to get fast-tracked on that SSBI too. Nevertheless, it isn't surprising some of our friends here need help in understanding how clearances work.

getting fast tracked can happen, just not often, yet it's amazing how fast it can be completed. most take 6-12 months, or longer.

Yep. How many intelligence specialists start out answering phones in the meantime?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I think this issue is so silly given what we, as people who passed through an FBI clearance, know about the system.

Could Obama have gotten a clearance? After they ran a Soundex check on his last name and cross matched it to any person referenced in files stored in 265 locations around the country?

I think he could have. But it would have taken a really, really, really, really, really, really long time.

that sounds like a nac to me. he probably got at least a ssbi which is more than just a name check.

Must have been nice to get fast-tracked on that SSBI too. Nevertheless, it isn't surprising some of our friends here need help in understanding how clearances work.

getting fast tracked can happen, just not often, yet it's amazing how fast it can be completed. most take 6-12 months, or longer.

Yep. How many intelligence specialists start out answering phones in the meantime?

and leveling the rocks at usaics.

[nowhereman 1]

I think this issue is so silly given what we, as people who passed through an FBI clearance, know about the system.

Could Obama have gotten a clearance? After they ran a Soundex check on his last name and cross matched it to any person referenced in files stored in 265 locations around the country?

I think he could have. But it would have taken a really, really, really, really, really, really long time.

that sounds like a nac to me. he probably got at least a ssbi which is more than just a name check.

I got a Top Secret so it's not that hard

That clearance must be DOS or military class TS, as your association with a foreign national will preclude you or make it really difficult to maintain a TS-SCI or above. I lived through that shite, and chose to bail out. As a result, I have a beautiful daughter and wife, make more money and have a better life for the choice.

Note to self - Good call!!!

My ex-wife is Chinese & although they questioned that it didn't preclude me from getting the TS (got it in like 3 months, which is very fast).