Obama Denied Security Clearance?

As this election season approaches the finale, we must carefully consider the ramifications of placing an unqualified individual in the highest office of the land. For all practical purposes, Congress actually controls the country except for two very important components; the nomination of Supreme Court judges and the deployment of troops into battle.

One may argue the pros and cons of seating liberal, conservative, and moderate judges and never find consensus. Conservatives favor conservative judges and liberals favor liberal. The ability to adjudicate unbiasedly has unfortunately taken a back seat in the selection process.

But one may not argue that the individual operating out of the oval office is indeed the commander-in-chief of the United States military. Does Barack Obama possess the qualifications, upright character, and level of patriotism necessary to perform in that capacity? Several times during my life, both in the military and in civil positions, I have been required to undergo a background check, and once, rather extensively to obtain a top secret clearance to handle sensitive information. During the FBI's investigation of me, they spoke to family, friends, and past acquaintances, even from childhood, and also determined any contact I may have had with suspicious characters or members of communist or terrorist organizations. Could Barack Obama pass a military style background investigation deeming him worthy to handle sensitive information pertaining to American national security?

I recently downloaded U.S Form SF86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions which is the form anyone seeking a security clearance must complete before the background investigation commences.

Question #1 Full Name
Being named by your parents, Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., would certainly not disqualify one from obtaining a clearance, but in light of the events of 9-11, the investigation would certainly take longer than the standard 2-3 months.

Question #5 Other Names Used
Apparently while attending school in Indonesia, Obama enrolled under the name, Barry Soetoro, which is his stepfather's surname. Again, this fact would not necessarily disqualify one from receiving clearance but would further delay the investigation.

Question #9 Citizenship
Mr. Obama, by omission, could easily fill out this part of the form proving citizenship and indicating Honolulu, Hawaii as his place of birth but the next section will prove more difficult.

Question #10 Citizenship Information
Have you ever held multiple citizenships?
A very tangled web begins here. Obama was born in Hawaii to an American mother and Kenyan father, automatically making him a dual citizen of both countries. At the time, Kenya was also under British rule making him also a British citizen. Because they were not renewed, his Kenyan and British citizenships expired in 1982, due to the laws of those countries. Additionally, when Obama was registered for school in Indonesia, his parents listed his citizenship as Indonesian. At that time, neither the United States or Indonesia recognized dual citizenship between the two countries so Mr. Obama would have only retained Indonesian citizenship. This did not expire automatically and has never been repudiated.

This complex citizenship issue would probably still allow for a confidential security clearance but would most likely disqualify one from both secret and top secret access. Additionally, constitutional challenges await because this problem may also disqualify one from serving as President of the United States.

Part D of this question also asks, Have you renounced or attempted to renounce your foreign citizenships? This should have been done to reassume American citizenship after returning from Indonesia but was never done.

Question #18 Relatives
This portion of the form would again be quite complex for Obama with relatives living in Kenya, Indonesia and China. For relatives born outside of the U.S., there is a fair amount of extra documentation required. None of this would prove to be disqualifying but would certainly extend the investigation.


Question #19 Foreign Contacts
Mr. Obama's contact with his grandmother in Kenya would be acceptable but his relationship with Kenyan prime minister, Raila Odinga would be a sure disqualifier.

Question #21 Mental and Emotional Health
This alone can not be a disqualifier so the Narcissistic Personality Disorder is o.k.

Question #23 Illegal Use of Drugs or Drug Activity
The drug abuse must have occurred within the last seven years so here again, he would be o.k.

Question #29 Association Record
Three parts of this portion must be danced around to avoid suspicion.

a. Have you EVER been an officer of, or made a contribution to, an organization dedicated to terrorism, and which engaged in illegal activities to that end, either with an awareness of the organization's dedication to that end or with the specific intent to further such activities

e. Have you ever knowingly engaged in any activities designed to overthrow the U.S government by force?

f. Have you ever knowingly engaged in any acts of terrorism?

Mr. Obama would certainly answer no to these questions but once the actual investigation commenced, would his relationships with both Bill Ayers and Raila Odinga cause him to fail to pass muster? Senator Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers is a definite disqualifier for any high level security clearance.

Thousands of U.S. military and government personnel as well as civilian contractors must pass this investigation before assuming their duties. Most of these people only have a "need to know" that equates to a very small piece of the pie. Our top officials handling the most sensitive national security information should be above reproach and be able to pass this background investigation with ease. How can we have a President of the United States, who applying for any other government job, would most certainly be denied a high level security clearance? Think about that one fellow citizens!