I feel better already.

Actually, putting aphorisms and quotations on official documents, like the profound sayings in italics in front of each chapter of "Dune", is a harmless literary affectation. My boss puts a whimsical or appropriate one at the bottom of every typed agenda for our weekly department meeting. Some are even from Scripture, although they're just as likely to come from "Dilbert" or Yogi Berra as well; we all look forward to reading them.

That is not the problem, and splitting hairs about whether the CIC ever read them or not is pure sophistry, designed to distract from the embarassment that men in positions of great power in our country feel the need, and have the confidence in their authority, to cram this bible-banging goombah down the throats of their subordinates. Even more frightening is the need to make excuses for this kind of behavior, especially by those who do not subscribe to this stereotypical form of religious fundamentalism, just to cover for the political philosophy of those who do.

Lest you think I'm just nit-picking here, allow yourself this little thought experiment: how would the defenders of the Bush gang have reacted if they found out that Obama administration briefings and memos were decorated with verses from the Koran? Would "he never read them" cut it as an excuse?