Wild Times in the USA
McRaven went on, “Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation. If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken.”
Holy mackerel.
Craig,
Kinda sad witnessing the desperation of the American Left eargerly embracing the sly rantings of any enemy of President Trump. No matter for over 50 years the Left has raged (quite rightly) against the CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies for their misdeeds.
The old Left may have been impractical and a bit naive, but at least it had some integrity.
C’mon guys, this is the CIA were talking about here! This is the organization that has initiated, participated in genocide, assassinations, black propaganda, false prosecutions, murder, coups, mayhem, destabilizing governments of friend and foe alike, spread political and personal disinformation, black mail, protected and promoted child sex slavery, etc, etc,..
Then there’s the long history of illegal torture facilities, covertly organizing funding and providing personnel for more than a dozen illegal wars in defiance of US policy and the constitution. How about all the massive drug running including heroin and cocaine? Remember Air America ?
How about all the illegal covert political disinformation campaigns against US citizens inside America ? How about all the cozy relationships with domestic and foreign mafia, gangsters and criminals of all kinds?
How about all the allegations of actually killing US political figures they dislike ?
There’s literally no illegal, immoral, undemocratic act these guys haven’t enthusiastically pursued over the last 60 years or so. Could you find a more corrupt organization?
But, suddenly all is forgiven, because today’s Left has decided in desperation, “the enemy of my enemy, is my friend” !
How sad, and how very foolish.
The newly elected President Reagan asked the then CIA director what he saw as his principal goal as CIA Director, the Director replied ;
“We’ll know our disinformation program is complete, when everything the American public believes is false” !
I’m not quite sure why the Navy figures so prominently among senior CIA officials . The reason maybe found in the greater discipline found among Naval officers, or maybe from the era’s when Navy personal have served as directors. (the only branch of the armed forces to be appointed as Directors).
The terms widely used among the CIA “navy mafia” usually refers to tight knit, very gung ho, group of CIA officers, very keen on clandestine activities and a dislike of civilian authority.
I have no doubt Admiral McRaven is an honest, diligent and effective member of the CIA, but his first loyalty should be to elected civilian authority. If he wishes to enter politics, that’s his right as a retired serviceman.However, he must remember only the elected Congress and President are empowered to decide strategic policy, not non-elected spymasters.
The CIA’s obsession with counter-intelligence against Russia, and defining Russian activity as the number one threat to the US, is not shared by President Trump. (Nor anone who can do simple math).
The President believes Russia to be a relatively weak economic and military pygmy, of little real threat to US interests but still strategically useful in some respects.
The President is far more concerned about the threat from an increasingly formidable and aggressive Peoples Republic of China. The President is deeply concerned by PRC military, industrial and economic might and huge espionage machine.
Now here’s the point, even the Left should consider. Do they really want to sell out all their once deeply held principles and support an ex-CIA director (because he voted communist in his youth) or the constitutionally elected President ?
Trump may be an annoying, even bad President, but suddenly claiming the CIA is a morally pure and righteous organization, beggars belief !
I think Andrew McCarthy writing in the National Review made good sense;
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/08/john-brennan-security-clearance-revocation-justified/
It’s amazing that some people have such big hearts that they’re not afraid of losing their job for standing up for what’s right! I think that more people should stand up to Trump! If we don’t, he will continue doing what he wants recklessly and without realizing that there are consequences!