Ex CIA Officer: Heres What Will Happen if Trump Doesnt Stop Scorning the CIA

[kpete]

http://fortune.com/2016/12/19/donald-trump-cia-twitter-intelligence-briefings/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. IMO George W. Bush showed contempt for the CIA

when he didn't hold Robert Novak in account for outing Valerie Plame, working for the CIA. Novak wasn't indicted, wasn't fired. Nothing.

[DFW]

24. Valerie never harbored much of grudge against Novak

It was the assholes in the Bush White House who outed her, and she knows it.

[hughee99]

41. According to the investigator, it was Richard Armitage at the State Dept. n/t

[DFW]

57. I'm sure the authorization came from Cheney

Armitage wouldn't have done something as illegal as that on his own. Valerie is a professional, and won't express specific grudges. Except for what she has already said, she is very strict about her oath, and will not reveal much of anything beyond what she has had to say for the last ten years. She is now over 50, and has moved on--not forgotten anything, but moved on nonetheless.

[hughee99]

61. Armitage wasn't one of "Bush's guys".

You should read up on it and decide for yourself. David Korn, who writes for "The Nation" (among other places) wrote a book about it and didn't seem to think the Bush Administration was behind the initial leak.

https://www.thenation.com/article/meaning-armitage-leak-plame-case/

[DFW]

63. I don't know David Korn

But I do know Valerie and Katrina. I will see to what extent I can take your point up with them. Katrina will probably be a lot more open about it than Valerie, if tradition holds.

[hughee99]

64. Sorry, it's David Corn. I misspelled it. Nt

[DFW]

65. I have seen his name, but still don't know him personally n/t

[ReverendHeretic]

30. Porter Goss

the politician who politicized intel to serve his true master, Darth Cheney.

[Crash2Parties]

54. Always two, there are. No more, no less.

But between Cheney and Rove, who is the master and who is the apprentice? Or are the Koch brothers the true Sith?

[JonLP24]

62. I believe he was with them

His suspicious military records, his brother was a confirmed non official cover in Venezuela, he's the son of George HW Bush.

Personally I hardly consider the CIA to be an honorable government agency.

[DetlefK]

2. Scientists are next. One of Trump's appointees wants to do away with public funding for research.

A scientist's life contains a "journey-man" phase where he travels around from lab to lab to build a reputation for his CV before he settles down in a steady job. Why would he spend some time in the US or even settle down in the US if he cannot work there due to lack of funds?

Why would he seek employment in the US when the US government cuts off his funding and shows blatant disrespect for his work?

[DK504]

6. First he refused to listen to Intelligence agents

Then he came for the scienctists, then he came for teachers, then he came for the people who excerised their right of freedom of speech,
and we did nothing.

How will we fight back and trult resist?

[Efilroft Sul]

11. Power concedes nothing without a fight, as the saying goes.

We may have to address that elephant in the room before too long. Because as we saw yesterday, petitioning government representatives to stop fascism in its tracks works sooooo well.

[bdamomma]

43. also

silence means consent, which I thought is very fitting saying to fight back. People seem like they are putting their energies in their local states.

sorry if I am off topic.

[BainsBane]

3. It also puts the country in danger of foreign attack

If he doesn't listen to intelligence sources, he can't do anything to prevent terroristic or cyber attack, particularly when he doesn't see the latter as a problem. That endangers the economy as well as national security.

[annabanana]

28. An attack might be just fine with him..

He could suspend our civil rights, postpone elections, all in the name of security. And his toady repub colleagues wouldn't even blink..

[lastlib]

32. Reichstag fire comes to mind........

. . . .

[YOHABLO]

59. Yeah but you have to think like Trump: Stockmarket, Bankers, Loans, Debt etc..

[Red Mountain]

38. If the Jihadists can attack us

they will do so under Trump. It serves their interests well to provoke an overreaction.

Which they would be correct to expect.

[bdamomma]

44. you know I wouldn't put it past

tRump to have his dictator friends launch a terror attack on the US then he would retaliate in the Middle East. of course his authoritarian friends would benefit from something. To far-fetched.

[ananda]

4. Well, all I can say is ..

so much for national security.

It looks like Trump will get his Reichstag Fire
in trumps ( I was going to say spades).

[Fast Walker 52]

22. you have to think that is his goal... and while we are all warned of it

WTF can we do???

[matt819]

5. As a former intelligence officer. . .

I was an intelligence officer from the early 80s through the late 90s, serving under Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. I would argue that Trump's disdain for intelligence is only part of the problem. It's tough enough to persuade someone to commit treason, and that job is made tougher when you realize that the administration of the government trying to recruit you has nothing but contempt for the intelligence you may provide.

That said, I think you need to take a step back. Why would any prospective asset want to provide intelligence in the first place to a government headed by Trump, even if he loved the CIA? The usual arguments back in the day were that a prospective asset would be working for the good guys. How can you make that argument today? You can't, unless your intelligence targets were neo-Nazis and ultra right-wing movements worldwide. These people might be very willing to become assets. And the intelligence could be very useful. But consider the implications of this. You'd be collecting intelligence on movements that the Trump regime would consider allies and friends.

The challenges go on and on. Consider that Trump has already received briefings from Mossad, to say nothing, of course, of his relationship with the Russians. And now we read that Flynn visited an extreme right-wing Austrian neo-Nazi group recently. And all of this is "reporting" being transmitted without any sort of analytical filter. Consider that professional staff of the National Security Council has asked to be returned to their home agencies. Consider that retired generals are being scattered through the cabinet as they have never been scattered before. If you think it's ugly now, we ain't seen nothing yet.

[Wellstone ruled]

13. True statement,we ain't seen nothing yet.

The proof of that was,Trump's Twitter about China,the Guy is such a twit. Appears the President or someone at State had all ready resolved the Drone Issue well before Numb Nuts started in. And to think,this Guy trust the Mossad,wow,this is not going to end well.

[Fast Walker 52]

17. yes, and how can Republicans be in such incredible denial about this?

[DFW]

20. There is a potential for further danger down the road, too

Assets we already have, even if secure for now, are only of long-term value if we make judicious use of what they provide. If a controlling officer senses that vital info that an asset provides might be carelessly (or, worse, wrongly) used, or used to compromise his asset against his advice and/or without his knowledge, he might choose to sit on that info to the detriment of other Company personnel, or to those of other intelligence agencies.

[Horse with no Name]

31. If I were the CIA

I would be bringing any human assets that are working for our interests who might be in Putins reach.
I don't trust this badministration not to out them.

[DFW]

58. Not that simple

Many are local recruits who have no plausible reason for doing anything not routine, such as making a sudden trip to the USA. Trump will just adopt the Republican stance on sick Americans: let them die.

[Horse with no Name]

66. I know

but they are in danger however they do this

[roamer65]

34. I would give a pretty penny to be in Langley...

and a fly on the wall for some of the conversations I would think are happening.

[tavalon]

46. Oh, yeah

We can't speak of those conversations without crossing an inappropriate line, but the Zapruder (sp) film keeps coming to mind. Anyone who thinks the CIA only gathers intelligence is well indoctrinated and wrong.

[napi21]

36. Thank you for posting that. I can't pretend that I cn know how the Intelligence agents feel about

the treatment they've received from The Con. Thanks to you, I have at least a little insight into that.

I heard yesterday that "LOTS" of intelligence agents are resigning. These are the staff people who stay throughout sever administrations. The estimate of staff loss that I saw was HALF! Half of the agents in all the different national security departments! If that proves to be real, the intelligence of the USA is going to be extremely vulnerable. The remaining staff CAN'T pick up the slack. It's TOO MANY GONE! To make matters worse, hiring new ones will not only be difficult, but HALF of all the departments will be NEWBIES! I'm not putting down the new employees. I'm just pointing out the lack of experienced agents will have a frightening effect on our Intel depts. and the only thing that can fix it...TIME! we can only HOPE nothing serious is missed during the learning curve.

[rzemanfl]

48. You aren't considering the fact that any new staff would be stupid enough to work for Drumpf or

actually want to!

[napi21]

49. I did actually consider that, but I know there are LOTS of people out there, especially new grads

who want a job so bad, they'd gladly take a job with one of our National Security agencies. I don't know what kind of training someone needs to qualify for a job there, but I'm sure there are anxious candidates eager to apply. Remember, youth is quite gullible sometimes. They won't realize how bad it is until THEY experience it first hand.

[meadowlander]

55. And those newbies will be trained

by the remaining experienced officers who are the kind of people who don't have a problem with working for the Trump administration.

Which will poison an entire generation of intelligence officers.

[turbinetree]

7. Let's revisit what a "republican" fascist administration thought of CIA operatives

let's ask Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Scooter Libby what they thought and let's also not forget one Judith Miller, for old time sake.

How many democrats have "outed" a CIA operative

[Cosmocat]

10. RIGHT?

It truly is exasperating what they can do and the country could give a fuck vs what they contrive out of NOTHING and scream bloody murder and democrats get destroyed - see, Clinton, Hillary.

All this never ending horror over the complete bullshit e-mails by Trump and the Rs during the race, it ends and a few weeks later he brings a general who actually plead guilty to mishandling classfied documents and no one gives a shit.

[turbinetree]

14. We are seeing right before our very eyes the "NORMALIZATION" of Fascist corruption

and not one media type that I have seen, (quit watching MSM, have gone full blown sites like this , Crooks and Liars, and other sites, that are reputable) when they bring on a talking head, they don't do "live" fact check and challenge these people, put it up on the screen right then and there, nope, they have to have "panel" to discuss there opinions to further the BS and then cut to a commercial. And not one of them will say the word "fascist" and tie those (fascist) people to that word.

Not one of them, has asked the simple question---------do you know what a fascist looks like and what does it means.

You can only throw your hands up for so many times---------I haven't yet




Sorry for the rant

[Fast Walker 52]

18. the Diane Rehm show other day had a guy on who basically said trump showed all the signs of fascism

It was great to hear it on NPR. But of course they had some conservative idiots who made me literally scream, deny it all, and complain that why can't rightwingers use the Fascism term for Leftwingers.

[roamer65]

35. It's because fascism is a autocratic right wing ideology.

[Cosmocat]

26. That's fine

rant on.

It is pretty pent up in me, because it is like the Invasion of the Body Snatchers out there, people just seem to not give a fuck.

I have given up because the country has, but it still bothers the absolutely shit out of me.

[bdamomma]

45. corporate media

not MSM which they never were. They were enablers to this sick SOB. All looking out for their jobs and $$$$$$$$.

We need net neutrality.

[napi21]

37. someone told me yesterday that tthe Dems MUST startt behaving like the Pubs!

He said he meant "Fighting fire with fire!" Lying, cheating accusing people without any proof. It's the ONLY THING the Pubbies understand. At the time, I said "We just don't do that!' I was told "Well you better well learn!" I've been thinking zbout it ever since and I really think he's right.

[DFW]

23. And Valerie is married to a Republican

Although these days, Joe is more likely to describe himself as a "former Republican."

[tavalon]

47. I mused on this one a great deal when it happened

People have died for what I consider less reason. I'm guessing the shrub and Darth Cheney got a get out of dead free card, compliments of Poppy. Since the CIA has no problem offing anyone, up to and including the President, I was quite frankly surprised. But maybe the CIA of the aughts is a kinder, gentler CIA? Who knows, I mean, other than the CIA.

[ffr]

8. Imminent danger. Brought to you by old bitter white men and women

who barely know how to toast bread, let alone what is right for this country. Intelligent liberal minded people already know this about the CIA. We empathize with their plight and we tried to give them an over qualified leader.

Seems our education system has failed to get through to enough people this time to make a difference for us all.

Stupid is as stupid does.

[ffr]

9. This article should be in the Good Read section. Excellent piece!

The job of a CIA case officer is to spot and recruit “assets,” or people who have access to the information American policy makers need. By agreeing to cooperate with a clandestine representative of the United States government, assets must, by definition, commit an act of betrayal against the individual, the organization, or the nation that entrusted them with the sensitive information the CIA is asking them to give.
<snip>

To a person, every asset I ever recruited or worked with genuinely believed that, in providing information to the United States government, he or she was doing something that in the long run would help right wrongs, improve circumstances both locally and globally, and possibly avert large-scale tragedies.
<snip>

...why should someone risk his or her life to provide sensitive information that the world now knows will go unread in our highest office? Why should assets continue to provide insight, data, access, or materials, when all of those things can be summarily dismissed in a blithe morning talk show comment? The why determines the what.
<snip>

If Trump continues to publicly scorn the CIA’s briefings and conclusions, assets and cooperative foreign intelligence services will become increasingly disinclined to provide sensitive information. Without confidence that their cooperation will have any kind of positive effect, the risks quickly outweigh the results. On an individual level, the why determines the what, and without the motivation of knowing that their sacrifices will ultimately make a difference, CIA sources may choose, in Trump’s parlance, to walk away from the deal.

Like I said, imminent danger. Putin's ideal worst-case scenario for U.S. leadership; putting a person in the highest office who cannot appreciate the risks others take, nor having the patience to understand the gravity of the information they provide.

[Sentath]

12. Why is this a picture of text?

I know screen readers have gotten better at recognizing and reading images, but there isn't even any alt text or image description.

[Ccarmona]

15. Rex Tillerson

And Exxon have their own intelligence apparatus in place so in TrumpWorld there's no need for the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.

[They_Live]

16. trump puts every American at risk

with his ignorance. we are in peril.

[C Moon]

19. The cyberthreat is the one I believe we'll be seeing soon.

The Third-Right would love to do away with our communications with each other.
I've been noticing a lot of hacking going on with big companies lately (even my own websites have been taking hits from Russia and Ukraine), and cell phone service was completely out in an area of Southern California a couple days ago (I didn't look into it, maybe a tower went down, I don't know). Some of this activity was happening just before the election, and people were wondering if it could have been test runs on our election day.

I know I'm being paranoid. I've never been more paranoid in my life—but we've never lived through something like this before: a right-wing fascist-leaning President, right-wing congress and senate, and rumors of Russia having ties with our right-wing President.
It's scary enough for me to draw paranoid conclusions.
I've even considered hooking up the landline again.

[FuzzyRabbit]

27. Just because you're paranoid

doesn't mean that no one is out to get you.

In this case, they are.

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. Electronic Frontier Foundation -full page ad in Wired

[Madam45for2923]

50. Thanks for posting that!

[RKP5637]

51. K&R!!! n/t

[Fast Walker 52]

21. I understand this post, it is a huge problem, but over the years, the CIA has gotten a terrible

reputation. Typically it was the left/independents/libertarians that distrusted them, now conservatives too? So now the left has to defend the CIA.

But I just don't fucking get how Republicans tolerate this insanity from Trump.

[hadEnuf]

25. Trump and his fascist cabal do not want to know any intelligence information.

They want their Reichstag fire to solidify their power.

[moondust]

29. "erode the motivation"

Indeed, why bother gathering intelligence--especially if it involves risk to someone's personal safety--if the parties it is meant to inform simply ignore it or make up their own version of what is going on in the world (from the comfort of their gilded echo chamber)?

Just hire some Fox News "experts" to make stuff up.

Oh wait...that's what he's doing...

Monica "Obama is not black" Crowley?

[Buckeye_Democrat]

39. Maybe we'll end up invading another country that had nothing to do with an attack?

What fun!

Flag lapels, freedom fries, superficial country music songs about patriotism and more people saying, "If you don't like it, you can get the hell out!"

[Mc Mike]

40. If this repug creep lets an attack hit the US, like the last repug creep did,

anyone who pretends America should unite behind him will be a traitor for stating that pretense.

[War Horse]

42. Trumps lack of patience has been a strength for him

in getting him as far as he's actually gotten. That lack of inner calm that always leads one to explore new pastures. If you look up the word "driven" in a dictionary, it might define him (yeah, I'm being kind here).

In the business world, that may pay off. And it usually does. In a POTUS, it's downright scary.

[Golden Raisin]

52. For someone supposedly so "smart" it seems

a bit foolhardy to antagonize and make an enemy of the CIA.

[AgadorSparticus]

53. I don't think trump is stupid. He is following Bannon's orders

And Bannon has made it clear his intention is to tear everything down. There is a fine line between evil and brilliance. They are putting a Crack into the foundation of the intelligence community. They want to demoralize and then paralyze these agencies.

[McCamy Taylor]

56. It will make him liable for the next 9-11.

So, I expect the CIA to do everything in its power to predict when terrorist attacks will occur--so they can play a big game of "I told you so" when Trump does nothing and it happens.

[YOHABLO]

60. Trump is a paranoid narcisist. He doesn't trust anyone but his small cabal of thugs.

To his detriment of course. Let's hope that the next 9/11 doesn't involve a nuclear weapon.