Intelligence Community (IC)

Robert Draper’s book To Start a War details why the Bush administration made a gravely mistaken decision, despite having clearly met the jus ad bellum criteria of “right intention.”

To have former heads of our most important and sensitive agencies spinning conspiracy theories as if they were facts can only do harm to our government and our trust in our intelligence services.

If we cannot agree on what is true and where to find the truth—even on whether there’s such a thing as truth—how can we develop, build support for, and carry out policies that defend our nation and deter our enemies?

We were mostly right about his hateful rhetoric, fundamental dishonesty, trade wars, admiration for foreign dictators, and wild inconsistency. But we overestimated Trump’s competence and work ethic. His ability to bring material harm to the United States has been limited by how little he works and how little he knows about the presidency.

John Brennan, who could be credibly blamed as one of the waterboarding program’s chief supporters, seems to escape with little to no blame, while Gina Haspel, who was carrying out the orders of her higher-ups, gets accused of moral impropriety because she was tasked with implementing their plan.

While Trump’s bluster and temperament seem ill-suited to the subtleties of diplomacy he is surely not the cause of our current predicament.

In light of its actions in 2016, there should be no question as to whether Vladimir Putin’s Russia is or can be a friend.

Are Edward Snowden and his fellow travelers laureates or reprobates? There are several factors that should be considered as we generate a verdict.

Here’s what you should know about the partnership that has been described as the “Five Eyes,” the “world’s most exclusive intelligence sharing club.”