Consider This from NPR Keeping America Safe: CIA Director Burns reflects
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Jan 14, 2025 
Bill Burns, the Director of the CIA, shares insights from his tenure, including a significant moment when the agency successfully eliminated Al Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. He discusses the ongoing global threats, like ISIS and cyber dangers from China. Burns emphasizes the importance of navigating complex adversarial relationships, particularly regarding Russia and the Ukraine conflict. He also touches on humanitarian concerns in Gaza and the delicate negotiations for a ceasefire, underscoring the personal sacrifices of CIA officers and the challenges awaiting his successor.
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Model House
- CIA Director Bill Burns keeps a model of the Kabul house where al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed.
- This symbolizes both successful counterterrorism efforts and enduring challenges.
Handling Putin
- Understand Putin's reliance on control, intimidation, and suspicion.
- Help Ukraine maintain leverage in any negotiations and consistently inflict costs on Russia.
Ukraine War Assessment
- Careful choices by the president allowed Ukraine to hold the line and make advances against Russia, particularly in 2022.
- Ukraine faces significant manpower challenges despite their courage, a disadvantage Putin exploits.