SpyTalk Has the CIA Lost Its Grip on the Middle East?
May 19, 2021
CIA veteran and Middle East expert Marc Polymeropoulos talks about the shift away from regional expertise in the CIA and the importance of specialists. He laments the passing of Charlie Seidel, the CIA's 'last great Arabist.' The podcast also discusses the consequences of the US invasion of Iraq, the rising presence of ISIS in Africa, and the need to prioritize expertise and relationships in intelligence gathering.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Introduction
00:00 • 2min
The Loss of Expertise in CIA's Understanding of the Middle East
02:19 • 11min
Charlie's Position on the US Invasion of Iraq and Its Consequences
13:15 • 2min
The Need for CIA Specialists
15:27 • 10min
The Rising Presence of ISIS in Africa and the Dilemmas it Presents
25:49 • 2min
The Importance of Expertise in the CIA
27:27 • 5min