The Bunker – News without the nonsense Watch the Spies – Can the CIA survive Trump?
Jul 11, 2025
Tim Weiner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and national security correspondent, delves into the complex history of the CIA, revealing its controversial methods and challenges following 9/11. He discusses the agency's evolving role and how political dynamics during the Trump era have impacted its operations. Weiner explores the threat of autocracy to intelligence integrity and underscores the delicate balance between governance and respect for national security. His insights raise pivotal questions about the future of American intelligence in a politically charged landscape.
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CIA Executes Presidential Policy
- The CIA executes presidential foreign policy and rarely acts independently.
- Presidents must be accountable for the CIA's actions they authorize or tolerate.
CIA's 9/11 Mission Shift
- After 9/11, the CIA's mission shifted overwhelmingly to counterterrorism, overshadowing its core espionage roles.
- This singular focus diluted traditional intelligence gathering against state adversaries like Russia and China.
CIA's Election Intervention Success
- CIA officers who traditionally targeted terrorists pivoted to tackling Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
- Under clandestine chief Tom Rakusan, they succeeded in penetrating the Kremlin to warn of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
