67. A Tale of Two Spies: The former heads of MI5 and MI6 on the Iraq War, double agents, and the IRA
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Quality of Expertise Over Operational Intensity
Following the surge in counterterrorism efforts after 9/11, MI6 neglected to properly train its personnel on legal boundaries, leading to issues with the law. Despite this, they maintained a strong Russia unit and were strengthening their China unit due to the increasing challenge posed by China. The speaker, having worked in the foreign office, admired the unmatched expertise on China within MI6. Although operational focus on certain regions reduced to prioritize counterterrorism, expertise in key areas remained high.
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