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CIA Agent - Is This How Israel-Palestine Ends? - Mike Baker

TRIGGERnometry

Sun Dec 17 2023



National Security Advisor's Advice to Israel:

  • Advises taking out the command and control structure and as many resources of the opposition as possible to prevent a return to status quo, which would lead to more deaths on all sides.
  • Emphasizes the need for a reckoning with the Iranian regime, attributing them as the reason behind the conflict.

CIA's Role and History:

  • The CIA originated from the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) post-World War II, modeled after British intelligence operations.
  • Its primary function is to collect global intelligence in response to priority tasking from national security leadership, aiming solely at protecting national security.
  • Acknowledges that during global war on terror, CIA engaged in proactive measures such as targeting high-value terrorist individuals involved in killing U.S. personnel and allies.

Perception of National Security:

  • Defines national security as each nation acting in its own best interests, including defense of borders and economy, often working with allies to protect their shared interests.
  • Discusses warranted suspicion towards CIA activities in Latin America due to inevitable clashes and intrusions while operating an intelligence organization.

Challenges Faced by America:

  • Raises concerns about America's ability to effectively combat serious challenges given its involvement in conflicts like Ukraine and support for Israel despite internal issues.
  • Notes potential fatigue within public sentiment if Ukrainians were not making significant progress against adversaries.

Foreign Policy and National Security:

  • Foreign policy decisions should be independent of domestic political concerns to ensure the protection of national security interests.
  • It is crucial for national security operations to strive for apolitical status, although achieving complete apolitical status poses challenges due to inherent human factors.

Biden Administration's Impact on Global Turmoil:

  • International leaders have extensively assessed Joe Biden over a long period, based on his extensive political history spanning 50 years.
  • Iran perceives the Biden administration as weak, influencing their strategic calculations and actions in the Middle East turmoil.

US-Iran Relations and Financial Support:

  • The US administration has unfrozen assets and eased sanctions, indirectly providing financial support to Iran despite claims that funds are solely for humanitarian purposes.
  • Monitoring the usage of unfrozen funds remains challenging, raising questions about the effectiveness of assertions regarding their intended purpose.

Israel-Palestine Conflict and Hamas:

  • Israel's response reflects an understanding that counterterrorism cannot eliminate all risks but aims at mitigating them within international pressure-influenced decision-making processes.
  • Efforts towards conflict resolution between Israel and Palestine are influenced by international pressure, shaping decision-making processes.

Understanding Non-Western Perspectives:

  • Western perspectives often fail to comprehend non-Western mindsets, particularly regarding disregard for human life and values held dear in Western societies.
  • American worldview may be influenced by its geographical size and historical context, contributing to a different approach towards global affairs.

International Relations:

  • Putin and Xi are skilled at leveraging external threats to unite their populations during internal turmoil.
  • There is potential for a negotiated settlement in Ukraine due to global fatigue and resource constraints on both sides.
  • The conflict between Israel and Hamas may wind down, but the governance of the region remains a significant challenge.

Global Stability:

  • Despite ongoing challenges, there is hope for improvement as the world has shown resilience.
  • Intelligence services need to focus on anticipating future crises rather than just responding to past ones.

China's Economy and Global Impact:

  • China's economy, its underlying problems, and lack of transparency should be a focus due to its global interconnectedness.
  • Understanding the underlying problems with China's economy is crucial given its status as the second largest economy in the world.