GLOBAL COALITION TO DEFEAT ISIS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
NOW A DISTINGUISHED LECTURER.
DR. BRENNAN, I’LL START WITH
YOU.
YOU. YOU TWEETED YESTERDAY, QUOTE, WE
ARE NOW IN A FULL-BLOWN NATIONAL
SECURITY CRISIS, IN REACTION TO
THE NEWS THAT DONALD TRUMP GOT
RID OF HIS ACTING DIRECTOR OF
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND
REPLACED HIM BECAUSE THE ODNI
ACTUALLY WENT AND DID ITS JOB,
BRIEFING THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR
FRIENDS, FROM YOUR FORMER
COLLEAGUES INSIDE THE
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES TODAY?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS
TREMENDOUS CONCERN THAT THIS
JUST IS A CONTINUATION OF THE
TREND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN FOR
QUITE SOME TIME.
DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN VERY
DISMISSIVE AND EVEN DISPARAGING
OF THE INTELLIGENCE PROFESSION
AND INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS
AND THEIR PRODUCTS.
IT’S ONE THING FOR HIM TO IGNORE
IT.
IT. IT IS ANOTHER THING FOR HIM TO
ACTIVELY TRY TO PREVENT THE
CONGRESS FROM GAINING ACCESS TO
THE INTELLIGENCE THAT IS SO
NECESSARY FOR THE CONGRESS TO BE
ABLE TO DO ITS JOB.
SO I THINK THEY SEE THIS AS
PRETENDING EVEN GREATER EFFORTS
ON THE PART OF TRUMP TO PUT HIS
LOYALISTS IN POSITIONS SO THEY
CAN SQUELCH THE INTELLIGENCE
NECESSARY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.
THIS IS A CRISIS.
>> YOU’VE WORKED FOR SIX
PRESIDENTS, THREE REPUBLICANS,
THREE DEMOCRATS.
THREE DEMOCRATS. >> THAT’S CORRECT.
>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS?
LIKE THIS? >> NEVER, EVER.
I DIDN’T AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE
PRESIDENTS’ DECISIONS THROUGHOUT
THE COURSE OF THE SIX
ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT I NEVER GOT
THE SENSE THAT THEY DIDN’T WANT
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO DO
ITS WORK.
ITS WORK. TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL
AS TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRAN.CHBRA
WHAT WE’RE SEEING NOW IS AN
ANOLLA
ANOLLA ANOMALY FROM THE PAST, THE
INDEPENDENCE AND IMPORTANCE OF
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
TWO NON-PARTISAN OFFICIALS HAVE
BEEN REMOVED AT THE HELM OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. MAGUIRE AND THEN A SENIOR CIA
OFFICER WHO WAS HIS DEPUTY.
IT IS A DECAPITATION OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. WHO IS GOING IN THERE?
SOMEONE WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE,
NO CREDENTIALS AS FAR AS THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS
CONCERNED, RICHARD GRENELL.
THEY CAN ONLY -- INTELLIGENCE
PROFESSIONALS CAN ONLY SEE THIS
AS ONE MORE EXAMPLE THEY ARE NOT
BEING ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB.
>> WE’VE TALKED A LOT OVER THE
LAST THREE YEARS, DIRECTOR
BRENNAN, ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONS,
THE INSTITUTIONS HOLDING IN THE
FACE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE RIGHT
NOW AS WE TALK SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES?
IF THERE IS THIS, AS YOU PUT IT,
DECAPITATION AT THE TOP OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS, HOW DOES THAT
INSTITUTION HOLD?
INSTITUTION HOLD? >> IT IS A GOOD QUESTION,
WILLIE.
WILLIE. I’M HOPING THE INTELLIGENCE
PROFESSIONALS ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO DO THEIR BEST TO
PROVIDE THE INTELLIGENCE AND THE
ANALYSIS THAT THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH, AS WELL AS LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH, NEEDS.
BRANCH, NEEDS. THEY NEED TO TRY TO DO IT
DESPITE THE HEADWINDS THEY’RE
FEELING COMING FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE.
HOUSE. A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, I’M
SURE, ARE BEING INTIMIDATED AND
NOW WILL BE PULLING PUNCHES.
THEY DON’T WANT TO BE SHOWN THE
DOOR.
DOOR. IT IS ONE THING FOR THE SENIOR
PROFESSION UNTILS SALS TO BE AXE
WILL THE WHITE HOUSE NOW REMOVE
PROFESSIONALS TRYING TO DO THEIR
JOB BUT WILL FACE THE WRATH OF A
VINDICTIVE DONALD TRUMP?
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE THEN TO
YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
STILL FIGHTING THE FIGHT INSIDE
THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES?
>> CARRY OUT THOSE
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU SWORE
AN OATH TO DO.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT VERY
SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY, WHETHER
YOU’RE INTELLIGENCE OR A
DIPLOMAT OR IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YOU NEED TO CARRY OUT YOUR
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE GREAT
EGSGREATE
EGSGREATE SE T
SE T GREATEST INTEGRITY.
GREATEST INTEGRITY. I WOULD SAY, DON’T LEAVE, BUT DO
YOUR JOB TO THE BEST THEY CAN.
>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON ALL OF
THIS?
THIS? SPECIFICALLY A PRECEDENT, HAVE
YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS FROM
A PRESIDENT, A WHITE HOUSE, AS
IT RELATES TO THE INTELLIGENCE
SERVICES?
SERVICES? >> I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH JOHN.
OF COURSE, I’VE BEEN IN THE
SITUATION ROOM WITH HIM A NUMBER
OF TIMES.
OF TIMES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR VIEWERS TO
RECOGNIZE, THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY IS THE FIRST LINE OF
DEFENSE FOR OUR NATION.
INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS, IT’S
THEIR JOB TO TELL THE HARD TRUTH
TO POLICYMAKERS, ESPECIALLY THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING HERE
IS CREATING A CULTURE OF SHOOT
THE MESSENGER.
THE MESSENGER. IF INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS ARE --
THERE IS A CHILLING EFFECT FROM
TELLING THE TRUTH, OUR COUNTRY
IS AT RISK.
WE HAVE AN ODNI, DIRECTOR OF
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, BECAUSE
OF THE ATTACKS OF 9/11.
OUT OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION, IT
WAS DETERMINED WE NEEDED THIS
INTEGRATION FUNCTION ACROSS THE
17 INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO
COLLECT INFORMATION, ANALYZE IT,
AND GIVE DECISION-MAKERS LIKE
THE PRESIDENT THE BEST
INFORMATION HE CAN TO HELP
PROTEST THE COUNTRY.
IN TERMS OF HIDING INFORMATION
NOT ONLY FROM CONGRESS -- YOU
KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE IS GOING
ON.
ON. ONE OF THE BEST DOCUMENTS THAT
CAME OUT OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WAS A WORLDWIDE
THREAT ASSESSMENT FROM DAN
COATS, FROM THE DNI ABOUT A YEAR
AGO.
AGO. THE TREND LINES IN THAT
DOCUMENT, YOU TALK ABOUT
SEPARATING SIGNAL FROM NOISE,
WERE A LOT OF TREND LINES IN THE
WORLD ARE RUNNING AGAINST US.
CHINA AND RUSSIA WORKING CLOSER
TOGETHER THAN ANY TIME IN 50
YEARS.
YEARS. IRAN IS MORE LIKELY TO MOVE
TOWARD A NUCLEAR WEAPON BECAUSE
WE GOT OUT OF THE DEAL RATHER
THAN HAD WE STAYED IN IT.
A LOT OF THINGS PRESIDENT TRUMP
DIDN’T LIKE TO HEAR.
THIS YEERKSAR, THERE WILL NOT BE
WORLDWIDE THREAT ASSESSMENT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SEE.
THAT’S ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS.
IT IS QUITE TROUBLING BECAUSE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT
TO SEE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY
PROTECTING ALL SOURCES AND
METHODS, BUT WHAT OUR
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IS SEEING IN
TERMS OF THE FUTURE AND
DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU ARE A DEPUTY
SECRETARY, YOU HAVE ANALYSTS IN
YOUR OFFICE.
YOUR OFFICE. I HAD THEM.
I NEEDED THOSE MEN AND WOMEN TO
TELL ME THE TRUTH EVERY MORNING
F.
F. AND IF THE CULTURE IS, I DON’T
WANT TO HEAR IT AND I CAN FIRE
YOU IF I DON’T LIKE IT, IT IS A
CHILLING EFFECT ACROSS THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. IT’LL IMPACT THE ABILITY OF OUR
MEN AND WOMEN TO PROTECT THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. >> DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU TELL
PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, OR THEIR
KIDS, TO GO INTO THE
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE THE WAY YOU
WENT INTO IT AT THIS POINT?
WOULD YOU TELL THEM TO HAVE A
GOVERNMENT JOB WITH THE WAY
THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I SPEAK TO A LOT OF COLLEGE
STUDENTS.
STUDENTS. I TELL THEM TO DISREGARD THIS
POLITICAL, YOU KNOW --
>> HOW DO YOU --
>> DISREGARD WHAT’S GOING ON IN
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. THIS COUNTRY NEEDS FBI AGENTS
AND CIA OFFICERS AND DIPLOMATS
AROUND THE WORLD.
DONALD TRUMP IS IN A PAINFUL
PHASE THAT WE’RE GOING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
WE NEED TO HAVE AMERICANS WITH
GREAT SKILL AND TALENT TO BE
ABLE TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO
PUBLIC SERVICE.
PUBLIC SERVICE. SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE GOVERNMENT TO
STAY THERE.
STAY THERE. DO THE BEST THEY CAN.
PUSH BACK AGAINST ANY TYPE OF
POLITICAL PRESSURE THEY MIGHT BE
FEELING.
FEELING. BUT FOR YOUNG AMERICANS, TAKE
THIS, IN FACT, AS A RALLYING
CRY.
CRY. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO
THE GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO CARRY
OUT THE DUTIES OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT, INTELLIGENCE, AND
DIPLOMACY.
DIPLOMACY. >> THAT IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
I WANT TO GET TO ANOTHER TOPIC,
BRETT McGURK, AND YOU, DIRECTOR
BRENNAN.
BRENNAN. A WEEK-LONG TRUCE TO REDUCE
VIOLENCE WITH THE TALIBAN.
WHAT IS THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE,
AND WHAT DOES PEACE LOOK LIKE IN
AFGHANISTAN?
AFGHANISTAN? >> WELL, I THINK THE KEY STEP, I
THINK DAVID IGNATIUS SAID IT
EARLIER ON THE SHOW, IS
INTER-AFGHAN TALKS BETWEEN THE
AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND THE
TALIBAN.
TALIBAN. THAT’S SOMETHING THEY’VE NEVER
BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IN 19 YEARS.
I WANT TO SEE IF THAT HAPPENS.
THAT’S CRITICAL.
THAT’S CRITICAL. THE TALIBAN JUST PUT OUT A
STATEMENT THIS MORNING, TOO, AND
SAID THE END GAME HERE IS ALL
FOREIGN FORCES LEAVING THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. THAT SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT THE U.S. OFFICIALS ARE
SAYING ABOUT HAVING A RESIDUAL
FORCE TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON AL
QAEDA NETWORKS AND
COUNTERTERRORISM.
COUNTERTERRORISM. I THINK THERE’S A LOT TO STILL
COME OUT HERE.
WE’LL SEE.
WE’LL SEE. I THINK WE SHOULD BE HOPEFUL.
I THINK ONE OF THE GREAT
DIPLOMATS I HAD THE PLEASURE TO
WORK WITH HAS DONE A GREAT JOB
UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN
WORKING WERE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. WE NEED TO BE HOPEFUL.
THE KEY STEP WILL BE THE
INTER-AFGHAN TALKS.
INTER-AFGHAN TALKS. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THOSE
GAIN SOME TRACTION.
>> DIRECTOR BRENNAN, RELATIVELY
SMALL STEP.
SMALL STEP. TALIBAN SAYS, WE WON’T COMMIT
VIOLENCE FOR A ONE-WEEK PERIOD,
BUT IT IS A STEP.
WHAT DOES PEACE LOOK LIKE TO YOU
VIS-A-VIS UNITED STATES AND
AFGHANISTAN?
AFGHANISTAN? >> I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A
PHASED PROCESS.
PHASED PROCESS. YOU’LL HAVE THE FIRST WEEK.
INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THE
TALIBAN CAN CONTROL SOME OF THE
MORE RADICAL ELEMENTS IN THE
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. IT IS NOT A MONOLIFT.
WE’LL HAVE TO GO INTO THIS WITH
EYES WIDE OPEN.
AS BRETT SAID, THERE NEEDS TO BE
INTER-AFGHAN TALKS TO PUSH THIS
FORWARD.
FORWARD. IT IS NOT JUST THE MILITARY
ISSUE BUT A POLITICAL SITUATION.
GETTING BACK TO WHAT TRUMP IS
DOING TO THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY, THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY FOR THE
LAWMAKERS AND THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
GOING ON.
GOING ON. I HAVE IN HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS
ABOUT AFGHANISTAN.
ABOUT AFGHANISTAN. THE INTELLIGENT COMMUNITYCE COMM
ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE THAT
INTELLIGENCE PERSPECTIVE THAT
THE POLICYMAKERS CAN TAKE AND
MOVE FORWARD.
MOVE FORWARD. IF THE COMMUNITY IS KOWTOWED TO
NOT DO ANYTHING THAT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION DOESN’T WANT TO
HEAR, WE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS
PROBLEM AS WE GO DOWN THE PEACE
PROCESS PASS.
PROCESS PASS. >> DIRECTOR BRENNAN, I’M CURIOUS
ABOUT THE GROWING VOID,
OBVIOUSLY, IN THE STATE
DEPARTMENT AND THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. I’VE HEARD FROM DAY ONE THAT
THERE HAS BEEN JOBS THAT JUST
NEVER GOT FILLED.
ANY IDEA HOW DEEP THE UNTILLED
POSITIONS GO, AND WHAT’S THE
IMPACT ON OUR NATIONAL SECURITY?
>> WELL, I THINK THOSE
APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
MADE AND POSITIONS ARE FILLED BY
ACTINGS, A NUMBER ARE FILLED BY
PROFESSIONALS, WHETHER IN THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OR OTHER
PLACES, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
I’M HOPEING THE PROFESSIONALS
WILL CARRY OUT DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES ABLY.
RESPONSIBILITIES ABLY. IT SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE RANKS
THAT THEIR JOBS AND THEIR WORK
IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GET
THE SELECTION AND NOMINATIONS
THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PUT PEOPLE
IN THERE WITH SENATE
CONFIRMATION.
CONFIRMATION. SO, THEREFORE, I THINK IT IS
RATHER PERVASIVE, AND I THINK IT
UNDERMINES THE ABILITY OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS TO CARRY OUT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES THE WAY THEY
ARE SUPPOSED TO.
>> FORMER CIA DIRECTOR JOHN
BRENNAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT
OFFICIAL BRETT McGURK, THANK
YOU, AS WELL.
>> THANKS, GUYS.
>>> COMING UP, TUESDAY’S DEBATE
IN SOUTH CAROLINA GIVES MIKE
BLOOMBERG JUST FOUR MORE DAYS TO
STEP UP HIS GAME.
WE’RE ALREADY GETTING A GLIMPSE
INTO WHAT HE MIGHT DO
DIFFERENTLY.
DIFFERENTLY. WE’LL HAVE THE NEW REPORTING
AHEAD ON "MORNING JOE."