THE GLOBAL COALITION TO DEFEAT
ISIS.
PLUS RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL,
GENERAL BARRY McCAFFREY.
I FOLLOW YOUR TWITTER FEED VERY
CLOSELY.
I JUST WANT TO HEAR WHAT’S ON
YOUR MIND, GENERAL McCAFFREY.
>> WELL, IN 50 YEARS OF DEALING
WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS.
I WORKED IN BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSES ON
NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.
WHAT IS THE CHANCE FROM YOUR
EXPERIENCE THAT THE INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY WOULD BE REPORTING THE
GRU IS PUTTING OUT A BOUNTY ON
U.S. SOLDIERS, IT WAS WIDELY
DISSEMINATED, IT WAS THE SFBTUBJ
OF AN NSC MEETING OF THE POLICY
GROUP AND THAT THE PRESIDENT
MADE, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, FIVE
PHONE CALLS TO PUTIN AND NOBODY
CAME IN AND SAID, MR. PRESIDENT,
THIS GUY IS TRYING TO MURDER
YOUR SOLDIERS.
OBVIOUSLY, HE KNEW ABOUT IT.
THERE’S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND,
AND HE WAS SO KEEN ON BEING
SUBSERVIENT TO RUSSIAN AND PUTIN
INTERESTS FOR WHATEVER REASON,
TRYING TO GET THEM TO JOIN THE
G7 THAT HE TOOK NO ACTION.
NORMALLY WHEN OUR TROOPS GET
THREATENED IN A BATTLE ZONE LIKE
AFGHANISTAN, WE TELL THE INTEL
GUYS TO FIND THOSE WHO ARE
THREATENING UAND INGING UAND WE
THEM.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST
RESPONSE FOLLOWED BY A
DIPLOMATIC RESPONSE TO THE
RUSSIANS TELLING THEM TO KNOCK
IT OFF.
PERSONALLY, IT’S SHOCKING.
>> GENERAL McCAFFREY, I DON’T
WANT TO LET THAT GO.
THE CHANCES ARE ZERO.
AND I WORKED FOR A PRESIDENT WHO
ADVOCATED POLICIES THAT WERE
PLENTY CONTROVERSIAL AND HE’LL
LIVE WITH THAT LEGACY UNTIL THE
END OF TIME.
BUT ANY THREAT TO AMERICAN
SOLDIERS ANYWHERE, ANY THREAT TO
AMERICANS ANYWHERE WAS BROUGHT
TO HIS AT ANY POINT WHETHER IT
WAS A TIP, WHETHER IT WAS
CORROBORATED, WHETHER IT WAS
ABOUT TO BE REALIZED.
WHAT IS THE DYSFUNCTION IF THEY
HAVE TO -- HERE’S THE PROBLEM
WITH THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE.
EITHER THEY SHIELD HIM FROM ANY
CREDIBLE LEADS.
AND THIS WAS CREDIBLE ENOUGH
THAT WE ALERTED THE BRITISH.
THEY CONVENED A DEPUTY -- SOUND
LIKE A PRINCIPALS MEETING IN THE
WEST WING OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS
REPORTING THEY RAN THE MONEY
DOWN.
THEY ALREADY FOUND THE MONEY.
THAT’S USUALLY THE END OF THE
INVESTIGATION.
IT WOULD SUGGEST THE CIA, THE
PENTAGON, THE STATE DEPARTMENT,
IF THE BRITISH HAD BEEN ALERTED
AND MAYBE THE FBI.
ADAM GOLDMAN SAID THEY’RE
INVESTIGATING IT LIKE A CRIME.
THEY ALL KNOW.
EITHER THE PRESIDENT CAN’T
HANDLE THE TRUTH OR HE KNEW AND
WAS STILL COURTING VLADIMIR
PUTIN.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT DONALD
TRUMP AND VLADIMIR PUTIN?
>> IT’S ACTUALLY INEXPLICABLE.
I DON’T THINK THE RUSSIANS CAN
BELIEVE THEIR EYES AND EARS THAT
THEY’VE GOT SOMEBODY ACTING TO
FURTHER THEIR INTERESTS AND
EMBRACING THEM IN PUBLIC,
ATTACKING THEIR EUROPEAN UNION
NATO ADVERSARIES FOR THEM.
IT’S SIMPLY ASTONISHING.
IT’S NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
20 YEARS FROM NOW -- BY THE WAY,
WHEN HE’S OUT OF OFF, THE
RUSSIANS WILL OUT HIM AND SAY
THIS IS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO
INFLUENCE TRUMP.
BUT FOR NOW, WHAT WE’VE GOT ON
THE FACE OF IT IS SOMEONE WHO
REFUSES TO CONFRONT RUSSIAN
ADVERSARIAL EFFORTS WHICH
INCLUDE KILLING OUR TROOPS.
SO WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM.
CONGRESS’ OVERSIGHT FUNCTION,
WHERE WERE THEY.
WHAT DID SECRETARY ESPER TELL
THE CENTCOM COMMANDER?
WHY DIDN’T THE CIA RUN THEIR OWN
COVERT OPERATION TO BAG SOME OF
THESE RUSSIANS IN AFGHANISTAN?
WHY DIDN’T WE JAM THE BANK
ACCOUNTS?
THESE PEOPLE BEAR A HEAVY
RESPONSIBILITY.
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY PROCESS IS
BROKEN.
>> YOU WERE PART OF THAT
NATIONAL SECURITY PROCESS.
I IMAGINE IT PAINS YOU TO HEAR
THAT.
WOULD YOU AGREE?
>> I COULDN’T AGREE MORE.
LOOK, THIS STORY IS JUST
SICKENING ON SO MANY LEVELS TO
THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE VANTAGE
POINT OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN OVER
THERE IN AFGHANISTAN.
I SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF MY
PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN WAR ZONES
WITH THESE MEN AND WOMEN.
IF THERE’S AN ASSUMPTION THE
COMMANDER IN CHIEF, THEY’RE
UNDER HIS COMMAND AND RNDUNDER H
CARE.
IF SOMETHING IS IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL DAILY BRIEF IT’S OF
SIGNIFICANT IMPORT AND HE KNOWS
ABOUT IT AND IT’S PRESUMED HE’LL
TAKE ACTION.
HERE IT’S NOT JUST THE
PRESIDENT, MAYBE HE DIDN’T KNOW,
HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING.
HE SPOKE WITH PUTIN FIVE OR SIX
TIMES AFTER HE KNEW SOMETHING.
NOT ONLY DID HE SPEAK WITH HIM.
HE INVITED HIM BACK INTO THE G7.
SO THIS IS TOTALLY INEXPLICABLE
BUT THERE’S A LARGER POINT.
AND IT GETS TO THE PDB.
THE PDB IS THE MOST -- ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN
THE WORLD.
ONE OF THE MOST RIGOROUSLY
CONSTRUCTED DOCUMENTS IN THE
WORLD.
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ONLY
GETTING THIS INFORMATION EARLIER
THIS YEAR BUT IN JANUARY AND
FEBRUARY, ACCORDING TO "THE
WASHINGTON POST," THERE’S A
DOZEN WARNINGS ABOUT THE
PANDEMIC COMING OUT OF CHINA.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THE PRESIDENT AT THAT
TIME WAS TALKING TO XI JINPING
SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE.
THIS IS A PRESIDENT THAT IS A
VORACIOUS CONSUMER OF
FOX & FRIENDS IN THE MORNING BUT
NOT A VORACIOUS CONSUMER OF THE
INTELLIGENCE BEING PRESENTED TO
HIM TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY AND OUR
PERSONNEL SAFE.
WE’RE IN DEEP TROUBLE HERE AND
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER DOT IN THE
MOSAIC.
YOU ALWAYS SAY IT CAN’T GET
WORSE.
THIS STORY IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THIS FINAL POINT.
I WAS AN NSC SENIOR DIRECTOR.
IT’S MY JOB TO CONSUME
INTELLIGENCE.
I SPEND AN HOUR EVERY MORNING
DOING THAT.
AND YOU ASK YOURSELF IN THAT
POSITION, WHAT DO I KNOW AFTER
READING THIS?
WHO NEEDS TO KNOW?
AND DID I TELL THEM?
AND IF THIS IS IN THE BOOK,
RUSSIA HAS A CHANGE OF POLICY TO
TARGET OUR TROOPS AND PUT
BOUNTIES ON OUR TROOPS, THE
PRESIDENT NEEDS TO KNOW.
GENERAL McCAFFREY COULD NOT BE
MORE RIGHT.
THE CHIEF OF STAFF, EVERYBODY
READING THAT INTELLIGENCE NEEDS
TO BE BATTING DOWN THE DOOR TO
SAY, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A
PROBLEM.
AND NEXT TIME YOU SPEAK WITH
VLADIMIR PUTIN, YOU NEED TO SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> BRETT, WHICH PART OF THIS
ENDANGERS U.S. TROOPS MORE?
THE FACT THAT THIS IS WHERE --
THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE SO BRAZEN
THAT THEY’RE, ONE, TRANSFERRING
MONEY FROM GRU-LINKED ACCOUNTS
TO THE TALIBAN NOT TAKING MORE
CARE TO HIDE THE MONEY.
THEY CERTAINLY MUST KNOW WE’D GO
LOOKING FOR IT.
OR THAT THE RUSSIANS NOW KNOW
THAT TRUMP, WHEN IT IS KNOWN,
WHEN IT IS REVEALED, THAT
RUSSIANS PAY THE TALIBAN TO
SLAUGHTER U.S. SOLDIERS DID
NOTHING?
>> WELL, IT’S BOTH.
AND EVEN THE FACT THAT NOW THIS
IS OUT, THE PRESIDENT STILL HAS
NOT -- IT’S UNBELIEVABLE.
THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT ONCE SAID,
I’M GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF THIS.
I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE MY PEOPLE
ARE PROTECTED, AND I’M GOING TO
TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT MY
PEOPLE.
HE ACTS LIKE THIS IS ALL ABOUT
HIM.
IT’S NOT ABOUT HIM.
IT’S ABOUT OUR MEN AND WOMEN
OVERSEAS.
IT’S ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF OUR
COUNTRY.
SO I AGREE WITH GENERAL
McCAFFREY.
I’VE NEGOTIATED WITH THE
RUSSIANS.
I’VE SAT ACROSS THE TABLE WITH
THEM ON SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE
SYRIA.
YOU SAY, IF YOU CROSS THIS LINE,
WE WILL KILL YOU.
OKAY?
THAT’S KIND OF THE CONVERSATION.
BUT THE RUSSIANS KNOW, ANY
DIPLOMAT WHO IS FACING OFF
AGAINST THE RUSSIANS, THEY KNOW
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE
THAT THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE
THE BACK OF OUR DIPLOMATS.
HE DOES NOT HAVE THE BACK OF OUR
SOLDIERS BECAUSE PUTIN CAN GET
ON THE PHONE AND TRUMP WILL
CHANGE HIS MIND IN A MOMENT.
EVERY WORLD LEADER KNOWS THIS.
ERDOGAN, XI JINPING.
IT’S PUT OUR COUNTRY AT RISK.
THERE’S 100-SOMETHING DAYS UNTIL
AN ELECTION.
A LOT CAN HAPPEN OVER THESE
SEVEN MONTHS.
WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS, AN ECONOMIC
CRISIS, A RACIAL JUSTICE CRISIS.
THE ONE THING WE DON’T HAVE IS
AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CRISE,
I BUT I WOULD ANTICIPATE ONE IS
COMING AND THIS WHITE HOUSE AND
THIS PRESIDENT IS SO
DYSFUNCTIONAL, THEY ARE NOT
READY TO HANDLE IT.
IT’S AN INCREDIBLY SERIOUS
MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AND THIS
IS ONE DOT IN THE MOSAIC OF
EVERYTHING THAT WE’VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF
YEARS SINCE I CAME OUT OF THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
IT’S ONE MORE PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE.
>> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GET BOTH
OF YOU ONE MORE QUESTION.
DONALD TRUMP LIKENED THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO NAZIS
AFTER HE WAS ELECTED, BEFORE HE
WAS INAUGURATED.
THEN WENT AFTER JIM COMEY
BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO DROP THE
FLYNN INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN SMEARED McCABE, THE FBI
DIRECTOR I GUESS BECAUSE HIS
WIFE HAD THE AUDACITY TO RUN FOR
OFFICE.
THEN WENT AFTER THE 17 STATE
DEPARTMENT AND CAREER DIPLOMATS
WHO TESTIFIED IN THE IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL.
HE EXTORTED A FOREIGN LEADER.
NONE OF THIS ELICITED A PEEP,
NOTHING FROM ANY REPUBLICAN
OTHER THAN MITT ROMNEY.
NOW WE’VE GOT, ACCORDING TO "THE
NEW YORK TIMES," THREE AMERICAN
SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
BECAUSE RUSSIANS PAID BOUNTIES
TO TALIBAN MILITANTS.
TRUMP WAS BRIEFED ON IT AND DID
NOTHING.
IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STILL A
PARTY, GENERAL McCAFFREY?
>> WELL, NORMALLY I TRY AND
EVADE STRICTLY PARTISAN ISSUES.
I KNOW A LOT OF THESE SENATORS
WHO ARE REPUBLICANS AND ADMIRE
THEM.
THEY’RE JUST GOOD PEOPLE.
ROB PORTMAN AND OTHERS.
AND IT ABSOLUTELY IS MYSTIFYING
TO ME THAT THEY ARE REMAINING
SILENT IN THE FACE OF, NOT JUST
MR. TRUMP’S ABSOLUTE LACK OF
CHARACTER, BUT ALSO ACTIONS THAT
HE’S TAKING THAT ENDANGER THE
UNITED STATES.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE NOTION OF
YANKING A THIRD OF OUR TROOPS
OUT OF GERMANY IN AN OBVIOUS
TIFF OVER ANGELA MERKEL REFUSING
TO COME TO HIS G7 MEETING
BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS WILL BE
THERE, IT’S JUST AMAZING.
HE TAKES ACTIONS IN PUBLIC THAT
ARE FAVORABLE TO OUR
ADVERSARIES.
HE’S AN IMPASSIVE, CRUDE,
IGNORANT MAN WHEN IT COMES TO
THESE NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.
BY THE WAY, THAT’S NOT REALLY A
NEW FINDING.
HELSINKI TO ME WAS THE TURNING
POINT.
I HAVE WORKED WITH THE CIA FOR
30 YEARS.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SMARTEST
PEOPLE IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
THEY’RE DEDICATED, BRAVE.
THEY GET KILLED OVERSEAS ALL THE
TIME TO INCLUDE IN AFGHANISTAN.
AND FOR HIM TO PUBLICLY DISOWN
HIS OWN LOYAL, TALENTED PUBLIC
SERVANTS IS ASTONISHING.
WE ARE IN TROUBLE.
>> BRETT, YOU QUIT OVER
SOMETHING THE REPUBLICANS REALLY
WERE PRETTY QUIET ABOUT.
IT WAS DONALD TRUMP’S ACTIONS IN
SYRIA.
SECRETARY MATTIS ALSO WALKED
AWAY OVER A POLICY DISAGREEMENT
THAT RESULTED IN GRAVE DANGER
AND THE DEATH OF OUR ALLIES, THE
KURDS.
ARE YOU SURPRISED THERE ISN’T A
POLITICAL PARTY ON THE RIGHT
THAT STANDS FOR THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY
AGENCIES LIKE THE MILITARY, LIKE
THE CIA WHO CAN’T SPEAK OUT FOR
THEMSELVES?
>> I SERVED IN THE BUSH WHITE
HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS.
IT WAS DOWN TO 48% APPROVAL.
A LOT OF PARTISANSHIP.
WE NEVER HAD SERIOUS BRIEFINGS
ABOUT INTELLIGENCE TO ONE
POLITICAL PARTY.
LIZ CHENEY CAME OUT WITH A
STRONG STATEMENT.
WE’RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF THIS.
WE’RE GOING TO PROTECT OUR
PEOPLE.
IF THIS IS TRUE, THERE WILL BE
CONSEQUENCES.
THAT SHOULD NOT BE HARD TO SAY.
I CERTAINLY HOPE REPUBLICAN
MEMBERS SAY THAT.
I HOPE THE PRESIDENT SAYS IT.
I DISAGREE WITH GENERAL
McCAFFREY.
WE’RE IN TROUBLE.
IT’S NOT JUST THIS STORY.