During a time when the “Red Coats” foolishly consumed brew in the pubs of New England harbor towns and locals secretively volunteered to extinguish British rule, George Washington executed some of the world’s most historic covert and clandestine operations– activities currently on the national security endangered species list.
Some more successful than others, but in the end, it was our founding fathers initiatives of covert and clandestine operations which led to the creation of a free independent United States of America. Many believe the nation which our founding fathers envisioned, fought, and died for is on the brink of total collapse today– they may be correct considering one of our most valuable national security tools is in austere jeopardy.
Numerous politicians have lost sight on the value of secretive, human centric, covert and clandestine activities. September 8th, the Washington Times wrote a thought provoking yet disheartening article depicting the current American covert and clandestine activities debacle– “Military, CIA shun 9/11 panel on covert operations.”
For several years following Al Qaeda’s devastating blow to the United States on 9-11, many operatives have spoken out against current “Agency” practices.
HUMINT— “HUMINT is assuredly broken. A series of incapable DCI’s and self-promoting Deputy Directors for Operations have converted what was once a stellar service into a cadre of messenger boys begging for scraps from foreign liaison. This problem began long ago with Admiral Stansfield Turner, who was enamored of technology and dismissive of ethnic case officers whose ‘mustang’ qualities produced results in the field.” (Former CIA officer Robert David Steele)
Clandestine and Covert Operations— “no matter what the bosses say, the CIA hates covert and paramilitary operations.” (Former CIA operative Robert Baer)
Political Correctness— “As for Michael Morell, as with many other successful CIA careerists, his strongest suit seemed to be pleasing his boss and not antagonizing the White House. If past is precedent, his loyalty will be to Petraeus, not necessarily to the truth.” (Former CIA Analyst Ray McGovern)
Risk Aversion–“The bureaucracy is stiff, risk-averse and increasingly filled with individuals who see the CIA as simply another federal job rather than the unique and special place it once was.” (Former CIA operative Charles Faddis)
Today, a new threat has unfolded. The threat has weakened our military, depleted our economy, and our people have been fragmented. The ideology we currently fight has similar effects as that which we faced during the Cold War. Our clandestine and covert services assisted in the defeat of past threats and they can assist in defeating today’s current threat. Political correctness, risk aversion, and self-preservation must be ridden while HUMINT, covert, and clandestine operations must be embraced.
America is grasping for air while a python continues to constrict itself around our nation. The possibility of a slow United States death should never cross any person’s mind. With the failure to incorporate effective covert and clandestine operations as discussed in the 9-11 Commission Report, our lungs may however be permanently damaged. Ten years later, we have still failed to learn the plethora of lessons taught by our adversaries and we have failed to listen to those career operatives who once performed such missions.
Kerry Patton is the Co-Founder of the National Security Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organization pending 501c (3) status. He has worked in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, focusing on intelligence and security interviewing current and former terrorists, including members of the Taliban. He is the author of “Sociocultural Intelligence: The New Discipline of Intelligence Studies” and the children’s book “American Patriotism.” You can follow him on Facebook.