January 29, 2019: Heads of U.S. Intelligence Disagree with President Trump

 

1/29/19: The six heads of U.S. intelligence, representing 17 agencies, testify publicly before a Senate panel. If the 42-page report compiled by experts is seen as representing a grade card of Trump’s first two years in office, the best you can say is Twitter Thumbs has an “incomplete.” 

Depending on your grip on reality, you might go as high as a “C.” Diplomacy is always hard, no matter the president. As a former history teacher this blogger might suggest it’s almost impossible for anyone to score higher than a “B” in an always chaotic, complex world. If you’re paying close attention, however, you might give Trump an “F,” in part because he continues to insist he deserves an “A+.” Delusion in diplomacy is always a danger. 

Director Dan Coats.

 

ISIS not defeated; North Korea still has all its nukes. 

Has ISIS been defeated, as Trump claims? Director of U.S. National Intelligence Dan Coats, picked by Trump for the job, disagrees. “While ISIS is nearing territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria,” he told a Senate panel, “the group has returned to its guerrilla warfare roots while continuing to plot attacks and direct its supporters worldwide. ISIS is intent on resurging and still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria.” 

“We must keep our eyes on ISIS,” Coats said. 

Trump had claimed, earlier this month, that the problem of a nuclear North Korea was also essentially solved. “Now, I say this: North Korea, we’re doing very well [emphasis added, unless otherwise noted],” he told gathered reporters. “And again, no rockets. There’s no rockets. There’s no anything. We’re doing very well.” 

Coats disagreed: 

We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD [weapons of mass destruction] capabilities, and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival. Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization.

 

There have been reports the North Koreans are building new missile launching sites even as they “negotiate.” 

Gina Haspel, Director of the C.I.A. was asked about Iran, the country Trump would most like to bomb. Here’s how The Times of Israel sums up her testimony: 

Iran is still abiding by the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal despite the US pullout from the multinational agreement, CIA chief Gina Haspel said Tuesday.

 

“At the moment technically they are in compliance” with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Haspel told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

 

“I think the most recent information is the Iranians are considering taking steps that would lessen their adherence to JCPOA as they seek to pressure the European to come through with the investment and trade benefits that Iran hoped to gain from the deal,” she said.

 

Or you might put it this way. Iran still has zero nukes, just as Obama hoped would be true when he and leaders of Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia negotiated the JCPOA deal. 

 

The best news Trump hears all day. 

Now that Trump has pulled out of the deal, the Iranians are restive. The danger is clear. With little to lose, they may decide to void the JCPOA and start working toward gaining nuclear weapons, themselves. Iran may become a bigger problem than ever. North Korea still has all its nukes. The President of the United States believes he’s the best deal maker in the history of our country. 

Last, but not least, F.B.I. Director Christopher Wray says he expects the Russians to interfere in the 2020 election. 

This is the best news the president hears all day.