Is the Head Of the CIA a Useful Idiot, or a Peacemaker?

Image Credit: Flickr / flickr.com

CIA often fails to provide accurate intelligence to inform US decision-making, stuck in its own echo-chamber.

[{"selector":"#anim-33887aeb-5e65-4cdd-9e7c-400279ef16fe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.6177890264845807e-15%, 2.661386636061668e-7%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-006e9443-a1e4-4e06-bb2f-d5c9c7c75b22","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63c6fa77-76ee-4af9-8303-4daf8393a829","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 111.27156%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Biden's choice of Bill Burns for CIA Director provides valuable diplomatic expertise, especially for Russia relations.

[{"selector":"#anim-fdcfb51b-83f2-40d7-8077-541355ca0a72 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.6177890264845807e-15%, -1.1937604028243742%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba4c557f-c95b-4b19-aaba-04a2fc227304","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdbee564-1e86-4ea5-a72a-4e06d0d36cc4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Bill Burns, as CIA Director, hasn't publicly called for peace talks in Ukraine, unlike others.

[{"selector":"#anim-eb53e615-451d-4b1d-835d-d5418a69e6dd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.5073072807720915%, -6.140350877192985%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fb303bf-a662-467a-948e-d2f1a4a51356","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf29d548-6f18-477c-b03d-76fee254ecf2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

In the current pro-war climate, Bill Burns might be labeled a Putin apologist for past concerns.

[{"selector":"#anim-6e3f9b20-b820-4bac-9bdc-3daa410045ab [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.19024023028953072%, -4.244482112396593%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e7adf30-eaa8-4293-99f2-8ec2e7acbe0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee52bf8a-455e-444c-9b14-c4152fa72750","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Burns confirmed in his 2019 memoir that a promise made to Gorbachev on NATO expansion was broken.

[{"selector":"#anim-ddcc59b9-435a-439a-9dee-391e8bb83b92 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.12682682019302136%, -3.050721443433551%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5051ca8-6941-4be1-bd6f-7f2a20326853","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69983af9-94e6-487b-9174-6472354059eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit: Flickr / flickr.com

Burns reported widespread Russian opposition to early NATO expansion, which strained relations for years.

[{"selector":"#anim-78e145eb-82ba-45d2-b5e8-55f7fe8c26eb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(4.238552330850781%, -3.3664043163048287%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfdea4d6-5bbb-4905-a178-4d65136cf236","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ffb832d-3c1d-42b7-a010-18766caa52f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Bill Burns became US ambassador to Russia in 2005, facing challenges, including NATO expansion tensions.

[{"selector":"#anim-ed873d7c-846a-446f-8855-82666d50c35e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.3557787078633978%, -5.491870808147864%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a8e3f74-0e6b-48e9-8a18-817e30e2614b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ae46a13-9e79-4692-ac33-c08c3c93992c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

In 2008, Burns opposed NATO invitation for Ukraine and Georgia, voicing concerns to Secretary Rice.

[{"selector":"#anim-97d45a0a-b2ff-458c-afb7-fb9ce78f791a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.3526375145805463%, -4.029604687950955%) scale(0.8771929824561403)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7aa82434-8483-4fdc-b12f-8487cdc34e8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86afc33b-5909-4a8e-bc42-cd33a0ca245e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.88166%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credit: Flickr / flickr.com

CLICK HERE TO READ

[{"selector":"#anim-775dd8c8-7080-4a27-b227-b90209473a67","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]