A new report indicates that foreign leaders are wary to trust the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United States</a>&#8216; security apparatus due to a pattern of faulty information subject to &#8220;political manipulation.&#8221; A recent tweet from a former top member of the intelligence community implying that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican-party">Republicans</a> are worse than Islamic extremists and other radicals gives fodder to such beliefs.
According to the Washington Post, our nation&#8217;s allies <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/interactive/2022/ukraine-road-to-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubted</a> U.S. intelligence that Russia would invade Ukraine due to several previous failings like &#8220;emphatic U.S. claims about intelligence on Iraq.&#8221; Others felt that President Joe Biden and the Pentagon &#8220;had vastly overestimated the resilience of Afghanistan’s government as the U.S. military was withdrawing&#8221; only to have the government collapse within days as the Taliban took over with ease.
“American intelligence is not considered to be a naturally reliable source,” François Heisbourg, a security expert and veteran advisor to French officials told The Post. “It was considered to be prone to political manipulation.”
Heisbourg&#8217;s concerns seemed to manifest themselves this week due to the former head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Administration (NSA), General Michael Hayden.
Hayden wants you to believe that the current Republican Party — which <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx">represents</a> roughly 28% of registered voters — is the most &#8220;nihilistic, dangerous &amp; contemptible&#8221; force that he has ever seen. He agreed with a journalist who said as much Wednesday evening.
Friday evening, Financial Times Associate Editor Edward Luce tweeted, &#8220;I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous &amp; contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.&#8221;
&#8220;I agree,&#8221; Hayden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-intelligence-director-bashes-republicans-agrees-they-are-the-most-dangerous-political-force-in-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a>.
&#8220;And I was the CIA Director,&#8221; he added as if to show his bona fides for making such a claim.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I agree. And I was the CIA Director <a href="https://t.co/LRAHDDyy4n">https://t.co/LRAHDDyy4n</a>
&mdash; Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) <a href="https://twitter.com/GenMhayden/status/1560027626626072577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
In reaction to the general&#8217;s claim, Green Beret and Virginia state delegate Nick Freitas retorted, &#8220;Really General? Worse than the Taliban? Worse than Al Qaeda?&#8221;
&#8220;Please explain,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Specifically to those of us who were sent all over the world to fight these groups based on intelligence your agency provided. You owe us at least that much you arrogant ass.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Really General? Worse than the Taliban? Worse than Al Qaeda? Please explain. Specifically to those of us who were sent all over the world to fight these groups based on intelligence your agency provided. You owe us at least that much you arrogant ass. <a href="https://t.co/hGQ2rR5fHs">https://t.co/hGQ2rR5fHs</a>
&mdash; Nick Freitas (@NickJFreitas) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickJFreitas/status/1560284052372033536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
Journalist Matt Taibbi had a similar response. &#8220;So &#8216;today’s Republicans&#8217; are more dangerous than ISIS, Al-Qaeda, etc?&#8221;
&#8220;Given that you used drones to assassinate members of the latter groups, do you think that’s indicated here?&#8221; he pondered.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
So “today’s Republicans” are more dangerous than ISIS, Al-Qaeda, etc? Given that you used drones to assassinate members of the latter groups, do you think that’s indicated here? <a href="https://t.co/3BTL1sDFJ0">https://t.co/3BTL1sDFJ0</a>
&mdash; Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) <a href="https://twitter.com/mtaibbi/status/1560275738590191616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
It is a good question, but so far Hayden has not answered.
He does not need to, because even if he does not support droning Americans we know that he supports using the intelligence community to interfere with American elections. He personally has used his résumé to help cast doubt on accurate news stories that harmed Democrats and Republican opponents.
Hayden was one of the 51 members of the vaunted intelligence community who <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/03/18/intelligence-experts-refuse-to-apologize-for-smearing-hunter-biden-story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a letter saying that the New York Post&#8217;s 2020 story about Hunter Biden&#8217;s infamous laptop — which has since been verified — was Russian disinformation. Americans, as well as social media sites, trusted that folks like Hayden were making such claims out of interest in protecting democracy.
Now, it seems obvious that the folks who signed the letter were merely interested in protecting Democrats and thwarting President Donald Trump&#8217;s re-election. No apologies have been issued from the intelligence community for their bogus letter about the laptop.
It is stories like that — alongside the Russia hoax and more — which could explain why recent polling <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mid-term-exam-all-the-latest-on-the-2022-elections-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicates</a> that a majority of both Republicans and Independents &#8220;believe Trump’s political enemies are behind the FBI raid on President Trump’s private home.&#8221;
The FBI, a part of the same community as Hayden, also appears to be &#8220;prone to political manipulation&#8221; as the French security expert Heisbourg said of America&#8217;s foreign intelligence team.
Of course, America&#8217;s information was correct about Russia&#8217;s invasion (which begs the question as to why Biden didn&#8217;t prepare for the &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-was-warned-of-russias-war-in-october-yet-he-didnt-prepare-for-the-putin-price-hike">Putin Price Hike</a>&#8220;).
The lesson here is not to say that our security experts never get it right, but comments like Hayden&#8217;s certainly fail to help sow confidence domestically or abroad.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Really? Former CIA Director Agrees GOP Is Most ‘Dangerous’ Group Around — Which Explains A Lot

CONTINUE READING

Looks Like Another Biden-Emboldened Islamic Terror Group Is Joining The Fight

‘Totally Inappropriate’: Trump, Others Blast Biden For Giving Palestinians Fresh U.S. Tax Dollars

Biden To Lift Some Venezuelan Sanctions If They Pinky Promise To Hold Free Elections

Where The Hell Is Biden? President AWOL As Americans Killed, Held Hostage In Terrorist Attack

Hillary Clinton Suggests ‘Formal Deprogramming Of The Cult Members’ Of MAGA

Creep State: SEC Investigates Elon Musk’s Twitter Purchase After Biden Said It Was ‘Worth Being Looked At’

Opinion

Michael Hayden

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— Opinion —

Really? Former CIA Director Agrees GOP Is Most ‘Dangerous’ Group Around — Which Explains A Lot