Leslie Salzillo / The Daily Kos & Edward Price / The Washington Post – 2017-02-25 19:56:26
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/02/21/1636262/-Former-CIA-analyst-and-NSC-director-writes-fierce-op-ed-on-why-he-resigned-from-Trump-Administration
CIA Analyst and NCS Director Pounds Trump
In Fiery Op-ed Describing Why He Resigned
Leslie Salzillo / The Daily Kos
(February 21, 2017) — After working with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and also serving as the Senior Director of the National Security Counsel (NSC), Edward Price resigned last month. On Monday, Price released a bold and unabashed op-ed letter/video in the Washington Post giving reasons for his departure. Those reasons predominantly condemned the actions of Donald Trump and his Trump “team.”
Price says that despite serving under a Republican and Democratic presidents, he could not, “in good faith” serve this administration as an intelligence professional. He adds that submitting intelligence analysis to President Obama and President George W. Bush, who were receptive to briefings, was rewarding.
But like most of the country, Price found himself in awe as Trump slowly rose to power during the 2016 election year. The third debate, Price says, had him in disbelief as Trump casually casted doubt on the “high-confidence [conclusion] 17 intelligence agencies released that month, that Russia was behind the hacking and release of election-related emails.” Now Price says he finds that Trump’s actions in office have been even more alarming.
After serving in the CIA for over a decade, Price confers about his disgust with how Trump chose to talk about the size of his inauguration crowd while standing in front of the CIA memorial the day after being inaugurated.
“Trump’s actions in office have been even more disturbing. His visit to CIA headquarters on his first full day in office, an overture designed to repair relations, was undone by his ego and bluster.
“Standing in front of a memorial to the CIA’s fallen officers, he seemed to be addressing the cameras and reporters in the room, rather than the agency personnel in front of them, bragging about his inauguration crowd the previous day.
“Whether delusional or deceitful, these were not the remarks many of my former colleagues and I wanted to hear from our new commander in chief. I couldn’t help but reflect on the stark contrast between the bombast of the new president and the quiet dedication of a mentor — a courageous, dedicated professional — who is memorialized on that wall. I know others at CIA felt similarly.”
Price said Trump’s appointment of White House Chief Advisor/Strategist Steve Bannon to the National Security Council was the final catalyst that led to his decision to resign.
“The final straw came late last month, when the Trump White House issued a directive reorganizing the National Security Council, on whose staff I served from 2014 until earlier this year.
“Missing from the NSC’s principals committee were the CIA director and the director of national intelligence. Added to the roster: the president’s chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, who cut his teeth as a media champion of white nationalism.
The public outcry led the administration to reverse course and name the CIA director an NSC principal, but the White House’s inclination was clear.
It has little need for intelligence professionals who, in speaking truth to power, might challenge the so-called “America First” orthodoxy that sees Russia as an ally and Australia as a punching bag. That’s why the president’s trusted White House advisers, not career professionals, reportedly have final say over what intelligence reaches his desk.”
In his letter, Price also makes it clear his decision to resign was not about political parties, saying he would have been proud to work with a Republican president receptive to intelligence analysis, but this administration has “flipped that dynamic on its head” tuning out actual intelligence professionals.
Price believes until Donald Trump is prepared to listen to the intelligence community, he and team are doing yet another “disservice to the dedicated men and women and the nation they proudly, if quietly, serve.”
Read the full Washington Post letter and/or view the video [see below].
Kudos to Edward Price. The continued truth and fearlessness coming from intelligence, military, and national security personnel is what this country needs. It makes the national Resistance stronger and more diverse, and it brings us closer to the inevitable forced resignation of Donald Trump.
Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
Why I left the CIA: ‘There Is a Strong
Feeling of Demoralization’ under Trump
(February 21, 2017) — Edward Price, a former analyst and NSC spokesman, said he thought he’d spend his career at the CIA. The Trump administration changed his mind.
