Amidst the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, a significant internal rift within American intelligence agencies has been exposed. According to a report, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has ceased its participation in intelligence assessments compiled by the nation's highest intelligence office, including those related to the US-Iran conflict. Insiders reveal that this internal conflict stems from a power struggle over jurisdiction that has persisted for over a year, severely disrupting cooperation within the US intelligence system on national security analysis and potentially interfering with the political, diplomatic, and military policy direction of the Trump administration.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Clashes with the Highest Intelligence Office. Informed officials disclosed that the core of the dispute is the "Director's Initiative Group" established by US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe in April last year. This special task force operates under the oversight purview of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and is primarily responsible for "eradicating politicization within the US intelligence system." The group reportedly focuses on declassifying documents related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy and investigating the alleged security of US election voting equipment, displaying a clear conservative political orientation.
Roots of the Dispute
The decision to form the "Director's Initiative Group" has worsened relations among US intelligence agencies, particularly drawing dissatisfaction from the CIA. The report discloses that CIA Director Gina Haspel and other senior officials believe the group, under Ratcliffe's leadership, deliberately bypasses the traditional intelligence sharing and declassification procedures followed by agencies like the CIA, acting unilaterally. Members of the "Director's Initiative Group," however, have stated that the group frequently encounters obstacles when collecting information from the CIA, seeking to share intelligence, and completing investigation tasks assigned by the ODNI, with the conflict between the two sides intensifying.
Impact on Intelligence Operations
Reports further indicate that a series of measures by Ratcliffe have exacerbated friction among US intelligence agencies. For instance, the President's Daily Brief process, traditionally led by the CIA, has gradually shifted to ODNI control under Ratcliffe's intervention. In May last year, Ratcliffe removed two senior CIA officials leading the National Intelligence Council (NIC). In August, Ratcliffe revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former US officials and publicly disclosed the identity of an "overseas undercover CIA officer." Several former US officials analyze that this is likely an action by conservative factions within the Trump administration to retaliate for the 2017 "Russiagate" investigation.
Escalation and Consequences
The ongoing internal contradictions within the intelligence system have triggered the open conflict between the CIA and ODNI. Sources describe the current situation as one where the CIA and ODNI have almost become two separate analytical institutions. Since last year, the CIA has stopped distributing NIC reports on its controlled internal intelligence network; such reports typically play a crucial role during wartime. Following the US airstrike on Iran in February that escalated the conflict, the CIA has not participated in regular intelligence assessment projects related to Iran.
Future Outlook and Concerns
Ratcliffe has announced he will step down by the end of this month, with Trump appointing his political ally, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria, to serve as acting director. It has been noted that Calabria, who lacks any national security expertise, has been eager to help Trump suppress political opponents. If Calabria assumes the role and, as Director of National Intelligence, declassifies more documents and removes more officials, it could further intensify friction among US intelligence agencies and damage the credibility of the intelligence system.
Finally, analysis suggests that the United States has not yet extricated itself from the conflict with Iran, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict shows no signs of abating. With the intelligence system deeply mired in internal strife, the situation is unfavorable for the Trump administration.
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