Monday, May 4, 2015

Former CIA Deputy Director In New Book: CIA Failed To See Al-Qaeda "Rebound'. Benghazi Attack Has Been politicized

Former Deputy CIA Director Michael Morell leaves a meeting in Capitol Hill in Washington November 15, 2012. Morell said the Republicans and the White House had both distorted the events surrounding the Benghazi attack in 2012 Reuters/Jose Luis Magana

Washington Post: Former CIA official cites agency’s failure to see al-Qaeda’s rebound

U.S. intelligence agencies ­badly misjudged al-Qaeda’s ­ability to take advantage of political turmoil in the Middle East and regain strength across the region after Osama bin Laden was killed, according to a new book by the CIA’s former deputy director.

Senior U.S. intelligence officials have previously acknowledged failures to anticipate the Arab Spring movement, which toppled governments in the Middle East and North Africa. But the former official, Michael ­Morell, wrote that the CIA compounded those errors with optimistic assessments that the ­upheaval would prove devastating to al-Qaeda.

“We thought and told policy-makers that this outburst of popular revolt would damage al-
Qaeda by undermining the group’s narrative,” Morell wrote in the book, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post ahead of its release later this month.

More News On Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morrel's New Book

Former CIA deputy director says US misjudged Al Qaeda's resurgence after bin Laden's death -- FOX News
'US intelligence agencies misjudged Arab Spring, impact on al Qaeda' -- Economic Times
Ex-C.I.A. Official Rebuts Republican Claims on Benghazi Attack in ‘The Great War of Our Time’ -- NYT
Former CIA Official Michael Morell Says GOP Distorted Benghazi Intelligence In New Book -- IBTimes
Former CIA deputy director rejects Republican Benghazi claims -- UPI
CIA Official Refused Role in Powell’s Iraq Speech, Morell Writes -- Bloomberg

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