British writer diana, i regret we cant be with you in person this evening at the Ronald Reagan President Foundation institute. But we are here both spirit and virtually our foundation. Toby philanthropies is proud to support George Shultz fellowships and lecture series. We established this program in december of 2020 in honor of georgias hundredth birthday. It was pleased to have his legacy enshrined in this manner. One short month later, we said goodbye to him, as you all know, George Shultz had an illustrious career in government academe and in the business world. He was a mentor to many myself. He was also my journalist friend, taught our privilege to play a part in distinguished scholars together for a series of roundtable such as this evenings program, which honors georgias life leadership and legacy. We look forward to a future occasion where we can meet with you in person. Thank you for being here this evening. My name is Anthony Eames and i am the director scholarly initiatives
good evening. i m mehdi hasan. picture the scene. a cult leader gathers hi followers in waco, texas, as law enforcement closes in. described as a pathologica liar and comment, the cold later rails against th government, rages against th godless left, and depict himself as the chosen one. his disciples eat it up. they worship him they even vowed to give thei lives for him. now, am i describing david - the infamous leader who wa killed along with 75 of hi cold members in the fbi sieg of his waco compound in 1993 or, i might describing forme president donald trump because trump we ll be hosting his first mccartney of 2023 in waco, next weekend, on the 30t anniversary of the waco siege. and, while of course, trump is not accused of the kind of her horrific crimes and delusion that correct was, he is him choosing waco to host maga rally right now is just a little too on the nose for me. but, will he even be there i waco next saturday he doesn t seem to think so. the former pre
trump cornered his desperate attempt to control the narrative ahead of potential indictment his niece, mary trump, is here along with professor - plus, zero accountability. 20 years to the day afte george w. bush launched hi illegal iraq war also tonight, march for ou lives cofounder david on th gun reform movement, and o president biden s new executiv order. good evening. i m mehdi hasan. picture the scene. a cult leader gathers hi followers in waco, texas, as law enforcement closes in. described as a pathologica liar and cinman, the cul leader rails against the government, rages against th godless left, and depict himself as the chosen one. his disciples eat it up. they worship him they even vowed to give thei lives for him. now, am i describing david koresh, the infamous leader wh was killed along with 75 of hi cult members in the fbi sieg of his waco compound in 1993 or, i might describing forme president donald trump because trump we ll be hosting his first mcc
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 the c i a is, are constantly changing and evolving organization in many ways. Thats a good thing. Gone, for example, are the days of illegally experimenting on human beings in a program known as m. K. Ultra also gone are the days when the stated operational directive was simply to recruit spies to steal secrets, and then to analyze those secrets so that the countrys most important and senior policy makers could make the best informed policy possible. The post 911, c, i a, is much more of a Paramilitary Force than it ever was before. And new words and phrases have entered the lexicon because of that words like rendition and phrases like enhanced interrogation techniques. To be sure, the c, i a has had more than its fair share failures over the decades. But it has always been an integral part of the National Security and Foreign Policy establishment. Many of us opened in early 2021. That investment or bill burns was an inspired choice to take over the agency. He be the adul
International affairs are at the top of the news around the world with hot conflicts and ukraine, gaza, and this a hell and wouldnt be confrontations in the taiwan straits, the red sea and elsewhere. Theres a lot of reporting about various visits of the us secretaries of state and defense and sensitive negotiations with this country or that. But whats the role of the c i a and all of this . Is that little different now that the c i is led by a professional diplomat. And how different is it now that the c i a is less and intelligence Collection Agency and more of paramilitary body will get the answers to those questions and more with a bona fide experts. Im john kerry onto welcome to the whistle blowers the. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 the c i a is, are constantly changing and if solving organization in many ways thats a good thing. Gone. For example, are the days of illegally experimenting on human beings in a program known as m. K. Ultra also gone are the days when the stated operational directiv