How Populist Politicians Threaten National Security

 

Politicians exploit the Populist Movement for their own political gain

The populist movement in the U.S. is a political ideology that prioritizes the voices of the common people, but its anti-establishment and conspiracy-fueled sentiments harm national security. This movement undermines the credibility and trust in key democratic institutions, including the intelligence community and law enforcement.

     Politicians are exploiting it for personal gain, further eroding democracy and stability. This has led to false information being spread about the intelligence community, which hinders cooperation, impedes investigations, weakens the intelligence community's resources, and undermines the rule of law.

     An example of this is President Trump's repeated criticism of the CIA and FBI, casting doubt on their work and credibility, disputing intelligence assessments, attacking the Russia investigation, and criticizing law enforcement (I’m still reeling from then President Trump calling the FBI a cancer on society back in 2018). These actions reduce the resources and support available to the CIA and FBI, making it more difficult for them to carry out their missions to protect America.

     U.S. politicians are jumping on the populist movement bandwagon and end up harming the intelligence community by discrediting its work, hindering cooperation, impeding investigations, weakening its public support, and by undermining the rule of law. These actions can have serious consequences for national security, as the intelligence community relies on the cooperation and trust of the public to effectively do its job.

     This political landscape serves as a backdrop for the thrilling events in the spy thriller novel "THE SHADOW WAR". The protagonist, CIA operative Corey Pearson, faces obstacles as he tries to stop a bioweapon attack against the U.S. while being hindered by a U.S. Senator who spreads conspiracy theories about the CIA and FBI.

     The novel highlights the dangers of populist movements and their potential to harm national security by undermining the credibility and trust in key democratic institutions, such as the CIA and FBI. The novel serves as a cautionary tale, reminding readers of the importance of supporting and valuing the work of the intelligence community in order for it to maintain a safe and secure nation.

     In recent years, former President Trump was one of the key politicians who used populist movement to harm the intelligence community, discrediting its work and casting doubt on its credibility through his tweets and public statements. He also hindered cooperation and impeded investigations by declassifying intelligence and publicly disputing intelligence assessments.

     I devoted the 12/29/2018 issue of the “Spy Agency Happenings!” newsletter to the widening gap between then President Trump and the U.S. Intelligence Community. The newsletter was entitled “President Trump’s War Against the U.S. Intelligence Community”, and includes many examples of him repeatedly rejecting the conclusions of the CIA and FBI on major foreign policy issues.

     Similarly, other politicians besides President Trump used populist rhetoric to further their own political aims by harming the intelligence community:

     Discrediting their work: In 2019, Senator Rand Paul said, "I think the intelligence community has become politicized. They’re coming after the President; they’re coming after his family." This statement discredited the work of the intelligence community and cast doubt on its credibility.

     Hindering cooperation: In 2020, Senator Ted Cruz said, "The intelligence community’s decision to spy on a political campaign is unacceptable and must be thoroughly investigated." Cruz discouraged individuals and organizations from working with the CIA and FBI, hindering their ability to gather intelligence and conduct investigations.

     Impeding investigations: In 2020, Senator Josh Hawley said, "The FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation was politically motivated and undermined the public’s trust in the agency." How can the FBI conduct investigations and gather intelligence with a dark cloud like this hanging over their heads?

     Weakening the intelligence community: In 2020, Representative Devin Nunes announced, "The intelligence community has a history of abuse, and we need to make sure they are accountable." This statement weakened the public’s trust in the CIA and FBI and reduced their resources and support.

     Undermining the rule of law: In 2020, Representative Matt Gaetz said, with no evidence, "The FBI’s actions in the Russia investigation were politically motivated and undermine the rule of law." This lie not only undermined the rule of law, but the ability of the FBI to enforce it as well.

     And, of course, there’s Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia who spread conspiracy theories about the FBI and the intelligence community. She supports the QAnon conspiracy theory that the intelligence community is involved in a global pedophile ring. She has accused the FBI and the CIA of being involved in the 9/11 attacks.

     These politicians are warping the populist movement agenda in a way that harms the intelligence community, thus diminishing the ability of the CIA and FBI to protect the nation. It is important for leaders to support and value the work of these agencies, rather than undermine it for political gain.

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.