December 10, 2020 – In Breaking News – ABC News
In a surprising move, the Pentagon has told the Central Intelligence Agency that it plans to end the majority of the military support it provides to the agency’s counterterrorism missions by Jan. 5, according to a former senior administration intelligence official.
It is unclear how the decision would impact the spy agency’s worldwide counterterrorism missions that often rely on the U.S. military for logistical support and personnel.
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller sent a letter to CIA Director Gina Haspel outlining the decision, according to the former official, who characterized the action as both surprising and unprecedented.
The CIA’s Special Activities Center carries out covert operations and has its own paramilitary force that carries out counterterrorism operations.
While they act as an independent force, they often rely on the military for transportation and logistical support.
(From the Armed Forces to the NSA to the Treasury Department, learn more the 16 different agencies and organizations that collect intelligence for the U.S. government—and the 17th office that oversees them all. Courtesy of The Washington Post and YouTube.)
Sometimes that means that military personnel end up being detailed to support the CIA’s counterterrorism operations.
Neither the CIA nor the Defense Department responded immediately to ABC News’ requests for comment about the Pentagon’s decision
Defense One was first to report that the Pentagon was reviewing its support to the CIA.
The online defense news outlet cited multiple officials as saying the intent behind the move is to see if Defense Department personnel “detailed” to the CIA should be diverted from counterterrorism missions and toward missions related to competition with Russia and China.
Multiple former and current administration and military officials confirmed this to ABC News.
Continue reading… Pentagon plans to cut most of its support to CIA’s counterterrorism missions
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
