John Kiriakou: CIA Regime Change from Ukraine to Iran
Summary
Former CIA officer John Kiriakou discusses the agency’s transformation into a paramilitary force after 9/11, detailing its involvement in torture, extrajudicial killings, and regime change in Ukraine and Iran. He explains how the CIA manipulates public opinion through civil society organizations and critiques the "deep state" for undermining elected officials. Kiriakou also reflects on his imprisonment for exposing the torture program and assesses the ongoing influence of Israeli intelligence on U.S. foreign policy.
Topics discussed
Introduction of John Kiriakou and his background
CIA's response to 9/11 and the capture of Abu Zubaydah
Critique of the War on Terror and its global impact
Secret prisons, kill lists, and lack of accountability
The art of human intelligence and building relationships
How the CIA organizes coups and regime change
CIA involvement in the 2014 removal of Yanukovych
Recruiting foreign officials and the Ukraine war
Rebuilding security services and corruption issues
CIA and Mossad operations in Iran
US perception as invaders and the Iraq invasion
CIA's historical narrative and post-9/11 expansion
Manipulating public opinion and civil society
Hiding covert budgets through USAID and think tanks
Smear campaigns and the role of NGOs like NED
Failure of human rights organizations to support Kiriakou
Personal realization of the torture program's illegality
Guantanamo Bay and the 'unlawful combatant' category
Espionage concerns and US-Israel intelligence ties
CIA's role in the 2020 election and disinformation
The 'deep state' and bureaucratic continuity
Recruiting presidents and the handling of Obama
The Russiagate hoax and media complicity
Missing narratives and CIA operations in China and Syria
CIA's growing budget and investment in tech
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