This of course had immediate consequences for American hostages, but one can also draw a line back to the Iranian revolution to explain much of American/Iranian relations today.įascinatingly, Chris and Kai opined that MBS of Saudi Arabia today may be mirroring the Shah of Iran in the 1970s.
Helms was also, however, implicated in the flawed Domino Theory that ultimately drew America deeper into Vietnam - the theory purported that if one country fell to communism, the surrounding countries would also fall.Ĭiting another intelligence failure, Chris and Kai examine President Carter’s biggest foreign policy blunder - Iran.Īmerican intelligence community missed the Iranian revolution entirely, illuminating a complete misunderstanding of internal Iranian Politics. What is more clear, however, is the CIA’s role in some pivotal moments in American history.Ĭhris and Kai discuss Richard Helms, the quintessential spymaster - he was a career intelligence officer, who viewed the president as his only client he was also a great dancer and loved dry martinis. We actually don’t even know that, but Chris’ educated guess is in the tens of thousands. To illustrate the extent of the CIA’s secrecy, Kai opens with a simple question - How many people work at the CIA?
However, not to these two guests - it’s clear from their research, their writing and this conversation that Chris and Kai are two of the most knowledgeable observers of the CIA living today. For an institution with so much brand recognition - the Rolls Royce of government if you will - it remains a mystery to most. We at The Common Good are extremely fortunate to have hosted this intimate, comprehensive and timely conversation between author and journalist, Chris Whipple and author and historian, Kai Bird, about the CIA - its innerworkings, successes and failures, role in American history, and ultimately its fundamental purpose.
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