CIA Retracts Intel Reports for Failing Political Standards
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has mandated the retraction or significant revision of 19 intelligence products due to a failure to adhere to standards of analytic tradecraft and political independence. These reports, which spanned topics such as LGBT activists in the Middle East, women and White violent extremism, and contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic, were identified during a decade-long review by Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board. Ratcliffe stated these products fell short of the impartiality expected of the CIA and did not reflect the analysts’ renowned expertise, though this action has drawn criticism from some, including Senator Mark Warner, who views it as a troubling pattern of sidelining career experts.
John Q. Hosedrinker