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Pentagon announces plans to withdraw its military support to CIA's international counterterrorism missions by January
The Pentagon is planning to cut most of its military support to the Central Intelligence Agency's counterterrorism operations by January 5, according to reports.
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller revealed the surprising decision in a letter to CIA Director Gina Haspel, ABC News reports.
It is not yet known how the unprecedented move will affect the agency, which often relies on the military for logistical support and personnel when it carries out counterterrorism missions, and if it will endanger their officials still on the ground.
According to Defense One, the Pentagon decided to withdraw the support as it reviews whether the military personnel assigned to CIA details could instead be moved to other missions related to Russia and China.
It also comes as Trump continued a post-election push to shrink U.S. involvement in counterterrorism missions abroad.
While the CIA has its own paramilitary force to carry out counterterrorism operations, military personnel are often added to the detail to aid with transportation and logistics.
These military personnel have been regarded as the backbone of physical security for CIA operations in Afghanistan and other active combat zones.
They have also been a part of some of the most high-profile clandestine counterterrorism missions over the past two decades, Defense One reports.
Other departments and agencies don't need to be as large because DoD supports a ton of other functions across government,' one former military official told the publication.
'Imagine all the additional resources the CIA would need if they couldn't rely on DOD for support!'
A Defense Department spokesperson told ABC that the removal of personnel support was in line with the National Defense Strategy - rolled out by then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in 2018 - which is pushing focus onto competitors in Russia and China instead of focusing on wars in the Middle East as they have over the past 20 years.
'As a responsible actor, the department has taken a look to better align its allocation of resources with the 2018 National Defense Strategy's shift to great power competition,' said Lt. Col. Uriah Orland.
www.dailymail.co.uk
- Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller told CIA Director Gina Haspel that the Pentagon plans to cut support to the agency's counterterrorism operations
- The CIA's covert counterterrorism missions generally rely on the military for logistical support and personnel
- The unprecedented move could greatly affect the agency's ability to carry out these missions and potentially endanger CIA officials, experts warn
- CIA and Defense Department spokespeople both claimed their partnership remains strong despite the decision
- The Defense Department claimed it is reviewing how personnel assigned to CIA details could instead be used on missions related to Russia or China
- It comes as Trump continued a post-election push to shrink U.S. involvement in counterterrorism missions abroad
The Pentagon is planning to cut most of its military support to the Central Intelligence Agency's counterterrorism operations by January 5, according to reports.
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller revealed the surprising decision in a letter to CIA Director Gina Haspel, ABC News reports.
It is not yet known how the unprecedented move will affect the agency, which often relies on the military for logistical support and personnel when it carries out counterterrorism missions, and if it will endanger their officials still on the ground.
According to Defense One, the Pentagon decided to withdraw the support as it reviews whether the military personnel assigned to CIA details could instead be moved to other missions related to Russia and China.
It also comes as Trump continued a post-election push to shrink U.S. involvement in counterterrorism missions abroad.
While the CIA has its own paramilitary force to carry out counterterrorism operations, military personnel are often added to the detail to aid with transportation and logistics.
These military personnel have been regarded as the backbone of physical security for CIA operations in Afghanistan and other active combat zones.
They have also been a part of some of the most high-profile clandestine counterterrorism missions over the past two decades, Defense One reports.
Other departments and agencies don't need to be as large because DoD supports a ton of other functions across government,' one former military official told the publication.
'Imagine all the additional resources the CIA would need if they couldn't rely on DOD for support!'
A Defense Department spokesperson told ABC that the removal of personnel support was in line with the National Defense Strategy - rolled out by then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in 2018 - which is pushing focus onto competitors in Russia and China instead of focusing on wars in the Middle East as they have over the past 20 years.
'As a responsible actor, the department has taken a look to better align its allocation of resources with the 2018 National Defense Strategy's shift to great power competition,' said Lt. Col. Uriah Orland.
Pentagon plans to cut support to CIA's counterterrorism missions
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller told CIA Director Gina Haspel in a letter this week that the Pentagon plans to cut support to the agency's counterterrorism operations.
