BuzzFeed has learned of proposals presented to the Trump White House by private companies to create a special spy network using contractors. These private spies would carry out intelligence gathering, propaganda and even rendition of suspected terrorists. If it were to become a reality, it would mean a dramatic shift in a very sensitive area of our national security.
Donald Trump has not exactly had a chummy relationship with this country’s intelligence community. He has sparred with the CIA and the NSA, calling former leaders of the agencies “political hacks.” Then he chose to take Vladimir Putin’s word over the CIA’s on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. It’s safe to say some of the spies aren’t thrilled with their Commander-in-Chief. They’ve been leaking information like a sieve but would agents refuse to carry out orders from the White House? That’s the bottom line question.
“The system does not work,” one source who is sympathetic to the Amyntor efforts told BuzzFeed News. “The people leaking this to you just want to destroy the president.”
Aram Roston, BuzzFeed News
Or perhaps assure the American people our intelligence services have some degree of accountability. In the annals of bad ideas, this one is right up there at the top. Look, there’s no doubt this country is using more and more private contractors in the military. During World War II, the U.S. used about 10 percent private contractors. In Iraq and Afghanistan that number jumped to 50 percent according to this piece on America’s addiction to mercenaries from The Atlantic. But don’t forget that we won the American Revolution in large part to our victory at the Battle of Trenton which was between American rebels and German auxiliaries contracted for military service by the British government. Trump wants to use private spies? That’s a whole new and dangerous playing field with potentially catastrophic consequences.