Unidentified Speaker
NEXT WE WILL TAKE YOU LIVE TO THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES EARLIER THAN WE PAY. MIKE POMPEO SPEAKING THERE COME AND THE EVENT IS STARTING. LIVE COVERAGE ON C-SPAN.  Show Less Text
00:00:13
Unidentified Speaker
>> AND HIS PEOPLE CALLED AND SAID HE ONCE TO COME ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE EASTER WEEKEND, I SAID, WHAT THE HELL? LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS AN NORMA'S OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE DIRECTOR. WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HIM HERE. I WOULD SAY WE ARE FORTUNATE AS A COUNTRY THE DIRECTOR IS WILLING TO SERVE AT THIS TIME. HIS LIFE HAS BEEN ABOUT SERVICE. HE WAS THE HIGHEST RANKING CAN THAT AT WEST POINT WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT AND HIS ENTIRE LIFE, CAREER, HAS BEEN ABOUT SERVICE. HE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. FORTUNATELY, HE IS WILLING TO SERVE US AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA. WE YOU PLEASE WELCOME WITH YOUR WARM APPLAUSE DIRECTOR POMPEO. [APPLAUSE]  Show Less Text
00:01:15
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO JOIN ME. I DID PICK THIS PLACE. I WANTED TO THANK CSIS FOR HOSTING ME TODAY. I'M HONORED TO MAKE SOME OF THE FIRST PUBLIC REMARKS AS DIRECTOR OF THE CIA. YOU WILL HAVE -- YOU LAUGHED APPROPRIATELY. WE HAD BILL WEBSTER HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]  Show Less Text
00:01:53
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: IT IS AN HONOR, AND I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS. I THOUGHT I WOULD START TODAY BY TELLING YOU A STORY. ABOUT A BRIGHT, WELL-EDUCATED YOUNG MAN, DESCRIBED AS INDUSTRIOUS, INTELLIGENT, LIKABLE, IF INCLINED TOWARD IMPULSIVENESS AND IMPATIENCE. AT SOME POINT HE BECAME DISILLUSIONED AND BECAME ANGRY AT HIS GOVERNMENT. HE LEFT GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO DEVOTE HIMSELF TO PUBLIC ADVOCACY, EXPOSING THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS AND OPERATIONS THAT HE HAD SWORN TO KEEP SECRET. HE APPEALED TO AGENCY EMPLOYEES TO SEND HIM LEADS AND SUGGESTIONS. HE WROTE IN A WIDELY CIRCULATED BULLETIN, WHERE WE ARE PARTICULARLY ANXIOUS TO RECEIVE COPIES OF U.S. DIPLOMATIC LISTS AND U.S. AND IS THE STAFF. -- EMBASSY STAFF. THE MAN WAS PHILIP AGGEEE. IN COUNTERSPY, RICHARD WELCH WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE STATION CHIEF IN ATHENS. LATER RICHARD'S HOME ADDRESS WAS OUT IN THE PRESS IN GREECE. IN 1975 HE AND HIS WIFE WERE GOING HOME. RICHARD WELCH WAS ASSASSINATED BY A GREEK TERRORIST CELL. THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, IT WAS THE HIGHEST RANKING OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. HE HAD LED A RICH LIFE, ONE THAT IS CELEBRATED WITH A STAR ON THE WALL. HE WAS BURIED AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. PHILIP AGEE PROPPED UP HIS OCCASIONAL STARTS WITH A "PLAYBOY" INTERVIEW. TODAY THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF PHILIP AGEES IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD AND HARDLY INFLICT ON U.S. INSTITUTIONS AND PERSONNEL IS A SERIOUS TODAY AS THEN. IT ALL COMES FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. THEY DO NOT SHARE THE SAME BACKGROUND OR USE THE SAME TACTICS AS AGEE, BUT THEY ARE SOUL MATES. I CAN THEY CHOOSE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN A ROMANTIC LIGHT AS HE ROSE BUFFALO, SAVIORS OF OUR OPEN SOCIETY. THEY CLAIM TO THIS EVEN THOUGH THE DISCLOSURES OFTEN INFLICT IRREPARABLE HARM ON INDIVIDUALS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS, PLEASING DESPERATE ALONG THE WAY. ONE THING THEY DO NOT SHARE WITH AGEE IS THE NEED FOR A PUBLISHER. ALL THEY REQUIRE IS A SMART PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS. IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT, THEY CAN SIMULATE SECRETS -- THEY CAN DISSEMINATE SECRETS ALL AROUND THE GLOBE TO ALL WHO SEEK US HARM. OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST THREATS LIKE THESE IS THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. I FEEL PRIVILEGED AND AM AMAZED THAT AS CIA DIRECTOR I COULD BE PART OF THIS GREAT GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN. I AM THE SON OF A MACHINIST FROM ORANGE, CALIFORNIA. I HAVE NEVER BEEN EAST OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BEFORE COLLEGE, WORKING MOST SUMMERS IN KANSAS. TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH LEADING THE GREATEST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD IS SOMETHING I CANNOT WRAP I HAD AROUND -- MY HEAD AROUND. AND AS AT WEST POINT, I FEEL I AM ON THE SHOULDER OF GIANTS. AFTER I WAS NINE THAN THEY DID -- NOMINATED, I TALK WITH EVERY LIVING DIRECTOR. THEY SPOKE WITH THE NEED TO CALL THINGS AS YOU SEE THEM AND THE APOLITICAL NATURE OF THE JOB. ABOVE ALL THEY SPOKE ABOUT THE ADMIRATION THEY HAD FOR THEIR TIME WITH HIS WORKFORCE AND FOR WHAT -- FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR, THEIR ASSESSMENT IS SPOT ON. I AM STRANDED BY PATRIOTS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO SIGNED UP FOR IT LIFE OF DISCRETION AND IMPACT. THESE OFFICERS HAVE SWORN AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION. THEY HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENTS THAT QUIETLY GO ABOUT THEIR WORK AND TRYING NOT TO GET TOO WORKED UP ABOUT IT THE HEADLINES HAVE INCLUDING THE NOTION THAT THEY SPY ON THEIR FELLOWS TO VISIT BY WAY OF MICROWAVE OVENS. THEY ARE NOT THE LIBERTY TO STAND UP TO THESE NARRATIVES AND EXPLAIN OUR MISSION TO THE PEOPLE. FORTUNATELY, I AM. IN MY FIRST MEETING WITH THE WORKFORCE, I PROMISED I WOULD SERVE THEM AND PEOPLE HOME AND ABROAD WITH THE SAME PASSION AND FIGURE THAT I HAD AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS REPRESENTING KANSAS. THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. AS A POLICY, THE CIA DOES NOT COMMENT ON ACTRESSES A PURPORTED DOCUMENTS POSTED ONLINE. IN KEEPING WITH THAT POLICY, I WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE AUTHENTICITY OF RECENT DISCLOSURES. BUT THE FALSE NARRATIVES THAT INCREASINGLY FORM HER DISCOURSE CANNOT BE IGNORED. THERE ARE FICTIONS THAT DEMEAN THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CIA AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. AND IN THE ABSENCE OF A VOCAL REBUTTAL, THESE VOICES, ONES THAT PROCLAIMED TREASON TO BE COVERED ADVOCACY, GAIN A GRAVITY THEY DO NOT DESERVE. IT IS TIME TO CALL THESE VOICES OUT. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CIA DESERVE A DEFENSE. I INTEND TO DO THAT STATE. FIRST AND FOREMOST WE SHOULD NOTE THE INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE SOLELY IN FOREIGN ESPIONAGE. WE STEAL SECRETS FROM TERRORIST OR HIS AGENTS, AND WE ARE PRIVATE. WE ANALYZE THIS INTELLIGENCE SO OUR GOVERNMENT CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR ADVERSARIES THAT WE FACE IN A CHALLENGING AND TO -- DANGEROUS WORLD. WE MAKE NO APOLOGIES. IT IS HARD STUFF AND WE GO AT HIS HEART. WHEN IT COMES TO OVERSEAS THREATS, THE CIA IS AGGRESSIVE IN OUR PURSUIT OF INFORMATION. WE UTILIZE OUR WHOLE TOOLKIT TO EMPLOY THE CAPABILITIES THE CONGRESS, COURTS, AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAVE PROVIDED TO US. WE DO THESE THINGS BECAUSE IT IS OUR JOB. IT IS WHAT WE SIGNED UP TO DO. IT IS WHAT OUR PRESIDENT NEEDS. IF WE DID NOT HAVE A TOUGH TIME JUSTIFYING OUR BUDGET TO THE TAXPAYERS, THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE. AS THE CEO OF A FIRM NOTED, THE CIA APPEARS TO BE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE PAY THEM TO DO -- EXPORT SPECIFIC TARGETS WITH LIMITED ATTACKS TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE IN CONCEPT, YET INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT IN PRACTICE. I HAVE SEEN THAT IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS. WE WERE TO PROVIDE THE BEST INFORMATION POSSIBLE TO THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION SO THEY CAN ADVANCE OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AND PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. THE MISSION AT THE CIA HAS THREE OUT FOR YEARS QUIETLY AND EFFECTIVELY, COMPETENT REMAIN CLASSIFIED -- A CONGRESSMAN'S REMAIN CLASSIFIED AS YOU CAN COME UP IN A FEW ARE KNOWN TO THE WORK. THE CIA WAS A PLAYER IN THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AND CONTINUES TO BE TODAY. WE HELPED UNRAVEL A SMUGGLING NETWORK, ASSISTED IN GATHERING AT 10 MILITANTS TO PERSUADE -- INTELLIGENCE TO PERSUADE LIBYA. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGICAL. THE U2 AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED,. WE HAVE PUSH THE BALL -- BOUNDARIES. CIA TECHNOLOGY IN 2003 LEAD TO GOOGLE EARTH. MY FIRST MONTHS ON THE JOB HAVE ONLY REAFFIRMED THAT THIS SPIRIT AND ATTITUDE ARE ALIVE AND WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CIA DOES NOT DO. WE ARE A FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. WE COLLECT INFORMATION ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE LIKE, NOT AMERICANS. A NUMBER OF ROLES KEEP US CENTERED ON THAT MISSION PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS. TO TAKE ONE EXAM, THE CIA IS PROHIBITED FROM SPYING ON PEOPLE THROUGH ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE IN THE UNITED STATES. TO NOT HAVING ANYONE'S PHONE IN WICHITA. I KNOW THE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SKEPTICS AND WE NEED TO BUILD TRUST WITH THEM. I ALSO KNOW FIRST HAND FROM WHAT I SAW AS A MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE AND FROM WHAT I SEE NOW AS A DIRECTOR, THE CIA TAKES ITS RESPONSIBILITY'S TO THE OPTIMIST -- WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS. WE HAVE AN EMPOWERED INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. MOREOVER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SILVER SCREEN, WE DO NOT PURSUE COVERT ACTION ON A WHIM AND WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OR ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE IS A PROCESS THAT STARTS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CONSISTS WITH MANY LEVELS OF REVIEW. WHEN IT COMES TO COVERT ACTION, THERE'S OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND I'D HERALDED AN AGENCY THAT HAS RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION. IT IS EMBEDDED IN THE FIBER OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE CIA. DESPITE FICTIONAL DEPICTIONS MEANT TO SELL BOOKS OR TICKETS, WE ARE NOT AN UNTETHERED AGENCY. SOME TRULY AWESOME CAPABILITIES, OFFICERS DO NOT OPERATE IN AREAS AGAINST TARGETS THAT ARE LEGALLY OFF-LIMITS. AT OUR CORE WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS COMMITTED TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND GETTING IT RIGHT. WE DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PROTECTING OUR TRAY. WE WORK HARD TO MAINTAIN GLOBAL COVERAGE. HE SPENT HOURS PUTTING INFORMATION AND PRORING OVER REPORTS. SOMETIMES WE HAVE FAILED TO LIVE UP TO STANDARDS OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE BEEN CATALOGUED WELL OVER THE YEARS, EVEN BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT. THESE MYSTICS -- MISTAKES ARE PUBLIC. THEY ARE PUBLIC TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OTHER NATION COULD NEVER MATCH HIM WHAT IT IS OUR DUTY TO GET AT RIGHT. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE CELEBRATE WIKILEAKS TO BE PERPLEXING AND TROUBLING. WHILE WE DO OUR BEST TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON THOSE WHO DOES REAL THREATS TO OUR COUNTRY, INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS JULIAN ASSANGE AND EDWARDS NOTED SEEKS TO USE THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES. AS LONG AS THEY MAKE A SPLASH, THEY CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE LIFE THEY PUT AT RISK OR THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED TO NATIONAL SECURITY. WIKILEAKS WALKS LIKE A HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES AND TALKS LIKE A HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. IT HAS ENCOURAGED ITS FOLLOWERS TO FIND JOBS AT THE CIA IN ORDER TO FIND INTELLIGENCE. IT DIRECTED CHELSEA MANNING IN HER SET OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION. IT SEEKS SUPPORT FROM ANTI-DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. IT IS TIME TO CALL OUT WIKILEAKS FOR WHAT IT IS, A NONSTATE HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OFTEN ASSISTED BY COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA COULD. THE GRU OBTAINED THROUGH CYBER OPERATIONS AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, AND THE REPORT FOUND THAT THE PRIMARY PROGRAM AGAIN THAT OUTLET RT COLLABORATED WITH WIKILEAKS. FOR THOSE WHO READ THE EDITORIAL PAGE OF "THE WASHINGTON POST," YESTERDAY YOU SAW A PIECE BY MR. ASSANGE. YOU WOULD HAVE READ A MASS OF WORDS WHERE HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, DWIGHT EISENHOWER, AND COOL SURPRISE-WINNING WORK OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND "THE WASHINGTON POST." BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ADMIRATION FOR AMERICA AND THE IDEA OF AMERICA. THIS MAN KNOWS NOTHING OF AMERICA AND OUR IDEALS, NOTHING OF OUR PRESIDENT -- OUR THIRD PRESIDENT, AND HE KNOWS NOTHING OF OUR 34TH PRESIDENT, A HERO FROM KANSAS WHO HELPED LIBERATE EUROPE FROM FASCISM AND GUIDED AMERICA IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE COLD WAR. I'M CONFIDENT THAT HAD ASSANGE BEEN AROUND IN THE 1930'S, HE WOULD HAVE FOUND HIMSELF ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE HE AND HIS ILK MAKE COMMON CAUSE WITH DICTATORS TODAY. THEY TRIED TO COOK THEM IN THEIR -- THEY TRY TO CLOAK THEMSELVES IN LIBERTY AND ACTION. THEIR MISSION, PERSONAL SELF AND AGGRANDIZE MEANT AND THE DESTRUCTION OF WESTERN VALUES. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT. IF THEY DID COME A WOULD FOCUS ON AUTOCRATIC REGIMES IN THIS WORLD THAT SUPPRESSED FREE SPEECH AND DISSENT. THEY CHOSE TO EXPLOIT THE SECRETS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS, WHICH HAVE SO FAR PROVEN TO BE A MUCH SAFER APPROACHED AND PROVOKING TYRANTS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ESPECIALLY BURDENED BY CONSCIENCE. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE ASSANGE HAS BEEN MORE THAN CAVALIER IN DISCLOSING PERSONAL INFORMATION OF SCORES OF CITIZENS AROUND THE GLOBE. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE DAMAGE THEY'VE DONE TO THE SECURITY SAFETY OF THE FREE WORLD IS TANGIBLE. THE EXAMPLES ARE NUMEROUS. WHEN SNOWDEN GOES TO RUSH, HIS TREACHERY -- DESPITE WHAT HE CLAIMS THAT HE WAS NO WHISTLEBLOWER. TRUE WHISTLEBLOWERS USE DISCRETE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO VOICE GREASES -- GRIEVANCES. THEY DO NOT PUT AMERICAN LIVES ARE SCREWED THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY RECENT EXPLAINED MORE THAN A THOUSAND TARGETS TRY TO CHANGE HOW THEY COMMUNITY AS A DIRECT RESULT OF SNOWDEN'S DISCLOSURE. A STAGGERING NUMBER. IT BECAME HARDER FOR U.S. INTELLIGENCE TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE. IT BECAME HARDER TO MONITOR COMMUNICATION OF TERRORIST RELATIONS THAT ARE BENT ON BRINGING BUDGET OUR SHORES. THE DISCLOSURES HELP THESE GROUPS FIND WAYS TO HIDE THEMSELVES THROUGH CROWDED DIGITAL FORESTS. EVEN IN THOSE CASES WE WILL ABLE TO REGAIN OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT THE DAMAGE THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN. WE WORK WITH TIME CONSTRAINTS, AND THE EFFORT TO GIVE BACK ACCESS MEANT WE HAD LESS TIME TO LOOK AT NEW THREATS. AS FOR ASSANGE, HIS ACTIONS HAVE DEVOTED -- HAVE CREATED A DEVOTED FOLLOWING. AND AL QAEDA IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA MEMBER THANKED WIKILEAKS FOR PROVIDING A MEANS TO FIGHT AMERICA IN A WAY THEY HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY ENVISIONED. IT IS A GROUP DEVOTED NOT ONLY DID BRING DOWN PASSENGER PLANES, BUT OURS AS WELL. THAT ASSANGE IS A DEAR OF THESE PEOPLE IS REPREHENSIBLE. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT HARM FOR THE LONG-TERM. THEY ALSO THREATENED THE TRUST WE HAVE DEVELOPED WITH OUR FOREIGN PARTNERS WHEN THE TRUST IS CRUCIAL CURRENCY AMONG ALLIES. THE RISK DAMAGING ROW AND WHO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD EVERY DAY. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW THESE DISCLOSURES HAVE HINDERED OUR ABILITY TO KEEP YOU SAFE. JULIAN ASSANGE IS NOT INTERESTED IN IMPROVING CIVIL LIBERTIES. HE HAS PRETENDED AMERICA'S FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS SHIELD THEM FROM JUSTICE. THEY MAY HAVE BELIEVED THAT, BUT THEY ARE WRONG. HE IS A NARCISSIST WHO HAS DONE NOTHING OF VALUE. HE IS A FRAUD, HIDING BEHIND A SCREEN. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT WIZARDS BEHIND SCREENS. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHO JULIAN ASSANGE REALLY IS. EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFIT FROM HIS LEGS HAVE CALLED HIM OUT. THE INTERCEPT WHICH REPORTS DISCLOSURES ACCUSED WIKILEAKS OF DISCLOSING THE FACTS. THE INTERCEPT ADDED THE DOCUMENTS WERE NOT WORTH THE CONCERN WIKILEAKS GENERATED BY ITS PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO WE ALL FACE A CRUCIAL QUESTION -- WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? WHAT CAN AND SHOULD THE CIA AND UNITED STATES AND ALLIES DO ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE POSED BY THE HOSTILE, NONSTATE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES? . THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. THERE ARE STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT TO UNDERCUT -- TO UNDERCUT THE DANGER. WE KNOW THE DANGER THAT ASSANGE POSES TO DEMOCRACIES AROUND THE WORLD. IGNORANCE OR MISPLACED IDEALISM IS NO LONGER AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE FOR LIONIZING THESE DEMONS. THERE ARE STEPS WE HAVE TO TAKE IT HOME. THIS IS A PROCESS WE HAVE STARTED. WE HAVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR SYSTEMS, SECURE OUR OWN STOCK. WE HAVE TO IMPROVE OUR MECHANISMS THAT APPROVE OUR COUNTERINTELLIGENCE MISSIONS, AND ALL OF US HAD A WAKE-UP CALL AFTER SNOWDEN'S TREACHERY. WHILE I CANNOT GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE STEPS, OUR DEFENSES WILL NOT BE STATIC. OUR APPROACH TO SECURITY MUST BE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, AND WE WILL. WE NEED TO BE AS SEVERAL AS THE ENEMIES WE FACE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT RELENT. WE WILL NOT, EITHER. WE CANNOT ELIMINATE THE THREAT, BUT WE CAN MITIGATE IT, AND THIS RELIES ON THE DEFENSE. IT DEPENDS ON A CHANGE ON HOW WE ADDRESS DIGITAL PROBLEMS, ADDRESSING BEST PRACTICES IN REAL-TIME. WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE CAN NO LONGER ALLOW ASSANGE BE ALLOWED TO USE FREE SPEECH I WAS AGAINST US, TO GIVE THEM THE SPACE TO CRUSH US IS A PERVERSION OF WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION CALLS FOR. IT ENDS NOW. WE NEED TO GET IN THE TRUST BETWEEN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS WE AIN'T TO PROTECT. AT CIA WE ARE COMMITTED TO EARN THAT TRUST EVERY DAY. WE KNOW WE CAN NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. HE MUST CONTINUE TO BE AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AS THE DIRECTOR, IT IS MY DUTY TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND DEFEND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS PRACTICED LAW AND RAN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, I UNDERSTAND WHY NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PLACE THEIR TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. GRANTED, THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY CAN NEVER BE AS TRANSPARENT AS OTHER PARTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. SECRECY IS ESSENTIAL. BUT WE CAN'T DO BETTER THAN WE HAVE. EVEN IF WE CANNOT SHARE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN SHARE IT WITH THE PRESIDENT THEY ELECTED AND WITH CONGRESS WHO OVERSEES OUR WORK. HAVING SERVED CONNECTIVITY, THE DIRECTOR UNDERSTANDS THE IMPERATIVE FOR OVERSIGHTS. DOING RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE IS AS IMPORTANT TO ME AS CARRY OUT -- CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION. THE MEN AND WOMEN I WORK WITH AT LANGLEY ARE PATRIOTS, AND I AM HONORED TO LEAD THEM. THEY HAVE MY TRUST, AND AS LONG AS I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD, I PROMISE YOU THAT CIA BE TIRELESS IN OUR MISSION TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]  Show Less Text
00:22:13
Unidentified Speaker
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING WHAT WE ALL WANTED TO HEAR. I FORGOT TO SAY THIS AT THE BEGINNING. UNDERSECRETARY ZARATE IS GOING TO LEAD IN THE QUESTION. WE WILL TAKE CARDS FROM PEOPLE. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL COLLECT THEM, AND THEN WE WILL ASSEMBLE THEM. HOLD UP THE CARDS, AND YOU PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WHO WILL GET THEM COLLECTED.  Show Less Text
00:22:49
Unidentified Speaker
>> LET'S NOT HOLD THESE UP LIKE PENALTY CARDS. DIRECTOR POMPEO, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE WITH YOU, TO BE ABLE TO MODERATE THIS DISCUSSION, YOUR FIRST PUBLIC DISCOURSE, A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO SIT ON YOUR TRANSITION TEAM AND HELP YOU AS MUCH AS I COULD. YOU DO NOT NEED IT, FRIDAY. FULL DISCLOSURE -- I AM A FAN OF THE DIRECTOR'S. I'M NOT HERE AS AN UNBIASED JOURNALIST. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING. THE GROUND RULES, WE WILL HAVE A HALF AN HOUR DISCUSSION. THEN BY 4:00, PLEASE HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS SUBMITTED, AND I WILL TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS AND ASK THE DIRECTOR. AT THE END OF THAT -- AT 4:30, I ASKED THE YOU REMAIN SEATED OR STANDING SO THE DIRECTOR CAN MOVE OUT SAFELY, AND WE WILL CONCLUDE THE EVENT. OK? I AM JUAN SZARATE. QUITE A DECLARATION, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF WIKILEAKS, THAT A DECLARATION THAT THERE ARE NONSTATE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES ACTIVELY WORKING AGAINST U.S. INTERESTS AND WORKING WITH OUR ADVERSARIES. WHY TALK ABOUT THIS? ARE YOU WORRIED THIS IS THE NEW PHASE OF COUNTERINTELLIGENCE WORK? ARE YOU WORRIED RUSSIANS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLOIT WIKILEAKS, OR THAT THE IRANIANS OR NORTH KOREANS ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THIS MODEL AS AN EFFECTIVE MODEL? WHY FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE?  Show Less Text
00:24:33
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I HAD INTENDED TO MAKE MY FIRST REMARKS SOMETIME IN JUNE OF 2019. [LAUGHTER]

00:24:38
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: ONE OF THE GREAT GRACES OF THIS ROLE. HAVING HAD THE CHANCE TO OBSERVE THE RISK RESENTED BY THESE NONSTATE HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE THREAT THE WAY POSED US. THEY MAY BE SMALL, BUT I MENTIONED ONE CHARACTER A FEW TIMES, BUT IT IS BROADER THAN THAT. I THINK THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO PROTECT OUR NATION, OUR CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE, EVERYTHING THAT IS AT RISK. WE NOW HAVE THIS NEW THREAT SITTING OUT THERE, WHICH BEHAVES IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY, IT HAS AS ITS MOTIVE THAT THE STRUCTURE OF AMERICA IN THE SAME WAY THAT THOSE COUNTRIES DO. THEY HAVE NOW FOUND A MODEL, THAT SAYS WE WILL ACTIVELY GO OUT AND WORK, RECRUIT, DO EVERYTHING THAT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES THAT ARE HOSTILE TO DO AN ONLINE OURSELVES WITH NATION-STATE THAT HAVE A FESTIVE INTEREST IN THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CLEARLY ARTICULATED THAT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY HAS AN OBLIGATION, AND I AM EVIDENT THIS ADMINISTRATION PRODUCTION -- ADMINISTRATION WILL PURSUE THEM WITH VIGOR.  Show Less Text
00:25:56
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: WE CAN DO YOUR TOP-10 THREAT LIST. LET'S DO A MIX. LET'S TAKE THIS IDEA OF NONSTATE ACTORS COME AND YOU MENTIONED AL QAEDA IN THE RAPE IN THE -- IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA LEARNING FROM WIKILEAKS. WHAT ARE YOU MOST WORRIED ABOUT IN TERMS OF TERRORIST ADAPTATION AND IN TERMS OF FIGHTING ISIS, AND FRANKLY WHAT COMES NEXT? WE KNOW WE ARE PREPARING TO ATTACK THE CAPITAL IN SYRIA, WE HAVE SEEN THE ATTACKS IN EUROPE, MOST RECENTLY IN EUROPE, ST. PETERSBURG, STOCKHOLM. WHERE IS THE TERROR THREAT GOING AND WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY TO GO  Show Less Text
00:26:42
DIRECTOR POMPEO
AFTER IT? DIRECTOR POMPEO: THE THREAT FROM RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM IS REAL AND CONTINUING AND GOING TO BE AROUND FOR AS LONG AS I AM IN THIS POSITION. WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES, IN IRAQ, TAKING BACK A GREAT BIG PIECE OF THE ORIGINAL CALIPHATE. WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN SYRIA, ELECTIVELY, NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES. BUT THIS THREAT CONTINUES TO CHANGE. WE HAVE SEEN IT IN THEIR CYBER OPERATIONS. HE HAD SEEN IT IN THEIR CAPACITY TO INSPIRE THREATS INSIDE OUR COUNTRY. WE SPENT A LOT OF RESOURCES ATTACKING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS FRANKLY IN THE 15, 16 YEARS NOW FROM 9/11. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. HE HAD THE CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY THESE IN MANY MANY INSTANCES, BUT YOU HAVE TO ACHIEVE PROTECT -- PERFECTION TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. I WORRY ABOUT WHAT COMES AFTER, WHERE THESE TERRORISTS WILL GO. THE EUROPEANS, I LITERALLY TURNED FROM LONDON THIS MORNING EARLY -- RETURNED FROM LONDON THIS MORNING EARLY. THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THEM AND A MUCH EASIER PLACE TO TRAVEL. ALL OF OUR ALLIES HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF THESE TERRORISTS. YOU'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT THE FIGHT IS CONTINUAL.  Show Less Text
00:28:03
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: DO WE HAVE THE ALLIES ON THE GROUND TO DO THIS WORK THE QUESTION IN SYRIA, WHETHER WE HAVE THE RIGHT PARTNERS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A RELEVANT FORCE NOT ONLY TO TAKE ON ISIS, WHAT TO DO WITH THE RECONSTRUCTION AFTERWARD, WHAT HAPPENS IN IRAQ -- DO WE HAVE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU AS THE CID DIRECTOR NEED, BUT THAT CIA DIRECTOR NEEDS, BUT THE COUNTRY NEEDS WITH THESE NONSTATE ACTORS?  Show Less Text
00:28:30
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I TEND NOT TO FOCUS JUST ON ISIS. THEY HAD A GOOD RUN, ALMOST UP AND THROUGH BAGHDAD AND ERBIL. BUT THIS THREAT IS SO MUCH BIGGER. YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN AFGHANISTAN. HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH EVERYONE, AND I THINK WE DO. I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SET OF PARTNERS. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. I CURRENT OUR GULF STATE PARTNERS TO WORK ALONGSIDE US IN WAYS THAT THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY NOT BEEN PREPARED TO DO, AND THAT WILL PROVIDE ABLE WORK FOR US -- PROVIDE A  Show Less Text
00:29:11
MR. ZARATE
BULWARK FOR US. MR. ZARATE: YOUR FIRST TRIP ABROAD WAS TO TURKEY AND THE GULF WHY DID YOU GO THERE FIRST. AND WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

00:29:21
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: WE HAVE IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE PARTNERS THERE WHO HELP AMERICA EACH AND EVERY DAY STAY SAFE, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. I EXPECT MORE. WE NEED INCREASED ASSISTANCE, AND THOSE POCKETS THAT STILL REMAIN IN THOSE PLACES THAT ARE FIGHTING TERROR OR EDUCATING TERRORISTS IN THEIR MOSQUES, I WANT THEM TO NOTE THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WANT THEM TO THINK ABOUT THAT DIFFERENTLY AND TO BE TRUE PARTNERS IN THIS DEFEAT OF TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST. I GOT GREAT RECEPTION. I HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE GULF STATES, INTELLIGENCE CHIEFS FROM THE GULF STATES, WHO REDOUBLED THE COMMITMENT TO HELP THE UNITED STATES ACHIEVE WHAT IS FRANKLY IN OUR JOINT INTERESTS.  Show Less Text
00:30:05
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE VIOLENCE IN TURKEY QUESTION MARK THERE IS A BIG ELECTION THERE THIS WEEKEND. WHAT WORRIES

00:30:14
DIRECTOR POMPEO
YOU? DIRECTOR POMPEO: THEY ARE A NATO PARTNER AND ME THEM TO BEHAVE AS SUCH. THEY NEED TO BE A PARTNER IN LOTS OF DIMENSIONS. YOU THINK ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO INTELLIGENCE, FINANCE FLOWS HAVE DONE BETTER WORK OF LATE IN PREVENTING TERRORISTS FROM GOING TO SYRIA. THERE BEEN POCKETS WHERE THEY HAVE HELPED US, BUT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE ALLY. THEY LET US PARTICIPATE IN EXERCISES THAT ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE NEED THEM TO BE A FULL-FLEDGED PARTNER  Show Less Text
00:30:48
MR. ZARATE
AGAINST THIS THREAT. MR. ZARATE: WITH RESPECT TO THE GULF PARTNERS, I HAVE HEARD AND OTHERS WHO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTACTS IN THE GULF HAVE BEEN...

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00:31:10
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: YES. I WOULD SAY I GOLF. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME IS HOW MUCH TIME I SPEND WITH MY LEAVES AND -- LIAISON PARTNERS. AND WHAT THEY ARE TO MANY IS AMERICAN LEADERSHIP. THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR THE ITTY SECOND AIRBORNE. THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR US TO IT INVEST OF THE NORMA'S AMOUNT OF AMERICAN -- ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF AMERICAN TREASURE, BUT THEY THINK AMERICA IS THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THE LEADERSHIP THAT CAN SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS, AND THEY ARE THIRSTY  Show Less Text
00:31:45
MR. ZARATE
FOR THAT. MR. ZARATE: LET'S TURN TO SYRIA, BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS SYRIA REPRESENTS THE CHANGE IN THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION. YOU MAY ARGUE DIFFERENTLY. AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION OF A CHANGE FROM AND PERCEPTION THAT THE U.S. IS WILLING TO ENFORCE REDLINED IN THE CONTEXT OF THESE CHEMICAL WEAPONS. I WILL ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS, BUT ONE INTERESTING QUESTION THAT HAS NOT BEEN COMMENTED ON TOO MUCH IS THE SPEED AND RAPIDITY OF THE ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE MADE. WITH SO MUCH BAGGAGE FOR THE INTEL COMMUNITY AROUND PAST FAILURES THE NEED TO GET THE ASSESSMENTS RIGHT, HOW WAS THIS DONE? TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES AROUND THE INTEL ASSESSMENTS AND HOW THAT PLAYED INTO THE DECISION MAKING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION?  Show Less Text
00:32:36
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: WELL -- LET'S SEE -- WHERE TO BEGIN -- YOU CAN IMAGINE THE VERY FIRST QUESTION WAS WHAT HAPPENED., WHO DID IT, CAN WE PROVE THAT, HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE THAT THE SCOPE OF WHAT THEY UNDERTOOK AND UNDER WHOSE AUTHORITY THEY TOOK IT? I MAY HAVE MISSED A QUESTION THERE. THERE ARE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME TO THE INTELLIGENCE IMMUNITY. AND IN REMARKABLE ORDER, ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THINGS IS WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP SEVERAL OF HYPOTHESES AROUND THAT AND DEVELOP PATTERNS WHICH EITHER SUPPORTED OR REJECTED THAT THE OFFICE -- THE HYPOTHESIS. WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER AN ASSESSMENT THAT IT WAS THE SYRIAN REGIME THAT HAD LAUNCHED GOOGLE STRIKES AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE. IT WILL NOT -- I WILL NOT SAY EXACTLY HOW LONG IT TOOK. WE WERE GOOD. THE TEAM. I DO NOT MEAN JUST THE CIA. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. WE CHALLENGED OURSELVES. WE WERE CHALLENGED BY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TEAM. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD IT RIGHT. THERE'S NOT MUCH LIKE WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAYS, COME PO -- POMPEO, ARE YOU SURE, WHEN HE IS BASING HIS ACTION ON INFORMATION YOU ARE PROVIDING? WE GOT IT RIGHT, AND I'M GLAD THE TEAM DID TO HELP THE  Show Less Text
00:34:08
MR. ZARATE
PRESIDENT MAKE THE DECISION. MR. ZARATE: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE RUSSIAN'S DISPUTATION OF THOSE CONCLUSIONS? ASSAD JUST NOW IN THE LAST 24 HOURS CALLING THIS A FABRICATION, THE ENTIRE EVENT. WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THOSE TERMS, IN PART BECAUSE IT IS A BATTLE OF LEGITIMACY AND PROOF?  Show Less Text
00:34:34
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CANNOT REVEAL. THAT IS ALWAYS TRICKY. HE HAD DONE OUR BEST. OVER TIME WE CAN REVEAL MORE. EVERY SAW THE OPEN SOURCE PHOTOS. WE HAD REALITY ON OUR SITE, TOO. RUSSIA -- I THINK THEY ARE ON THEIR SIX OR SEVEN STORY NOW -- NONE OF WHICH HAVE AN OUNCE OF TRUTH TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO FOR A MOMENT THINK THIS IS A CREDIBLE MAN, I WILL REMIND YOU WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE AIRPLANE THAT WAS SHOT DOWN, THE MALAYSIAN AIRPLANE. GO LOOK AT WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO LITTLE GREEN MEN IN UKRAINE, WHEN HE SAID LATER HIMSELF THAT IT WAS HIS TEAM. I THINK TO THIS DAY HE CONTINUES TO CLAIM THERE ARE NO RUSSIANS IN EASTERN UKRAINE. THIS IS A MAN OR WHOM FEROCITY DOES NOT TRANSLATE  Show Less Text
00:35:29
MR. ZARATE
INTO ENGLISH. MR. ZARATE: DO WE THINK THE RUSSIANS KNOW ABOUT THE CHEMICAL ATTACK OR MAYBE WERE COMPLICIT IN

00:35:35
DIRECTOR POMPEO
IT? DIRECTOR POMPEO: I DO NOT HAVE MUCH TO ADD. THE WHITE HOUSE PUT OUT A STATEMENT. I DO NOT HAVE MUCH TO ADD.

00:35:42
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: ONE MORE QUESTION ON RUSH AND SYRIA. -- RUSSIA AND SYRIA. DO YOU THINK THE RUSSIANS FEEL CORNERED AT THIS POINT? IS THIS A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY

00:35:57
DIRECTOR POMPEO
FOR DIPLOMACY? DIRECTOR POMPEO: WE PRESENTED THE PRESIDENT ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS FOR HOW LOTS OF PARTIES THERE MIGHT RESPOND. THE RUSSIANS, IRANIANS, SYRIANS THEMSELVES, THE SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM, MORE PARTICULARLY, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS FOLKS MIGHT TAKE THERE IN SYRIA. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE RUSSIANS WILL CONCLUDE. I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE ABOUT HOW TO MEETINGS WENT THERE YESTERDAY. I HOPE IT IS THE CASE THAT THE RUSSIANS JOIN THE REST OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY IN CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS THAT TOOK PLACE THERE. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT YET. BUT AS THE RECTOR, ONE HAS  Show Less Text
00:36:36
MR. ZARATE
TO LIVE AND HOPE. MR. ZARATE: YOU MENTIONED IRAN A PLAYER IN THE SYRIAN CONTEXT, BUT MORE BROADLY CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES. WHEN YOU A CONGRESSMAN YOU TALKED CRITICALLY ABOUT THE JCPO A, MOVING AWAY FROM A ROLL ABOUT WHETHER IRAN WAS COMPLYING WITH TERMS OF THE NUCLEAR DEAL. WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THAT, IS A RUN COMPLYING -- IS IRAN COMPLYING WITH TERMS OF THE DEAL?  Show Less Text
00:37:10
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I DO NOT WANT TO SAY MUCH ABOUT THEIR COMPLIANCE. I WOULD PREFER TO PRESENT THAT TO THE PRESENT LET HIM COMMUNICATE THAT. YOU SHOULD KNOW WE ARE ENGAGED IN A LOT OF WORK TO ASSIST THE PRESIDENT, MAKING SURE HE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE IRANIANS ARE AND WHERE THEY MIGHT BE. WE ARE MINDFUL GIVEN WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN SYRIA, AFTER READING THE JCPOA, DECLARED FACILITIES, UNDECLARED FACILITIES, HOW MUCH ACCESS, VERY DISTINCT GROUPS, AND THAT MIGHT SUGGEST ANY LEVEL OF CERTAINTY WE MIGHT HOPE TO RESENT THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF. RESPECTING THE A RAINY AND, IN MARCH, WHETHER THE ENORMOUS MISSILE CAPACITY TO DELIVER MISSILES SYSTEMS, THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT THE HOUTIS, TO FIRE MISSILES AGAINST THE SAUDIS, THE LIST OF TRANSGRESSIONS HAS INCREASED RADICALLY SINCE THE JCPOA  Show Less Text
00:38:19
MR. ZARATE
WAS SIGNED. MR. ZARATE: DO YOU SEE THE IRANIANS USING NONSTATE PROXIES

00:38:30
DIRECTOR POMPEO
AS INFLUENCE? DIRECTOR POMPEO: SURE, IN EACH OF THOSE PLACES.

00:38:33
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: WHAT DO WE DO TO PUSH BACK OR DEAL WITH THAT?

00:38:38
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: MAKING SURE WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR PARTNERS ASSIST US IN DOING THAT, WHETHER IT IS THE WORK THAT THE -- CAN DO IN CERTAIN POCKETS, THE PLACES WHERE ISRAEL CAN HELP US, THE OTHER GULF STATES CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, NOT SIMPLY FOCUSED ON KINETIC ASSISTANCE. THESE ARE NATIONS WITH GREAT TREASURE AND WEALTH AND CAPACITY TO REACH INTO PLACES THAT AMERICA CANNOT ALWAYS REACH. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER OUR, THE EUROPEANS, FOR WHOM THE THREAT FROM IRAN IS GREAT. I WILL ARGUE SOMETHING LIKE THE ACTIVITY THAT WAS TAKEN LAST WEEK IN SYRIA WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN NOTICED BY THE IRANIANS.  Show Less Text
00:39:26
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: VERY GOOD. LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER PARTY THAT MAY HAVE PAID ATTENTION

00:39:36
DIRECTOR POMPEO
TO THAT, NORTH KOREA. DIRECTOR POMPEO: I WANT TO CLEAN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT NOT MUCH. I MAY DOUBLE DOWN INTO TROUBLE. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THIS IS A DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT WAS DECISIVE, THOUGHTFUL, AND TRULY BASED ON A FACTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE GEOSTRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE FACING OUR NATION TODAY. WE HAVE SOMEONE VIOLENT A CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY. THIS IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT. SO I DO THINK THE ARABIANS OUGHT TO TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT IS PREPARED TO ENGAGE IN A 50'S THAT AREN'T FROM WHAT AMERICA HAS BEEN DOING THESE PAST  Show Less Text
00:40:18
MR. ZARATE
FEW YEARS. MR. ZARATE: WAS THERE A CALCULUS TO DO THIS AT A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A MEETING WITH THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP IN FLORIDA?

00:40:26
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MORE TIME DO WE HAVE QUESTION MARK -- WE HADVE? I THINK IN FACT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WORKED AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD TO RESPOND IN A WAY THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE THREAT THAT WAS PRESENTED. THE CONNECTION WAS CONNECTED, TO THE ATTEMPT WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST.  Show Less Text
00:41:02
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TALKED ABOUT THE STRATEGY OF STRATEGIC PATIENTS BEING OVER, CONCERN ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MISSILE PROGRAM, CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM, THE POTENTIAL OF ANOTHER NUCLEAR TEST BASED ON THE ANNIVERSARY, 105TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDER OF NORTH KOREA'S BIRTHDAY/ WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT NORTH KOREA, AND WHY HAS THAT BECOME SUCH A HOT BUTTON AND CENTRAL ISSUE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION?  Show Less Text
00:41:36
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: YEAH, JUST PROGRESS. AUDIBLE ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE TRIED TO DO WITH THE THREAT OF AN INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABLE OF PUTTING A WARHEAD IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE ARE CLOSER NOW THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN AT ANY TIME IN NORTH KOREA'S HISTORY. WHAT IS DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, NEW, MAYBE NOTHING OTHER THAN EACH STEP ALONG THE WAY, EACH TASK, EACH EFFORTS, AT THE KNOWLEDGE BASE INCREASES AND THE CAPACITY TO DELIVER THAT INCREASES AND DRAWS CLOSER, IT REDUCES THE OPTIONS TO PREVENT IT AND MAKES MORE LIKELY THAT YOU GET A BAD DECISION, TOUGH DAY, FROM THE LEADER OF NORTH KOREA.  Show Less Text
00:42:20
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: WHAT ARE THE INTELLIGENCE GAPS? WE ARE WITNESSING CAPABILITY. WHAT CONCERNS YOU ABOUT INTELLIGENCE GAPS AS YOU TRY TO PROVIDE THE BEST INTELLIGENCE  Show Less Text
00:42:34
DIRECTOR POMPEO
PRESIDENT? DIRECTOR POMPEO: I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORRYING ABOUT THAT. WE WILL PRODUCE GREAT PROJECT, PROVIDE REALLY GOOD INFORMATION TO THE PRESIDENT, BUT I WORRY EVERY DAY ABOUT SOMETHING WEAKNESS, SOMETHING WE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, SOME POCKET WE DID NOT TAKEPICK. WE DO NOT HAVE A COMPLETE ENOUGH UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS TAKING PLACE. I WOULD NOT LIMIT THAT TO NORTH KOREA.  Show Less Text
00:43:07
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: DEAR ISRAELIS -- THE ISRAELIS HAVE TALKED ABOUT A ZONE OF IMMUNITY, WHERE THEY WOULD REACH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CAPABILITY TO THE POINT AT WHICH NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE PROGRAM. ARE WE REACHING A ZONE OF IMMUNITY WITH RESPECT TO NORTH  Show Less Text
00:43:26
DIRECTOR POMPEO
KOREA? DIRECTOR POMPEO: CERTAINLY A RISK. WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS INTELLIGENCE MATTER WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT ONLY A NUCLEAR THREAT, NOT UNI DIMENSIONAL. INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILE, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT MILITARY. THEY CAN DO HARM TO A MAJOR CITY IN THE WORLD IS NOT FAR OFF. A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM. THE REASON WHY APPRECIATE -- PREVIOUS MINISTRATIONS HAVE NOT DONE SO, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THAT WE HAVEN'T OBLIGATION TO PREVENT THAT FROM OCCURRING. THIS IS A FINAL CALL FOR QUESTIONS.  Show Less Text
00:44:16
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: LET ME ASK A SERIES OF THREE QUESTIONS THAT ARE MORE WASHINGTON CENTER. -- WASHINGTON CENTRIC. TALKING ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND WHERE THAT IS GOING. YOU HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT BRIDGE AND A LEADER AND A TRUSTED MEMBER OF THE WHITE HOUSE TEAM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY?  Show Less Text
00:44:52
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: IT'S FANTASTIC. I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU MY OBSERVATIONS. THIS MORNING I WAS WITH THE PRESIDENT GIVING HIM HIS DAILY BRIEF. WHEN I AM OUT OF TOWN MY DEPUTY IS THERE, THE VICE PRESIDENT IS THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY. THERE ARE -- THEY ARE VORACIOUS CONSUMERS OF THE PRODUCT WE DEVELOP. THEY ASK HARD QUESTIONS. WE GET LOTS OF HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRODUCT HOW WE SOURCED THE PRODUCT. IT'S IF -- IT IS COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE. I JUST LEFT A GAP IN WHERE THEIR ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY BUT ALMOST ALL OF THEM HINGE ON OUR CAPACITY TO DELIVER TO THE PRESIDENT THE INTELLIGENCE HE NEEDS. WE DO OUR BEST TO DELIVER IT. THE RELATIONSHIP IS, IN MY SENSE, FANTASTIC, THE WORD I USE, BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT IS PREPARED TO HEAR THINGS THAT RUN COUNTER TO THE HYPOTHESIS HERE THAT HAPPENS TO ME, TOO. IF I ASK REALLY HARD QUESTIONS, WE SEE THAT AND WE DELIVER TO HIM EACH DAY OUR BEST ANALYSIS, WHAT HE IS MOST INTERESTED IN EVERYDAY AND THE THINGS WE THINK HE  Show Less Text
00:46:19
MR. ZARATE
NEEDS TO KNOW. MR. ZARATE: THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN -- INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE CONSUME INFORMATION IN THIS ELECT MORE VISUAL INFORMATION? HAVE YOU  Show Less Text
00:46:31
DIRECTOR POMPEO
INFORMATION? DIRECTOR POMPEO: THIS ISSUE CONSUMES WASHINGTON, TO. IT WILL SURPRISE ANYONE THAT AFTER MY NOMINATION I SPENT TIME TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU DELIVER THAT PRODUCT. THE PRESIDENT IS OUR FIRST CUSTOMER, BUT WE DELIVER INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EVERY DAY, AMONG OTHERS. THERE IS A BROAD AUDIENCE. MY READING MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS CONSUMED THEIR INFORMATION A DIFFERENT WAY AND TAKE IT AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WITH DIFFERENT DURATIONS WITH LESS OR MORE CONSISTENCY THAT OTHER PRESIDENTS. I GUESS I WILL SAY THIS. WE DELIVER THE PRESIDENT HIS PROBLEM, HE CONSUMES IT. THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS I THOUGHT WE WERE THERE AND ARE -- WERE SURPRISED -- SOMETIMES WE ONLY NEED A FEW MINUTES, AND SOMETIMES WE NEED A GREAT DEAL OF THE PRESIDENT TIMES AND EACH CASEY HAS PERMITTED MYSELF AND ALL OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS THE WINDOW THAT WE WORK ABLE TO HELP HIM UNDERSTAND WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.  Show Less Text
00:48:00
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: YOU MENTIONED -- HOW DO YOU SEE THAT RELATIONSHIP?

00:48:08
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: THE ACTING DIRECTOR WAS HAPPY -- I THINK. I THINK THE RELATIONSHIP WILL BE GREAT. WE CHECKED PLENTY TO DO, DIFFERENT SPACES, DIFFERENT DOMAINS. I AM THRILLED TO HAVE HIM ABOARD BEGINNING TO HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT AGENCIES ARE DELIVERING A COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT THROUGH THE PRESIDENT. A COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT THAT MAKES  Show Less Text
00:48:42
MR. ZARATE
SENSE FOR THE PRESIDENT. MR. ZARATE: BEFORE WE TURN TO OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M A POSITIVE NOTE. -- ON A POSITIVE NOTE. CIA OBVIOUSLY PRESENTS INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS, ANALYSIS ON CHEMICAL ATTACKS, IT PRESENTS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES. WHERE DO YOU SEE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY MOVING FORWARD? WHERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU AND THE AGENCIES HAVE LOOKED AT AND MAYBE EVEN BRIEF  Show Less Text
00:49:30
DIRECTOR POMPEO
THE PRESIDENT ABOUT? DIRECTOR POMPEO: TWO OF -- ALONG WITH GENERAL KELLY, WE PRESENTED SOME OPTIONS WERE WE THINK WE CAN DO SOME GOOD WORK IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. NOT A LOT OF RESOURCES BUT A LOT OF FOR IT -- FOCUS TO DO GOOD THERE. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HEAD DOWN THAT PATH. REAL OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA AS WELL, PLACES WHERE, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS BEGIN TO DEVELOP A SET OF RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS BIG COUNTERTERRORISM'S OUT THERE. I THINK WE -- IF WE PRESENT A MORE ORGANIZED SOLUTION, I AM HOPEFUL. I AM HOPEFUL TO -- ABOUT SOME OF THE LARGER THREATS WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA, WE CAN GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN FIND PLACES WHERE WE ARE NOT CONSTANTLY IN CONFLICT. I THINK THERE  Show Less Text
00:50:31
MR. ZARATE
ARE A HANDFUL OF THOSE. MR. ZARATE: DO YOU THINK THERE IS HOPE THAT THE CHINESE WILL GIVE INFLUENCE TO THE NORTH KOREANS TO SLOW OR SUSPEND

00:50:43
DIRECTOR POMPEO
THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM? DIRECTOR POMPEO: I AM COUNTING

00:50:46
MR. ZARATE
ON IT. MR. ZARATE: I'M READY FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU. LET ME NOT ONLY THANK THE TRANSNATIONAL THREAT PROJECT LATE --, JUDGE WEBSTER IS THE CHAIR OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND NOW RUN BY TOM SANDERSON. THEY DO REMARKABLE WORK. I WAS PART OF A THREE-YEAR STUDY WITH TOM AND HIS TEAM, LOOKING AT THE EVOLUTION OF --. I WANT TO THANK YOU, TOM, FOR HOSTING. RUSSIA. AS INVESTIGATIONS PROCEED, THIS PERSON IS CURIOUS, WHAT ARE THE BIG UPSTANDING RUSSIANS FOR YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK TO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T? IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIA CONTINUES TO TRY TO INTERFERE OR USE ACTIVE MEASURES TO INTERFERE IN THE U.S.  Show Less Text
00:52:03
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. DIRECTOR POMPEO: I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE INVESTIGATIONS. WE WILL DO OUR DUTY AND PROVIDE -- WE WILL GIVE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO THEY CAN CONDUCT THEIR IN GUEST OCCASIONS. -- INVESTIGATIONS. IT WILL CONTINUE, IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I WAS IN EUROPE THIS WEEKEND, AND THEY ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT IT. IT IS NOT IMAGINARY, IT IS. IT WILL TAKE AN ANONYMOUS AMOUNT OF CREATIVITY. WITH RESPECT TO THE MEASURES, IT IS HARDER IN A DEMOCRACY. THERE ARE IMPORTANT AND TRICKY ISSUES TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE INFORMATION WARS. WE HAVE TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO DO SO. WE HAVE TO PRESERVE THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AGAINST THIS THREAT. IT POSES A REAL RISK TO OUR DEMOCRATIC VALUES. OUR  Show Less Text
00:53:09
MR. ZARATE
ALLIES ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT. MR. ZARATE: I HAVE TO HEAR BUREAUCRATIC QUESTIONS, ONE RELATES TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. AS REPORTS INDICATED, THE WHITE HOUSE HAD HOPED TO DO. RELATED TO THAT, DIRECTOR BRENNAN HAS LAUNCHED A LARGE REORGANIZATION OF THE CIA AND IT TOOK THE OPERATIONAL FOCUS OF AWAY FROM THE AGENCY. DO YOU PLAN TO STAND BY THE REORGANIZATION OR GO BACK TO  Show Less Text
00:53:46
DIRECTOR POMPEO
THE MORE TRADITIONAL? DIRECTOR POMPEO: I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE SECOND ONE. I WILL COMMENT THIS WAY RINSES THE WITH THE TRANSITION. I DID THIS TWICE WHEN I RUN SMALL BUSINESSES. I DID THINGS LIKE MODERNIZATION. IN EITHER CASE, DID WE NAILED DID WE GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME? WE TWEAKED IT AND MAKE IT BETTER. IN SOME CASES WE DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT THE SECOND TIME EITHER. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE CHANGES TO MEET THE EVOLVING SET OF FRONTS. I INTEND TO MAKE THE AGENCY ABLE TO TAKE THOSE THREATS. WINTERS FRACK TO STRUCTURING DNI, I HAVE BEEN -- I WROTE ABOUT THIS, I HAVE STATED THAT NOW 10 YEARS PLUS FROM THE CREATION OF THE STRUCTURE IT IS WORTHY OF IT THERE -- OF A REVIEW. I WOULD WELCOME THAT KIND OF REVIEW, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT RIGHT. I WANT THE DECADE SCRUBBED, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE A USEFUL UNDERTAKING. WE WILL SEE.  Show Less Text
00:55:16
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: THIS IS A RELATED QUESTION. IT IS ABOUT THE CIA DIRECTLY. IN THE CHANGING GLOBAL THREAT ENVIRONMENT, WHAT WILL THE AGENCY PRIORITIZE IN ATTRACTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIA INTELLIGENCE  Show Less Text
00:55:33
DIRECTOR POMPEO
OFFICIALS? DIRECTOR POMPEO: I AM LOOKING FOR SOME BRAVE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO GO DO COOL STUFF. THIS AGENCY HAS A FABULOUS HISTORY, REMARKABLE PEOPLE. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE LOOKING FOR. PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF THEIR LIFE TO DO HARD THINGS ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE WILL FIND THEM AND TAKE THEM FROM WHEREVER WE CAN PEER WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANGUAGES, FROM A CULTURAL CONTEXT, INCLUDING THE SHIA LANGUAGE, SO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS. WE HAVE TO BE CUTTING EDGE WITH RESPECT TO OUR TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. WILLING TO WORK HER HEART -- TO WORK VERY HARD.  Show Less Text
00:56:41
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: RELATED TO YOUR MARKS -- TO YOUR REMARKS NONSTATE ACTORS PLAYING A BIGGER INTEREST, WE TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE LEDGER. YOUR REMARKS TOUCHED ON IT. WE TALK ABOUT TERRORISTS, HACKERS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO CAP ETHICAL -- ETHICAL HACKERS. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE RULE BASE OF THE ROLE OF NONSTATE ACTORS. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BOTH INTERNAL -- THERE IS AN EXTERNAL QUESTION AS WELL.  Show Less Text
00:57:20
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I HAVEN'T GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO THAT IN THE CYBER REALM. IT IS THE CASE TODAY THAT WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WHO ARE NONSTATE ACTORS WHO ARE HELPING AMERICA DO GOOD THINGS IN PLACES ALL AROUND THE WORLD. I HAVE A QUESTION A WEEK OR 10 DAYS AGO I WAS ASKED ABOUT SOMETHING A WORLD LEADER HAD SAID THAT WAS CLEARLY FALLS. I WAS ASKED WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DISPROVE THAT? IS WAS A JOURNALIST. AND I SAID TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO DISPROVE IT. YOU ARE THE FACTFINDERS. WE HEAR FROM JOURNALISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I AM HOPEFUL WE WILL GET SOME OF THE TRUTH TELLING FROM SOME OF THESE PEOPLE. WHETHER IT IS OUR OWN GOVERNMENT , BUT OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE SAYING THINGS THAT ARE JUST ALL -- FULL--FALSE.  Show Less Text
00:58:27
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: LET ME ASK THIS ONE. WHAT IF ANY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO COLLECT MORE INTEL MONEY LAUNDERING?

00:58:45
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: ALWAYS MORE TO DO. ON WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE TREASURY AND OTHER PLACES, TOO. IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT. THERE IS ALWAYS A CYBER ELEMENT AND A BANKING COMMENT TO THIS AND ALMOST HUMAN -- AS WELL AS HUMAN INTELLIGENCE, SO YOU CAN GET TO THAT ELECTRONIC SOLUTION. IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE GET THAT RIGHT SO THAT WE CAN TRACK THE MONEY FLOW AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL. AS A RESULT OF THAT MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT NETWORKS, ABOUT SANCTIONS AND ALL OF THE OTHER TOOLS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS.  Show Less Text
00:59:26
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: LET ME COMBINE A COUPLE MORE OF THESE QUESTIONS. THE IDEOLOGY OF RADICAL ISLAM, THE FIRST QUESTION IS IS THERE A CLEAR STRATEGY FOR DISMANTLING ...

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00:59:52
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE FIRST ONE. IT IS CERTAINLY AN AURA BUT NOT AT THE CENTER OF THE MISSION OF THE AGENCY THAT I RUN. WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND PART OF THAT, RECRUITMENT ONLINE, ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR. I REMEMBER THREE YEARS AGO, ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO THERE WAS A MAN IN WICHITA, KANSAS, WHO TRY TO BLOW UP THE AIRPORT AND GOVERNMENT CLOSE. THROUGH THE GREAT WORK OF A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS IN OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HE WAS BOILED AT THE AIRPORT GATE. THEY RECRUITED ON LINE. AN AIRCRAFT WORKER WHO ONE MIGHT NOT THINK TERRORISTS GOT ONLINE. HE MADE AN EFFORT TO BLOW UP A --. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AHEAD OF THE GAME. FAR TOO COMPLEX A QUESTION FOR TODAY, BUT THE INTELLIGENCE WE GET IS HARDER AS THE ENCRYPTION IMPROVES COME UP MAKING OUR COLLECTION CHALLENGES MORE DIFFICULT THAN THEY WERE THE DAY BEFORE THE ENCRYPTION TO WASTE. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE ACCESS TO THOSE FOREIGN TERRORISTS, AND THE INFORMATION  Show Less Text
01:01:17
MR. ZARATE
HE ARE COMMUNICATING. MR. ZARATE: LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INTELLIGENCE AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY. ONE ASKS WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO INNOVATE AND ADAPT TO FUTURE THREATS AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES FASTER THAN GOVERNANCE, POLICY AND APPS. AND THE SECOND PART IS GIVING A STATEMENTS TODAY ABOUT THE CIA NEEDS TO BE AS CLEVER AS OUR ENEMIES. WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO USING THE BEST SCIENCE THAT IS AVAILABLE? CREATING THE ADAPTIVE CULTURE THAT WE NEED.  Show Less Text
01:01:50
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I WILL CONCEDE THIS, IT IS HARD AND A GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION TO SAY CUTTING EDGE. THE AGENCY STOOD UP UNDER MY PREDECESSOR, DEVON -- DEDICATED TO DIGITAL INNOVATION AND OUR EFFORTS ARE NOT ONLY TO FIND AND HIRE TALENTED PEOPLE WHO CAN KEEP US AT THE CUTTING EDGE, BUT ALSO TO WORK WITH TECHNOLOGY BEING DEVELOPED IN OTHER PLACES, AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE WORK THAT GOES INTO OTHER PEOPLE DEVELOPING GOOD TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE TO STAY AT THE FOREFRONT , OUR ENEMIES ARE, THE CHINESE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, THE IRANIANS ALSO SPENT A LOT OF MONEY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE  Show Less Text
01:02:52
MR. ZARATE
TO DO SO AS WELL. MR. ZARATE: DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PRESSURES ON A INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO BE MORE PREDICTIVE, COMING UP WITH PREDICTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND ANALYSIS?  Show Less Text
01:03:03
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: WE DO. THE AGENCY HAS SPENT, AND I HAVE PUT EFFORTS IN THAT VERY SAME. THERE IS SOME INTERESTING WORK THAT IS BEING DONE TO GIVE US ...

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01:03:38
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: TWO QUESTIONS HERE THAT TAKE US BACK TO YOUR REMARKS. YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED TO LIMIT THE LATERAL MOVEMENT IS SUCH AS BY USING OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND THE SECOND QUESTION, ARE YOU REVIEWING INSIDER THREAT DETENTION EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO WIKILEAKS?  Show Less Text
01:04:06
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: WE ARE CONSTANTLY REVEALING INSIDER THREAT WORK. IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE -- THERE IS A LONG HISTORY DATING BACK TO MESOPOTAMIA. THIS IS A CONSTANT CHALLENGE AND HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT ABOUT.  Show Less Text
01:04:27
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: THE FIRST AMENDMENT

01:04:33
DIRECTOR POMPEO
WAS AN EXPERT. DIRECTOR POMPEO: A LITTLE LESS CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND A LOT MORE OF A PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING. JULIAN ASSANGE HAS NO FIRST AMENDMENT PRIVILEGES, HE IS NOT A U.S. ASSISTANT. WHAT I WAS SPEAKING TO IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ARE NOT REPORTERS DOING GOOD WORK TO TRY TO KEEP THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ON US. THESE ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING AGENTS TO STEAL AMERICAN SECRETS WITH THE SOLE INTENT OF DESTROYING THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN A FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITY AS I UNDERSTAND THEM. THAT IS WHAT I WAS GETTING TOO. WE HAVE HAD ADMINISTRATIONS BEFORE THAT HALF BEEN SQUEAMISH ABOUT GOING AFTER THESE PEOPLE AFTER SOME CONCEPT OF THIS RIGHT TO PUBLISH. NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE THEFT OF SECRETS FROM AMERICA WITH THE INTENT TO DO HARM TO IT.  Show Less Text
01:05:40
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: JUST REMINDING THE AUDIENCE -- HERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY NOT WANT TO ANSWER. DO YOU THINK AL-ASSAD WAS EMBOLDENED TO USE CAPITAL WEAPONS AFTER THE PRESIDENT SAID HIS FUTURE WAS UP TO  Show Less Text
01:06:11
DIRECTOR POMPEO
THE SYRIAN PEOPLE? DIRECTOR POMPEO: I REFUSE TO GO THERE. I THINK IT IS ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT TOOK PLACE, WE KNOW THAT IT WAS AN ATROCITY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP TO -- CHOSE TO MAKE IT RESPONSE  Show Less Text
01:06:28
MR. ZARATE
TO THAT. MR. ZARATE: WHAT SHOULD OUR POLICY TOWARDS PUTIN'S RUSSIA BE ?

01:06:35
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: I WILL LEAVE THAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE. I CAN LEAVE TO OTHERS SOME OF THE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DETAILS AROUND POLICY.

01:06:50
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: STATE DEPARTMENT -- WHAT IMPACT WILL BE IMPOSED TO REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET IN PERSONNEL, PRISONS HAVE ON THE ABILITY OF YOUR AGENCY

01:07:11
DIRECTOR POMPEO
TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION? DIRECTOR POMPEO: WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT NEARLY EVERY PLACE WE OPERATE AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT. WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET FIGHT , I AM SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM A POLICY WERE WHO THOUGHT GOVERNMENT COULD DO BETTER UP A LITTLE BIT LESS MONEY. I STILL BELIEVE THAT. WE ALL ARE TO BE EVER MINDFUL TO GIVE VALUE FOR DOLLARS. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO RATHER THAN SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT THE EXACT NUMBER OF DOLLARS WE ARE TO TALK ABOUT THE MISSION SET WE HAVE AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE THAT, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL END UP WITH THE RESOURCES AS WELL.  Show Less Text
01:07:59
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: THIS IS ABOUT ELECTIONS. WE TALKED ABOUT TURKEY, WE HAVE ELECTIONS IN FRANCE AND IN GERMANY. WE HAVE ELECTIONS IN IRAN AS WELL. HOW DOES THE AGENCY ANALYZED ELECTIONS AND THE POLITICAL MOVEMENTS? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CONCERNS YOU ABOUT TRENDS IN TERMS OF POLITICAL MOVEMENTS OR THESE ELECTIONS?  Show Less Text
01:08:27
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO: WE PERFORM INTELLIGENCE ON THE ELECTIONS IN THE SAME WAY WITH RESPECT TO EVERYTHING ELSE. WE TRY TO HELP THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ELECTION LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT A PARTICULAR COUNTRY MIGHT TAKE. THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING. WE ARE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO HELP THE TO DELIVER TO THE PRESIDENT WHAT CHANGES WOULD BE. IF YOU HAVE A BIG CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN FRANCE COMING, OR THIS THING THAT STANDS FOR AN ELECTION IN IRAN, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DELIVER WHAT THE FUTURE MAY LOOK LIKE.  Show Less Text
01:09:13
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: ONE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU. HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING THAT HAS SURPRISED TO AS CIA DIRECTOR, SOMETHING BIG OR SMALL, SURPRISING OR SOMETHING YOU DID NOT EXPECT AS CIA DIRECTOR?  Show Less Text
01:09:31
DIRECTOR POMPEO
DIRECTOR POMPEO:, A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP. I HAD A FEELING FOR THAT ALREADY LET AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, YOU SPENT SOME FRACTION OF YOUR TIME ON THAT WORK AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT OCCUPY YOUR LIFE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FULL-TIME FOR SOME WEEKS NOW, WHAT AMAZES ME IS THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE WORK WE UNDERTAKE. THE ENORMOUS BREADTH AND CAPACITY TO DELIVER REALLY WELL GROUNDED, VERY CONTEXTUAL HIGHLY NUANCED ANSWERS TO POLICY MAKERS IN A VERY SHORT TIME. IT TAKES A LOT OF RESOURCES TO DO THAT. THERE IS NO OTHER ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD THAT CAN PULL THAT OFF. THAT IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AND PERHAPS NOT SURPRISING, SOMETHING I HAVE ENJOYED.  Show Less Text
01:10:30
MR. ZARATE
MR. ZARATE: DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF BEING HERE. LET'S ALL JOIN AND STRENGTH OF DIRECTOR FOR HIS TIME. [APPLAUSE] -- LET'S ALL JOIN AND SANK THE DIRECTOR FOR HISTHANK THE DIRECTOR FOR HIS TIME.  Show Less Text
01:11:18
Unidentified Speaker
>> YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE CIA DIRECTOR AT C-SPAN. OR. EARLIER TODAY FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN STRUCK A TUNNEL COMPLEX IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN WITH A HUGE BOMB CALLED THE "MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS."