Bill Burns says Washington’s position as the “big kid on the geopolitical block” isn’t guaranteed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns © Getty Images / Kevin Dietsch
The dominant global role of the US can no longer be guaranteed as the country is witnessing a time of change “that comes along a couple of times a century,” CIA Director Bill Burns has claimed.
Speaking at the Baker Institute earlier this week, Burns said that although Washington “still has a better hand to play than any of our rivals,” it is “no longer the only big kid on the geopolitical block and our position at the head of the table isn’t guaranteed.”
The CIA chief pointed to growing ties between China and Russia, which he argued will present a “formidable challenge” for his agency for years to come. According to Burns, Beijing is “not content to only have a seat at the table; it wants to run the table,” while Russia is seeking to “upend the table altogether.”
Burns, who served as the US ambassador to Moscow under George W. Bush, condemned Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, calling it an act of “brutish aggression.”
He claimed the CIA has provided “good intelligence” that has “helped the Ukrainians defend themselves” and cemented “a strong coalition in support of Ukraine.”
Burns added that Kiev’s long-anticipated spring offensive would feature “strong material and intelligence support from the US and our allies.”
The spy chief claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “not serious about negotiations” on a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and suggested that only Ukrainian progress on the battlefield was “likely to shape prospects for diplomacy.”
Russia has repeatedly stated that it is open to peace talks and has blamed Kiev and its Western allies for blocking negotiations. Ukraine has placed a legal ban on any talks with Russia as it seeks to defeat its opponent on the battlefield.
Regarding China, Burns insisted that Beijing remains the CIA’s “biggest long-term priority.” He noted that in the last few years, the intelligence agency has doubled the resources it focuses on China, including hiring and training Mandarin speakers and stepping up efforts to compete with Beijing on the world stage.
“Managing a crucial and increasingly adversarial relationship with China will be the most significant test for American policy makers for decades to come,” the US official said, arguing that the risk of a conflict over Taiwan will continue to grow. (RT)
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With lotsa help from the CIA.
Among other quisling turn coats.
[According to Burns, Beijing is “not content to only have a seat at the table; it wants to run the table,” while Russia is seeking to “upend the table altogether.”
Burns, who served as the US ambassador to Moscow under George W. Bush, condemned Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, calling it an act of “brutish aggression.”]
Do these people really believe their own bullshit? Beijing run the table, as if Washington hasn’t been already doing that for decades. And Russia upending the table? There wouldn’t be a table if Washington had its way.
Oh, and talk about brutish aggression, as if Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. mean nothing.
The CIA’s Nazi founding members must be spinning in their graves…they would never have tolerated this level of abject stupidity and incompetence.
The OSS, the precursor of the CIA, was heavily jewish.
Fun fact: The CEO of Anheuser Busch was in the CIA.
WTF? Why would they bother?
The West will break any agreement as soon as it is convenient for them to do so. It’s very clear the last agreements were just to stall for time, as a couple of their minions let slip recently.
If the Russians sign any deal with the West ever again expecting compliance, they are morons.
Vladimir Vladimirovich is no moron; the big question is why!
Worst propaganda piece I ever saw on TBP. Not one word of this article has an element of truth in it.
Well, he correctly identifies some of the symptoms, but intentionally misleads the audience about the cause.
Ya Think??? When your money starts to look like Venezuela, it’s a sure bet you’re ready for the big flush. Who needs diplomats and scholars when we have the C-EYE-A ?
CIA director conceded US power is waining since Biden took office ( illegitimately)
This is the guy who, while ambassador to Russia, in 2008, wrote the intel analysis piece entitled “Nyet Means Nyet” that explained that Russia was dead serious about Ukraine not becoming a NATO member. Did America use that realization to avoid conflict with Russia? Hell no, they kept talking about Ukraine in NATO precisely to push Russia to invade – the better to “weaken Russia” (Lloyd Austin).
Hey, U.S. Gov’t stooge ‘Mr. Burns’–how about you try getting along with the rest of the world instead of trying to boss everyone else around? The Russians and Chinese want to buy and sell stuff without the U’S’ Gov’t stirring up trouble for everyone. The rest of the world is waking up and saying no to the US–no to your ‘color revolutions’, no to your meddling in our affairs, no to your economic arm-twisting, no to your degenerate ideologies. You’re right–the U.S. Gov’t is no longer ‘top dawg’. Get used to it. Learn how to get along with others. The rest of the world is no longer beaten down- they’re standing up, looking you in the eye and saying ‘No more!’