Former deputy director of the CIA’s Counter-Terrorism Center Henry Crumpton visited The Daily Caller earlier this week for an extensive interview.
Crumpton, who was in charge of America’s covert invasion of Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, is the author of a new book, “The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service.”
Crumpton told The Daily Caller that he believes President Barack Obama entered office with a negative impression of the CIA, but over time has come depend on it.
“President Obama came with a suspicion — even a hostility toward the CIA — if you see his actions, his decisions and what he directed the Department of Justice to do,” Crumpton said.
“You fast-forward to where we are now, President Obama relies on the CIA, whether it’s the drone strikes that you mentioned earlier or the intelligence reporting, he appreciates the CIA now. And I think that’s a big change in the last three years.”
In the final segment of Crumpton’s interview with TheDC, he discusses the state of the Afghan war, what he thinks of enhanced-interrogation methods and some of the presidents he served under.
Also check out previous segments of TheDC’s interview with Crumpton, in which he discusses the threat of a nuclear Iran and his view on what should happen to leakers of classified intelligence.