18/07/2024
Stephen Gardner and former CIA operative and now brilliant security strategist J Michael Waller discuss the Trump shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Many of the details are hazy. Many of the answers are lazy. However, some details scream inside job.
In a recent interview, J Michael Waller, a former CIA operative and senior analyst at the Center for Security Policy, discussed the significant lack of information being provided by the FBI and Secret Service regarding a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Waller emphasized that in the absence of clear information, the public is left to jump to conclusions, which can lead to widespread misinformation.
One of the key points Waller addressed was the statement made by Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the Secret Service. Cheatle claimed that no men were authorized to be on the roof from which Trump was shot because it was too steep and posed a safety risk. However, many former snipers have since contradicted this, stating that the roof was actually an ideal vantage point for an attack, offering a perfect slope and adequate cover.
Waller highlighted the complexity of this incident, suggesting that it might be more than just a failure of individual officers. He pointed out that there seems to be both a staffing issue, due to inadequate numbers, and a problem with the quality of personnel being hired. This dual issue potentially contributed to the lapses in security that allowed the assassination attempt to occur.
The interview also explored the background of the would-be assassin, Matthew Crooks. Waller described Crooks as a loner with a deep-seated hatred for Republicans and Trump, which intensified over time. This raised the question of whether Crooks acted alone, outsmarting the police, FBI, and Secret Service, or if there were broader failures in communication and preparation within these agencies.
Waller expressed skepticism about the mainstream media’s handling of the incident, noting that they initially downplayed the assassination attempt, suggesting instead that Trump had merely fallen or been scared by loud noises. Waller questioned whether this was a tactic to undermine the severity of the situation or a reflection of the media’s tendency to underestimate the public’s intelligence. He implied that there might be a deliberate attempt to obscure the truth and protect certain narratives.
When asked about his confidence in a fair and thorough investigation, Waller was cautiously optimistic but acknowledged the challenges. He stressed the importance of transparency and accountability from the involved agencies to ensure the public receives an accurate account of what happened. Waller concluded by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive investigation that leaves no stone unturned, given the gravity of an assassination attempt on a former president.
