Got a secret, can you keep it?
Welcome to the The Dead Drop.
Each week we pass along tidbits of news and gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. While the rest of The Cipher Brief is deadly serious, stop off at The Dead Drop for information that can be fun, intriguing or the kind of stuff that readers have a “need-to-know” to stay current on the news.
#SQUADGOALS. In an interview that aired on Meet the Press Sunday, Chuck Todd asked Donald Trump who he turns to for military advice. Trump replied: “Well, I watch the shows. I mean, I really see a lot of great— you know, when you watch your show and all of the other shows and you have the generals and ... you have certain people that you like ...”
When pressed, Trump cited Ambassador John Bolton and retired Colonel Jack Jacobs as people he admired. (The print transcript of the interview included a bit not on the air where Trump also mentioned the incoming Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Joe Dunford…we are pretty confident the General is NOT advising the Trump campaign, however.)
The exchange on Meet the Press got The Dead Drop thinking – who is advising the other candidates?
A few months ago Jeb Bush released a list of his advisers – some 21 in all – many of whom worked in his brother’s or father’s administration.
With so many candidates out there – we hear that a lot of advisors are playing the field. Not committing to anyone candidate but offering advice to many.
There is a group calling itself the “John Hay Initiative,” led by former Romney advisor Brian Hook, who is also on the advisory board of Beacon Global Strategies, has assembled a group of over 200 people that includes former Secretaries of State and retired four-star officers. The John Hay group has offered its advice to any candidate with an (R) after his or her name.
Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, while out flogging his recent book, The Great War of Our Time, was asked who he is backing in the presidential sweepstakes. Morell went John Hay one better and said he would be willing to advise anyone with an (R) or (D) after their name. But he said he was not going to sign on to anyone’s team. No word as to how many candidates have taken him up on the offer although radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt did say he would send a copy of Morell’s book to all the Republican candidates.
Carly Fiorina is said to be getting advice from former NSA General Counsel and CIA counselor Bob Dietz.
Ted Cruz gets advice from Victoria Coates who reportedly has a PhD in art history. No doubt she can teach him how not to paint himself into a corner.
Who is advising Hillary Clinton? Judging from the old email it might be Sid Blumenthal – but we will have to wait for the forensics to come back to know for sure.
UPDATES…
NEW TIME FOR SHOWTIME. In an earlier edition we told you about an upcoming Showtime documentary called Spymasters which will have interviewed with all living former CIA Directors. We told you that the producers hoped to have the program air as a lead-in to the season premiere of HOMELAND in October. But hope is not a plan – and it turns out the documentary is taking a little longer to produce. Look for it on Saturday November 28.
PDB & LBJ. We previously told you about CIA plans to release a treasure trove of Presidential Daily Briefs from the ‘60s. The event is scheduled for September 16th at the LBJ library in Austin, TX. CIA Director John Brennan and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright are among the expected speakers.
PLAY BALL. Remember in an earlier Dead Drop we told you that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus (who named a ship "Cooperstown") had a personal goal of throwing out the first pitch at every major league baseball stadium? Put another "W" on the scoreboard for him. On Wednesday Mabus was in Oakland where he announced the naming of a forthcoming littoral combat ship the USS OAKLAND.
Got any inside scoop to share? Drop us a note at: thedeaddrop@thecipherbrief.com.
