You're watching...
Former CIA Operative Mike Baker discusses the continued efforts fight terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
And He joins is not good ones to.
Hi good morning got a -- -- -- -- -- me on are you.
Bob Dole is doing well doing well yesterday it was obviously a big day with a a lot of -- but.
You know I think -- it would it's important some people get a little bit -- it seems like you know that they're tired of terror alerts are tired of that -- process but I think get a day like yesterday.
Every time it comes erratic -- -- it altogether it reminds -- sort of while we do we do.
This most recent terror alert.
There was -- -- some speculation.
And some circles suited to the one that was -- legitimate or not what you do.
Not you'll -- -- legal I think you didn't have a choice but the put it out into the general public.
Is the problem is sometimes.
-- it's not.
It is not a very satisfying process for and the general population it's not like the beach book to the movies where -- think black and white.
Get your information at the target go get it.
You know the reality unfortunately had to -- very murky very gray.
VP -- -- world where you get bits and pieces of information and you've got to make.
Decisions based on less than perfect.
You know -- collection silk.
It was a well sourced.
A piece of information meaning that He the source had a track record of reporting.
That would be incredible.
And so they won't say look at debt and they started trying to get information I could corroborated they had to make that decision do we take it out of the internal channel for that -- local state and federal authority to put on the public.
And with something like that that they anniversary of 9/11.
Again I don't think they had in the option they had put down -- -- into their population.
Where is says a source.
You remain on -- picked up some chatter or credit was somebody who informed on somebody.
Well I did in this case you know not they'd they'd go too far into the we'd put you talk about human source.
Who.
-- had been able to provide.
As some intelligence would come specificity and add some you know detail and -- certainly more so than there all the time bloc after the pick up a couple awful book awful they had developmental or or you know somebody working with and in liaisons but what about foreign partners.
And -- -- -- -- really sure what to make of -- you're trying to -- -- match up with other intelligence that you picking up around the world.
In this case -- human source at the but -- -- make a very very good point would just as it has been very the way that we collective intelligence whether it's you know communications intercepts whether it's.
You know a comment from you know somebody in a foreign liaison relationship.
Whether it is or crude -- whether it's a detainee who is being debriefed and -- -- you've got thousands and thousands and -- the bits of information lying around out there and and the holy Grail has always been.
How do you grab onto that pieces of information match up with something else identified that that that the bulk get into that they handle the war fighter or the operation got on the street.
And and take action on it.
I'm bankers close to unfortunate -- of the CIA former Covert operations shall officer and so while not -- describe this sub.
Of threat -- unconfirmed what does that mean.
Oh well -- basically what they're saying yesterday don't have other sources that are reporting on the same thank.
Ignored they have about -- I'd be yet ought to be individuals who.
That were identified -- were targeted.
So -- vice president -- you referred to it as a lack of certitude.
And again.
You know that the problem that you're you're you're bit damned if you do and damned if you don't.
What it did it it comes to this aspect of counterterrorism what do you take the information you're getting it would be about internally.
Within the authorities within the Intel community -- all what they're dealing with the least bit of credit formation constantly it just never -- So the public is very few -- but the problem is.
-- -- I could throw it out there appeal people candidate committed you know we haven't had the pack in ten years taken out cry wolf for that wasting resources.
If you don't put it out there and god forbid something should happen you've -- -- built well so.
You know it's it's it's it could very difficult situation for them.
You're in a CIA.
Covert operations.
-- -- -- -- -- you know what hope all over the world and.
-- and you look at Washington -- time.
You know I was I was fortunate that I didn't actually live in Washington there are a lot didn't.
Clinton and when I went through I might years and I was I was very lucky to be outspent almost all the overseas so -- that connect can be difficult to do nowadays for the folks that are in there.
Because they're looking to say let's get you overseas country there except get it back to headquarters for two or three years the idea -- they wanna try to remove that.
-- -- -- -- -- And in the old -- -- -- -- -- your entire career bouncing around overseas and and never spend.
Much kind of -- back and N headquarters and that they create a bit cook in vs that mentality.
Got street I know what's going up what are they don't ya just -- do I -- in the -- being.
