Democracy Now: Pentagon Launches New Spy Unit to Focus on Iran, China
The Pentagon has announced the formation of a new spy unit called the Defense Clandestine Service to focus on targets like Iran and China. The move is reportedly aimed at expanding the military’s espionage efforts beyond war zones. The Washington Post reports the main force behind the changes is Michael Vickers, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence. He is best known as one of the architects of the CIA’s program to arm Islamist militants to oust the Soviets from Afghanistan in the 1980s. The moves comes a week after Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn was named the new head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Flynn has extensive experience in Special Operations and counterinsurgency fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
