William Burns, one of Joe Biden’s closest advisors on national security and foreign policy, was appointed to his Cabinet next week. The CIA is taking a long-term, clear-eyed approach to solving our country’s most pressing regional security issues, according to Biden.
According to reports, the action is symbolical, but Burns has played a significant role in the Biden administration, especially during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
President Biden adds CIA Director William Burns to his Cabinet as a symbolic gesture that highlights the intelligence chief’s influence and his contribution to American support for Ukraine. http :// t.co / kqNoMRmouo
NBC News(@ NBCNews ) July 22, 2023
On Friday, President Biden extended an invitation to CIA Director William Burns to join his cabinet, praising the latter for his leadership and expertise in addressing a number of regional security issues, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the continuous hostilities between the United States and China. http :// t.co / q7tLqh4HlQ
— July 24, 2023, CBS News(@ CBSNews )
According to Reuters:
The appointment, according to Bonnie Glaser, director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund in the United States, was a reflection of Biden’s faith in Burns and his professional background.
Burns, who was named the CIA’s first career diplomat in 2021,” has made a significant contribution to national security decision-making, particularly with regard to Russia and China ,” according to Glaser.
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Burns is not the first director of the CIA to join the cabinet. John Deutch and George Tenet, two former President Bill Clinton’s CIA directors, were likewise chosen to serve in his cabinet, as did Ronald Reagan and William Casey.
It was seen as evidence of Burn’s” extraordinary effectiveness rather than a broader decision about the role of the CIA in cabinet ,” according to Daniel Byman, director of Georgetown University.
According to Byman,” Burns has played a significant role in Biden’s unusual policy. He is, of course, the head of the intelligence service, but he has also traveled to the Middle East, Ukraine, and other regions.”
It’s reasonable to assume that the CIA will have an even tighter hold on the foreign policy of the Biden administration, despite what the mainstream media claims the action to be” symbolical.”
AP remarked:
Burns, a former Soviet ambassador and career diplomat, was dispatched to Moscow months before the war to inform Vladimir Putin of Washington’s analysis.
The U.S. has given Ukraine intelligence support, weapons, and ammunition in the almost 18 months since Putin’s invasion. Burns has frequently traveled to Kyiv to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. In November 2022, he was even dispatched to warn Russia against using nuclear weapons in the conflict.
Burns is known to often meet with Biden and frequently gives him in-depth explanations of Ukraine and other global issues. He will work with Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, who directs the CIA and another U.S. intelligence agencies, as a member of the Cabinet.
According to Burns,” The President’s announcement today recognizes the crucial contributions the Central Intelligence Agency makes every day and reflects his confidence in our work.” I consider it an honor to hold this position, which honors the outstanding work done by our intelligence officers.
Joe Biden moved William Burns last week, one of his closest advisors on national and foreign security, to his Cabinet.
Reports claimed that the move was symbolic, but Burns had been a key figure within the Biden administration and in particular during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
President Biden elevates CIA director William Burns to the Cabinet. This is a symbolic move which highlights Burns’ influence and his role in U.S. assistance for Ukraine. https://t.co/kqNoMRmouo
— NBC News July 22, 2023
President Biden invited CIA director William Burns to his cabinet on Friday. He cited Burns’ expertise in addressing a range national security challenges including Russia’s invasion into Ukraine and the ongoing tension between the United States and China. https://t.co/q7tLqh4HlQ
CBS News (@CBSNews), July 24, 2023
Reuters reports
Bonnie Glaser, the head of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of The United States, said that the appointment reflected Biden’s confidence in Burns’ career experience.
Burns, the first career diplomat in 2021 to lead the CIA, “has contributed significantly to national security decisions, especially with respect to Russia and China”, Glaser said.
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Burns isn’t the first CIA Director to be given cabinet status. Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and William Casey were also CIA directors who served in the cabinet of former President Bill Clinton.
Daniel Byman, Director of the Security Studies Program of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service saw it as a testament to Burn’s incredible effectiveness, rather than a broader choice about the role of CIA in the cabinet.
Byman said that Burns was a key part of Biden’s foreign policy. He served as an intelligence leader, but also as a diplomatic representative to Ukraine, the Middle East and other parts of world.
The CIA’s grip on the Biden administration’s foreign policy will be even tighter, despite the mainstream media’s claim that the move is a symbolic one.
AP noted
Burns, a career diplomat and former Ambassador to Russia, was sent to Moscow several months before the war began to warn Russian President Vladimir Putin about Washington’s analysis.
Since Putin invaded Ukraine, the U.S. provided Ukraine with intelligence support as well as weapons and ammunition. Burns has been to Kyiv many times to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Burns was also sent to Russia in November 2022 in order to warn them not to use nuclear weapons during the conflict.
Burns is known for meeting with Biden frequently and briefing him directly on Ukraine and world issues. Burns will work alongside Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, whose office is responsible for setting the direction of the CIA and the U.S. Intelligence Community.
Burns said that the President’s announcement reflects his confidence in the work of the Central Intelligence Agency and recognizes its essential contribution to national security every day. “I am honored to represent the incredible work of our intelligence agents in this role.”
