PAST EVENTS
Facts and Fears: Hard Truths and Intelligence: James Clapper
One of the most important voices in the nation’s intelligence community, Jim Clapper decided to break his silence after living through Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and saw how the foundations of American democracy were — and continue to be — undermined by a foreign power.
The Common Good and the 92nd Street Y co-present a frank and important conversation with James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, moderated by John Berman, CNN.
One of the most important voices in the nation’s intelligence community, Jim Clapper decided to break his silence after living through Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and saw how the foundations of American democracy were — and continue to be — undermined by a foreign power.
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James Clapper will share his inside experience, honed through more than five decades in the intelligence profession, including nearly a decade as the nation’s top intelligence officer advising Presidents from both parties. Recently one of the 13 leaders around the nation who was targeted with a bomb, Clapper will discuss the escalation of cyber threats, disinformation campaigns through fake news, Russian or other foreign interference in U.S. election, and other national security challenges facing the United States.
The Honorable James R. Clapper served as the fourth U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from August 9, 2010 to January 20, 2017. In this position, Clapper led the United States Intelligence Community and served as the principal intelligence advisor to President Barack Obama.
Clapper retired in 1995 after a distinguished career in the U.S. Armed Forces. His career began in 1961 when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and culminated as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. His intelligence-related positions over his 32 years in uniform included Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and Director of Intelligence for three combatant commands: U.S. Forces, Korea; Pacific Command; and Strategic Air Command. He served two combat tours during the Southeast Asia conflict, and flew 73 combat support missions in EC-47’s over Laos and Cambodia.
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The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies: General Michael Hayden
Hayden spoke about current US perils – from a nuclear North Korea, an emboldened Russia, a rising China, among others—and the effect of the assaults on the American intelligence agencies meant to defend us and on our democratic institutions.
The only person ever to lead both the CIA and NSA, General (Ret.) Michael Hayden, warns that the American intelligence community is being threatened by a breach in trust and the politicization of their work. Hayden spoke about current US perils – from a nuclear North Korea, an emboldened Russia, a rising China, among others—and the effect of the assaults on the American intelligence agencies meant to defend us and on our democratic institutions.
In the face of a President who lobs accusations without facts, evidence, or logic, truth tellers are under attack. Meanwhile, the world order is teetering on the brink. North Korea is on the verge of having a nuclear weapon that could reach all of the United States, Russians have mastered a new form of information warfare that undercuts democracy, and the role of China in the global community remains unclear. There will always be value to experience and expertise, devotion to facts, humility in the face of complexity, and a respect for ideas, but in this moment they seem more important, and more endangered, than they've ever been. American Intelligence--the ultimate truth teller--has a responsibility in a post-truth world beyond merely warning of external dangers, and in The Assault on Intelligence, General Michael Hayden takes up that urgent work with profound passion, insight and authority.
General Michael Hayden is a retired four-star general who served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. Hayden is currently a principal at the Chertoff Group and a distinguished visiting professor at the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government. (1)
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(1) Material from The Chertoff Group website.
Special Discussion with Michael Morell - March 1, 2018
The Common Good was pleased to present an important off-the-record conversation with Michael Morell, former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the CIA, with Jeh Johnson, former Security of Homeland Security. Morell discussed the most worrying dangers to national security and how current US policy does not align well to meet these perils.
The Common Good was pleased to present an important off-the-record conversation with Michael Morell, former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the CIA, with Jeh Johnson, former Security of Homeland Security.
Morell discussed the most worrying dangers to national security and how current US policy does not align well to meet these perils. He will cover global conflict zones from China, North Korea, Russia and Middle East with particular emphasis on the rising threats from the Pacific Rim area.
Michael Morell is the former CIA Acting Director and Deputy Director, has a great depth of experience in intelligence and foreign policy with over three decades in the CIA. He has receiver the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Agency’s highest honor, for his role in the successful operation to take down Osama bin Laden, and authored the New York Times best-seller The Great War Of Our Time. He is also a Senior National Security Contributor for CBS News and a regular op-ed writer on foreign policy, as well as a member of the council on Foreign Relations and American Economic Association.
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The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Steve Coll
The Common Good was pleased to present a special discussion with the inestimable Steve Coll. Coll briefed us on America’s covert involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its impact on our intervention there, as detailed in his recent New York Times best seller, Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan
The Common Good was pleased to present a special discussion with Steve Coll, Pulitzer Price-winning journalist, Dean of Columbia School of Journalism, and staff writer at The New Yorker, generously hosted by Rubén Kraiem, Partner, Covington & Burling. Coll briefed us on America’s covert involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its impact on our intervention there, as detailed in his recent New York Times best seller, Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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Coll knows the true story of this regional conflict — how our own intelligence and military services have often been at odds with each other, the nature of Pakistan’s often duplicitous relationship with the US, as seen in efforts by Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), and their covert support for the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Coll’s analysis of these covert operations is extremely timely as we remain enmeshed in the region.
“The dance of blame, with the US swaying at one moment towards Pakistan and the next towards Afghanistan, is a choreography familiar to CIA chiefs, US presidents and writers who have tackled the subject. Coll refuses to follow this tired tune, and the result is masterful”
Steve Coll was appointed Dean of Columbia Journalism School in 2013 after serving as president of New America Foundation (2007-2012. He joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2005 and continues to write for the publication on politics, national security, and the media. Coll is also the author of eight nonfiction books, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and a former reporter, foreign correspondent and senior editor at the Washington Post (1985-2005).
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The Russia Investigation with Congressman Adam Schiff and Secretary Jeh Johnson
Newsmaker and rising congressional leader, Congressman Adam Schiff, appeared with special host & TCG Honorary Board Member Secretary Jeh Johnson for an elegant luncheon and briefing. Congressman Schiff, the Ranking Minority Member on the House Intelligence Committee and Russia Investigation Task Force, gave the latest on the Russia election interference probe, the growing threat to liberal democracies from a rise in authoritarianism, prospects for the Midterm elections, and many other consequential topics.
Newsmaker and rising congressional leader, Congressman Adam Schiff, appeared with special host & TCG Honorary Board Member Secretary Jeh Johnson for an elegant luncheon and briefing. Congressman Schiff, the Ranking Minority Member on the House Intelligence Committee and Russia Investigation Task Force, gave the latest on the Russia election interference probe, the growing threat to liberal democracies from a rise in authoritarianism, prospects for the Midterm elections, and many other consequential topics. Financial advisor Peter Maroney and TCG Founder Patricia Duff co-hosted the event.
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Congressman Adam Schiff is the Ranking Minority Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and spearheads the Russia Investigation Task Force. As the U.S. Representative for California’s 28th District, Schiff has focused on growing the economy, bolstering national security, strengthening our communities, helping small businesses, and improving education, safety and health care. In his 9th term, Schiff served as State Senator for California’s 21st District, chairing the Judiciary Committee, the Select Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Joint Committee on the Arts. Before serving in the Legislature, Schiff served with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in LA for six years.
Former Secretary Jeh Johnson has distinguished himself in both public service and private corporate law practice. He served in the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2017) with vast responsibilities for homeland security, immigration, natural disaster relief, and many other critical policy areas. Prior to becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson served as General Counsel of the Department of Defense (2009-2012) and General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force under President Clinton (1998-2001). Earlier in his career, he was Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1989-1991). Currently, he is a partner with the law firm of Paul Weiss. We are honored to have added Secretary Johnson to The Common Good Honorary Advisory board this year.
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The Common Good has been hosting events since 2006 that cover important issues of today, highlighting speakers who have worked to bolster our democracy and can provide great insight on the issues that matter.