RFK Jr. Outlines His Plan for CIA Reform

In a recent Trump campaign event, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared his vision for restructuring the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). His proposal is reminiscent of a threat made by his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, who had once expressed a desire to "splinter [the CIA] into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds" before his assassination in 1963.

RFK Jr.'s Proposed CIA Reforms

Kennedy Jr.'s plan for reforming the CIA involves dividing the agency's "espionage" and "plans" divisions, which are responsible for intelligence gathering and paramilitary operations respectively. These divisions are currently known as the Directorate of Intelligence and Directorate of Operations. Kennedy Jr. believes that the intelligence/espionage division should have oversight of the paramilitary operations. This idea echoes a similar plan his father had while serving as Attorney General. He stated, "My father had a reform plan … Break up espionage division from the plans division, which is the paramilitary division that fixes elections, buys newspapers, assassinates foreign leaders and so on."

RFK Jr.'s Relationship with the CIA

Despite his criticisms of the CIA, Kennedy Jr. has maintained cordial relationships with individuals from the agency. His daughter-in-law and campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, served as a CIA officer for a decade. He also recently dined with Mike Pompeo, the former CIA Director during the Trump administration. Although Kennedy Jr. disagrees with many of Pompeo's policies and labels him a "neocon", he also expressed admiration for him, describing him as brilliant. Kennedy Jr. shared that Pompeo expressed regret over not reforming the CIA during his tenure, stating, "The worst mistake of my public life was not fixing the CIA. I could have but I didn’t do it." Kennedy Jr. further added that the upper echelon of the agency is filled with individuals who do not believe in the institutions of the United States.

Bottom Line

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposal for reforming the CIA is a testament to his belief in the need for oversight and the separation of intelligence and paramilitary operations within the agency. It's a plan that echoes the sentiments of his father and his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy. But what do you think? Is this a viable plan for reforming the CIA? Share your thoughts and discuss this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.