6 chapters across the catalog
Charlie Rose Interview, Matthew Olsen and Intelligence Prestige
Matthew Olsen, the former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, appeared on Charlie Rose to provide a scripted briefing on the state of U.S. intelligence. The hosts discuss Charlie Rose's transition to the CBS morning show, suggesting the move was a financial reward for his long-standing service to the establishment.
Cyber Mercenaries, Matthew Olsen's Warning of Imminent Attacks
Matthew Olsen warned of "cyber mercenaries" who could be hired by groups like Al-Qaeda to attack U.S. financial and energy sectors. The hosts interpret this repeated emphasis as a precursor to a new government initiative targeting the tech community and independent system administrators under the guise of national security.
Khorasan Group, Aviation Targets and Intelligence Narratives
Matthew Olsen identified the Khorasan Group as the most significant immediate threat to the West due to their focus on aviation targets and sophisticated bomb-making. The hosts point out that the group's Wikipedia page was created only recently, suggesting the "Khorasan" name is a manufactured label for veteran Al-Qaeda members in Syria.
Benghazi Controversy, Matthew Olsen and Charlie Rose Debate
During his interview with Charlie Rose, Matthew Olsen struggled to explain the administration's shifting narrative on the Benghazi attack. While Olsen claimed the intelligence community immediately recognized it as a terrorist act, he failed to reconcile this with the public focus on an anti-Islam video, leading to a confusing exchange about the definition of "sophisticated" attacks.
Matthew Olsen, Terrorist Communication Shifts
National Counterterrorism Center Director Matthew Olsen tells Senator Susan Collins that terrorist groups have changed their communication methods due to Snowden's disclosures. The hosts point out a logical flaw in the narrative: if the government knows exactly how and where terrorists have changed their behavior, they should be able to target them immediately. They conclude the testimony is a "hole in the narrative" designed for public consumption.
National Strategy for Counter-Terrorism and Matthew Olsen
The Obama administration has appointed Matthew Olsen, a former NSA lawyer, to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. The new "National Strategy for Counter-Terrorism" document is analyzed for its heavy use of legalistic language, defining "adherents" and "affiliates" in broad terms. Discrepancies in the spelling of "Osama" vs "Usama" bin Laden in official documents are noted as potential indicators of "shadow theater."
