Trump National Security Pick Flynn is 'Disruptive' Thinker on Intelligence
Jim Michaels, USA TODAY
3:05 p.m. EST November 18, 2016
Michael Flynn would be an addition to Trump's cabinet that has many top Democrats on edge. USA TODAY, Collin Brennan
Michael Flynn, a retired three-star general tapped to be President-elect Donald Trump’s national security adviser, is a career intelligence professional who only recently plunged into politics.
Flynn, who retired from the Army in 2014, spent much of his career helping to unravel terrorist networks in the Middle East. He developed a reputation as being an innovative thinker who sometimes fought against an entrenched military bureaucracy.
The White House fired him in 2014 from his post as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency over complaints that his push for change was undermining morale and the effectiveness of the organization.
“His strengths are that he is a very well-informed guy and a disruptive thinker,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a foreign affairs analyst at the Brookings Institution.
“He’s had to push against the Defense Department bureaucracy for much of his career,” said Jim Lechner, a retired Army officer who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Flynn, 57, burst on the political scene in August with a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention, where he emerged as a trusted Trump adviser on national security issues. He led chants of “lock her up” aimed at Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, at the GOP convention in Cleveland.
A registered Democrat, Flynn said at the time that he had been sought out by Trump’s campaign advisers and met with the candidate.
He has expressed views similar to Trump’s about Islamic extremism being the central threat to the United States and not just another problem to manage. He has been supportive of Trump’s call for tougher screening of Muslim immigrants attempting to enter the USA to ensure they do not include terrorists. Trump called for a temporary ban on letting Muslims enter the country.
President Obama opposes that viewpoint, saying terrorists should not be identified solely by their religion.
The White House national security adviser coordinates administration military and foreign policy, working closely with the secretaries of Defense and State. The post does not require Senate confirmation, but Flynn’s background may come under congressional scrutiny.
Since retiring, he has operated a consulting business with foreign clients and acknowledged making a television appearance last year with Russian President Vladimir Putin that was aired by and paid for by Russia Today, the state-run television network.The occasion was a party to celebrate the network's anniversary.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised Flynn's military record but said he had concerns about statements attributed to Flynn during the campaign. Reed did not elaborate.
This year, Flynn tweeted that fear of Muslims was rational.
Flynn's career in the Army was stellar. He served in Afghanistan as Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s intelligence officer in 2009 and 2010. McChrystal was another innovative commander who led efforts to uncover and attack terror networks in the Middle East more effectively. McChrystal was forced to resign after he and aides made provocative statements about the Obama administration in a Rolling Stone interview in 2010.
In 2010, Flynn co-authored a widely read paper that criticized the intelligence community for its parochialism and failure to take into account broader cultural and historical factors.
His unconventional thinking bumped up against more senior officers whose world understanding was shaped during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, Lechner said.
“He has an intimate knowledge of Islamic extremism because he has worked so long against those networks,” Lechner said.
O’Hanlon said he was heartened by the choice of Flynn, but his appointment should be balanced by other appointments.
“Disruptive thinkers do best in government when balanced by more cautious thinkers,” he said.
3:05 p.m. EST November 18, 2016
Michael Flynn would be an addition to Trump's cabinet that has many top Democrats on edge. USA TODAY, Collin Brennan
Michael Flynn, a retired three-star general tapped to be President-elect Donald Trump’s national security adviser, is a career intelligence professional who only recently plunged into politics.
Flynn, who retired from the Army in 2014, spent much of his career helping to unravel terrorist networks in the Middle East. He developed a reputation as being an innovative thinker who sometimes fought against an entrenched military bureaucracy.
The White House fired him in 2014 from his post as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency over complaints that his push for change was undermining morale and the effectiveness of the organization.
“His strengths are that he is a very well-informed guy and a disruptive thinker,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a foreign affairs analyst at the Brookings Institution.
“He’s had to push against the Defense Department bureaucracy for much of his career,” said Jim Lechner, a retired Army officer who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Flynn, 57, burst on the political scene in August with a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention, where he emerged as a trusted Trump adviser on national security issues. He led chants of “lock her up” aimed at Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, at the GOP convention in Cleveland.
A registered Democrat, Flynn said at the time that he had been sought out by Trump’s campaign advisers and met with the candidate.
He has expressed views similar to Trump’s about Islamic extremism being the central threat to the United States and not just another problem to manage. He has been supportive of Trump’s call for tougher screening of Muslim immigrants attempting to enter the USA to ensure they do not include terrorists. Trump called for a temporary ban on letting Muslims enter the country.
President Obama opposes that viewpoint, saying terrorists should not be identified solely by their religion.
The White House national security adviser coordinates administration military and foreign policy, working closely with the secretaries of Defense and State. The post does not require Senate confirmation, but Flynn’s background may come under congressional scrutiny.
Since retiring, he has operated a consulting business with foreign clients and acknowledged making a television appearance last year with Russian President Vladimir Putin that was aired by and paid for by Russia Today, the state-run television network.The occasion was a party to celebrate the network's anniversary.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised Flynn's military record but said he had concerns about statements attributed to Flynn during the campaign. Reed did not elaborate.
This year, Flynn tweeted that fear of Muslims was rational.
Flynn's career in the Army was stellar. He served in Afghanistan as Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s intelligence officer in 2009 and 2010. McChrystal was another innovative commander who led efforts to uncover and attack terror networks in the Middle East more effectively. McChrystal was forced to resign after he and aides made provocative statements about the Obama administration in a Rolling Stone interview in 2010.
In 2010, Flynn co-authored a widely read paper that criticized the intelligence community for its parochialism and failure to take into account broader cultural and historical factors.
His unconventional thinking bumped up against more senior officers whose world understanding was shaped during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, Lechner said.
“He has an intimate knowledge of Islamic extremism because he has worked so long against those networks,” Lechner said.
O’Hanlon said he was heartened by the choice of Flynn, but his appointment should be balanced by other appointments.
“Disruptive thinkers do best in government when balanced by more cautious thinkers,” he said.
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