Mike Benz: 'When it's too dirty for the CIA, you give it to USAID' for Covert Operations
USAID’s pulling the strings in covert ops—bypassing oversight, it’s the CIA’s shadow player in political warfare.
Joe Rogan and Mike Benz unpack the intricate web of covert actions orchestrated through non-governmental organizations and agencies like USAID, revealing how these operations bypass traditional oversight and synchronize with broader political and intelligence objectives, often under the guise of democracy promotion.
Ever wonder how the government pulls off covert ops without leaving fingerprints? Spoiler: it’s not just the CIA—USAID might be the real MVP in this shadow game.
Benz explains that USAID can execute the same covert actions as the CIA but without the need for presidential approval, exploiting loopholes to conduct what he calls 'discrete democracy promotion.' This setup allows for operations that would be too controversial or risky for the CIA, with USAID becoming a central hub for such activities, often linked to major scandals in recent decades.
“… every covert action the CIA does has to be, has to be authorized by the President, and what's called the Presidential finding to take that covert action… if the CIA senior leadership were just a rogue cell that's not even at the top of leadership… but they don't think the President will approve, or the President doesn't want to formally sign off on it, in case it goes it goes wrong, they can walk right over to USAID, who can do the exact same thing the CIA does, except they can call it ‘discrete democracy promotion,’ because it's not technically an intelligence agency, so it's not technically covert action, so it doesn't require executive branch approval or foreknowledge.”
– Mike Benz
Rogan is struck by the depth and synchronization of these networks, noting how they operate through seemingly independent entities that are, in reality, part of a larger, orchestrated effort. Benz draws parallels to historical covert operations, like those under the CIA in the mid-20th century, but highlights how USAID's role has evolved to take on the dirtiest tasks.
This discussion opens up questions about transparency and accountability in government actions, leaving you to ponder just how deep these covert networks go and what it means for the authenticity of grassroots movements. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most influential hands are the ones you can’t see.