The former diplomat, head of the CIA since 2021, was also sent by the president to Russia and Ukraine before the war. But he was also responsible for the catastrophe in Afghanistan and the underestimation of the Hamas threat
In the most difficult moments, Joe Biden has a special envoy: William Burns. This time the CIA director traveled to Europe to meet the head of the Mossad, the prime minister of Qatar and the head of Egyptian intelligence, hoping to bring about a new lull in hostilities and pave the way for the release of the hostages still held captive to pave the way for Hamas in Gaza, American and Israeli media report.
Burns had already been to Israel in November, on a trip that also took him to other countries in the region. And he was the protagonist of another dramatic mission carried out in Moscow on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Trying to avert disaster by playing every possible card with the opposing party and revealing what the Americans knew about the preparations, probably information gathered in Vladimir Putin's inner circle. The move did not have the desired effect, but was evidence of how Washington had recognized the danger, warning confused allies uninterested in listening for economic reasons and wary of Iraq's black side.
Career diplomat, 67 years old, including 32 years in the Foreign Ministry, former ambassador to Russia and Jordan, who speaks Russian, French and Arabic, is considered a civil servant with unique experience. Built on the ground, under Republican and Democratic presidents, in areas that require knowledge, the ability to communicate, and the understanding of thousands of nuances. Over time, Burns took on the role of mediator but also advisor, thereby shortening the distance to the center of political power. For this reason, at Biden's request, he attended many important meetings and was officially appointed to the position of a member of the Presidential Cabinet. During his time in office, he has put together the pieces caused by Donald Trump's excesses, during a term marked by open conflicts with the security world that did not agree with his decisions. He restored confidence in the apparatus, set clear strategic lines (particularly with regard to China) and invested resources in supporting Ukraine. Positive notes paired with failures.
There are people who accuse him of incorrect assessments of the Russians (in the past) and some contacts with the financier Jeffrey Epstein, conversations that he publicly regretted. The responsibilities on complex chessboards are more serious. Not all US intelligence agencies had foreseen the sudden collapse of Afghanistan after the West's withdrawal: they were aware of the weakness of the institutions and the local army, but estimated that time would pass. Instead, everything dissolved like snow in the sun, with a humiliation after billions had been spent and lives left on the ground. An impact that probably triggered a very long wave: the evacuation of Kabul convinced the Kremlin that there would be a soft US response in the event of an attack on Ukraine.
The second error concerns hell in the Middle East. Rumor had it that spies had paid less attention to Hamas's actions, believing that Israeli vigilance was sufficient. He underestimated the impact of the occupation and the Netanyahu government's push. As in Jerusalem, the analysis office assumed that there was no major danger, although some warnings about a possible outbreak of violence had been sent in the run-up to October 7th. It was too late to remedy the situation; the kibbutzim massacre triggered a devastating, borderless response to Gaza.
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January 26, 2024 (modified January 26, 2024 | 10:51)
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