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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
The Mission: Tim Weiner's book explains how the CIA lost its way
Throughout The Mission, Weiner hammers on an agency that seems to be repeatedly blinded by its sense of American supremacy NYT THE MISSION: CIA in the 21st Century by Tim Weiner Published by Mariner 452 pages $35 On June 21, President Trump took to the airwaves to announce that his secret directive for the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities had just been carried out. 'Tonight,' he proclaimed, 'I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,' with those facilities 'completely and totally obliterated.' Trump's triumphalist tone was swiftly undercut by a preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) analysis that found the airstrikes were likely to set back Iran's nuclear capabilities by a mere few months. The furious president not only doubled down on his 'obliterated' claim but insisted that further analysis would confirm it. Sure enough, his Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director, John Ratcliffe, soon scurried forward to cast doubt on the DIA's assessment and to insist that 'new intelligence' from an unidentified source confirmed the sites had been 'severely damaged,' not quite Trump's adverb of choice, but close. Nothing on the ground is any clearer now, but to many observers one thing is: These events served as yet another example of the rank politicisation of America's pre-eminent intelligence agency. As Tim Weiner demonstrates in The Mission, this trend is likely only to accelerate with Trump in the White House. Both as a one-time reporter for The New York Times and as a book author, Weiner has made tracking the fluctuating fortunes of the American intelligence community his life's work. His masterly 'Legacy of Ashes,' detailing the CIA's first half-century, won a National Book Award in 2007. The Mission picks up where that book left off, narrating the agency's history beyond the fall of communism. It is exhaustive and prodigiously researched, but also curiously ungainly. The story begins in the 1990s. Grasping for a new mission in the wake of the Cold War, the CIA played a supporting role in the war on drugs, and then, after the 9/11 attacks, the war on terror. Agents hunted for the Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and tortured high-value prisoners in hopes of gaining information on future attacks. Much of the testimony, Weiner writes, was gathered by a quickly raised army of often inexperienced interrogators. At the same time, Weiner notes, intelligence officers often felt their intelligence was beside the point. As one former CIA Iraq operations chief insists, 'These guys would have gone to war if Saddam had a rubber band and a paper clip.' Throughout The Mission, Weiner hammers on an agency that seems to be repeatedly blinded by its sense of American supremacy. In the past decade and a half, the CIA has been caught off guard again and again, including in China, where the country's intelligence services apparently excel at rooting out and killing American assets. The agency was also back-footed by the onset of the Arab Spring uprisings in 2010, Weiner writes, because US spies depended on the accuracy of information coming from aging counterparts within the dictatorial regimes that were about to crumble in the unrest. Weiner saves his greatest scorn, however, for the first Trump administration, detailing both the vast web of contacts between his campaign staff and Russian intelligence officials as well as Trump's subsequent efforts to bring the CIA to heel, even as he leaned on his intelligence advisers to vet his rash proposals. 'How would we do,' Trump's first CIA director, Mike Pompeo, later recalled the president musing, 'if we went to war with Mexico?' There is something simultaneously illuminating and saddening in contemplating the course the CIA has travelled during the past quarter-century. In this regard, one episode Weiner recounts stands out. In 2007, the CIA gathered compelling evidence that Syria, no friend of the US, was well on its way to building a nuclear weapon. The news set off a spirited debate within the Bush administration over whether it should launch a pre-emptive strike to eliminate the site. The idea was vehemently opposed by one of Bush's closest advisers — 'We don't do Pearl Harbors' — and the bombing scheme was shelved (though it was taken over by a country willing to do the job: Israel). Compare that with Trump's 'Pearl Harbor' assault on Iran's nuclear facilities even though the CIA and almost every other Western intelligence agency had concluded that Iran was not developing a nuclear weapon. The attack starkly underscored just how shamelessly the American intelligence community has already succumbed to Trump's will. In this regard, Weiner's warnings about the peril facing both the CIA and the US seem prophetic.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cooper Kupp congratulates Cal Raleigh on his Home Run Derby victory
For the first time in the history of baseball, a catcher has won the Home Run Derby... and he is a Seattle Mariner! On Monday night, Cal Raleigh's historic season just became a little more iconic with the Big Dumper earning a Home Run Derby championship, becoming the first Mariner since Ken Griffey Jr. did so three times during the 1990's. Raleigh barely - and quite literally - inched out Brent Rooker in round one, having hit tiebreaking ball 0.08 inches further than the Athletics' star. Raleigh then created insurmountable leads in the semifinal and championship round against Oneil Cruz of the Pirates and Junior Caminero of the Rays to win it all. Of course, Raleigh's neighbors to the north, the Seattle Seahawks, certainly noticed his historic performance. However, the Seahawks franchise was not the only ones to celebrate the Big Dumper's achievement. Fellow Seattle sports figure Cooper Kupp took to Twitter as well to praise the American League MVP contender. Cal Raleigh, and the Mariners, will be back in action this coming Friday night for a crucial divisional series against the loathsome Houston Astros. Seattle (51-45) is five games back of Houston for first place in the AL West, and are holding a 1.5 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for the final Wild Card spot. The Mariners have an opportunity to make up some serious ground on the Astros, and will need every home run Raleigh can deliver this weekend.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cal Raleigh wins 2025 MLB Home Run Derby: Highlights from Atlanta slugfest
ATLANTA — The Big Dumper did it. After putting together a record-setting first half, Cal Raleigh won Major League Baseball's 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park, earning himself the title of baseball's top slugger. The Seattle Mariners slugger who hit 38 home runs before the All-Star break – the second-most in MLB history – dispatched the Tampa Bay Rays' 22-year-old Junior Caminero in the final, and is the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby. With his dad pitching and younger brother catching, Raleigh became the second Mariner to be crowned Derby champion, joining Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who won it three times. "You don't think you're gonna win it. You do't think you're even going to be invited," Raleigh said. "Then you get invited and the fact that you win it with your family is super special. What a night." ATLANTA ALL-STAR GAME: The Battery is the envy of sports – but ballpark village isn't all peachy But Raleigh's night almost ended early, advancing out of the first round by less than one inch. Raleigh and Brent Rooker had finished tied for fourth with 17 homers, with the tiebreaker being their longest home run. That looked tied as well with MLB's live tracker showing both at 471 feet, but Raleigh's 470.61-foot homer (literally) inched out Rooker's 470.53-foot shot. "My goodness gracious, it's close. It's just crazy," Raleigh said after his win. "An inch off, and I'm not even in the final four. Just amazing. "I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit." Then, Raleigh came alive in the semifinals, slugging 19 homers to easily defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz. Cruz had brought the crowd to its feet in the first round, crushing a 513-foot blast – the longest of the night – for the eighth of his 21 home runs. "To do it as a family was really special," Cal's dad Todd Raleigh said after the Derby. "I don't know why we've been blessed like this ... When it involved the family, the complexion changed. And we thought, if he doesn't hit any home runs, we're still gonna be good." Asked how his son became a switch-hitter, Todd didn't skip a beat. "Did it from the first day, when he was in diapers, literally," Todd said. "And I would take that big ball and he had a big red bat. I'd throw it slow and he'd hit it. Then I'd say stay there, pick him up, turn him around, switch his hands and do it again." Byron Buxton, who hit 20 in the first round, fell to Caminero in the other semifinal. Also eliminated in the first round were the Washington Nationals' James Wood (16 HR), hometown favorite Matt Olson (15) and New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm (3). Here's how the night unfolded at Truist Park: Home Run Derby final: Cal Raleigh beats Junior Caminero The final is set with Cal Raleigh facing Junior Caminero. Cal Raleigh defeats Oneil Cruz Junior Caminero defeats Byron Buxton Home Run Derby semifinals set It'll be Byron Buxton vs. Junior Caminero and Oneil Cruz vs. Cal Raleigh in the knockout stage, with the winners advancing to the final. Home Run Derby score sheet: Live stats from first round * Advances to semifinals // ^ Eliminated Cal Raleigh advances to semifinals by matter of inches With only one spot left in the semifinals Cal Raleigh and Brent Rooker each finished the first round with 17 home runs. The tiebreaker was longest home run distance, which appeared tied initially. But Raleigh's longest went 470.61 feet while Rooker's traveled 470.53 – a tie broken by 0.08 feet. Hometown hero Matt Olson comes up short With the Truist Field fans behind him, the Braves' first baseman locked in and finished regular time with 15 home runs – but failed to hit another in bonus time to force his way into the semifinaks. Cal Raleigh switches it up, hits 17 With his dad pitching and brother catching, Raleigh started the round batting left-handed, flipped coming out of a timeout – and then went back to the left side for the bonus time. Delivered in the clutch, tying him with Brent Rooker for fourth place with 17. Jazz Chisholm Jr. turns in ugly performance The Yankees infielder was booed after his round, hitting just three home runs to ensure a quick elimination. Chisholm struggled mightily, fouling a number of swings straight back into the stands. Byron Buxton puts himself in position with 20 HR The Minnesota Twins' Georgia native hit 20 home runs in his round, the longest traveling 466 feet. He's in third place with three batters remaining, and can only watch as he awaits his fate. Oneil Cruz hit a baseball 513 feet The Pittsburgh Pirates' center fielder brought the Truist Park crowd to its feet, launching home runs that traveled 513 and 488 feet. He finished the round with 21, tying him for the lead halfway through. Junior Caminero tees off: 21 homers to take the lead The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman is in the lead after three hitters, crushing 21 home run in his round. Brent Rooker next up: 17 home runs The Athletics right-hander moved to the top of the leaderboard with 17 home runs, his longest traveling 471 feet. James Wood leads off Home Run Derby The Washington Nationals' second-year slugger was first up and had a huge round, hitting 16 homers with a longest shot of 486 feet. Who is in the Home Run Derby? (Home run totals at the All-Star break) Cal Raleigh: 'The Big Dumper' makes Home Run Derby a family affair ATLANTA — When Cal Raleigh steps to the plate for his first swing at the Home Run Derby, his past, present and future coalesce. Pitching is his father Todd, the former Western Carolina and Tennessee coach, the man who dragged young Cal along to practices and batboy opportunities and built a workout facility at their North Carolina home. And catching is Todd 'T' Raleigh, Raleigh's 15-year-old brother whose games he tries to attend when his Seattle Mariners travels take him to back to the Deep South, who dons the hand-me-down cleats big brother bequeaths. – Gabe Lacques Home Run Derby odds Odds via BetMGM as of 12 p.m. Home Run Derby rules, new format The 2025 Home Run Derby features three rounds: the first round, semifinals and finals. In the first round, the hitters have three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to hit as many home runs as they can. Each player gets a bonus period that lasts until they take three swings that don't result in a homer. If a home run of 425 feet or longer is hit during the bonus time, the hitter gets a fourthout The four players with the highest totals advance to the semifinals – with first-round ties being broken by the player who hit the longest home run in their round. The semifinals becomes a knockout format, with players seeded Nos. 1-4 based on their first-round totals. Players have two minutes or 27 pitches in the semifinals and finals. Ties in the semifinal are broken by a 60-second "swing-off." Each batter gets one 45-second timeout – but timeouts be called during bonus periods or tiebreakers. Who won last year's Home Run Derby? Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez was crowned 2024 Home Run Derby champion after defeating Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the finals. Hernandez slugged 14 homers in the final round, one more than Witt, to become the first Dodgers player to win the Derby title. MLB Home Run Derby winners by year
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
20 Books Coming in July
A Forbidden Alchemy McEwan, a best-selling author who also runs a popular BookTok account, has begun a new series with this action-packed romantasy about Nina, a miner's daughter with magical powers, and Patrick, a working-class revolutionary. The book is set in a world divided between Artisans (wealthy elites who possess the supernatural ability to wield various elements) and Crafters (working-class laborers who do not). Saga Press, July 1 Clint Clint Eastwood released his latest film, the legal thriller 'Juror #2,' last fall, at 94, making his career — seven decades and counting — among the longest and most prolific in Hollywood history. In reckoning with his life and work, both behind and in front of the camera, Levy depicts Eastwood as an 'inkblot' for a complex American century: a squinting paragon of aggressive masculinity and rough justice whose films showcase his love for the downtrodden, his libertarian politics and his fierce commitment to environmental conservation. Mariner, July 1 Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged in burglaries of pro athletes' homes including Richard Sherman and Julio Rodriguez
A 21-year-old man has been charged with multiple burglaries, allegedly targeting the homes of professional athletes, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Earl Henderson Riley IV was charged with breaking into the homes of Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez and pitcher Luis Castillo, as well as former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Blake Snell. On March 31, Richard Sherman posted on X that several armed men broke into his home the day before while his wife and kids were inside. According to court documents, Mariners CF Julio Rodriguez's home was burglarized on May 1 on Mercer Island. His girlfriend was home at the time and she barricaded herself in a bathroom while she called 911. Over $194,000 in jewelry and high-end purses were stolen, documents say. Mariners Pitcher Luis Castillo's home was burglarized twice - once on February 7, and again on March 28, prosecutors say. Surveillance video at Castillo's home captured the suspects fleeing in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee, which helped lead authorities to Earl Henderson Riley IV's arrest. In Edmonds, the home of Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Blake Snell was burglarized on March 24. Court documents say the damage was discovered on March 26 by security associates at the home. Over $200,000 in items were stolen, according to the documents. Prosecutors also say burglars attempted to enter the home of former Mariner Edgar Martinez on March 29. Suspects were seen walking on the property but did not enter the residence and nothing was stolen, according to documents. Court documents reveal that Earl Henderson Riley IV was previously released from court custody on February 7, 2025, after pleading guilty to previous robbery counts. Riley is being held in the King County Jail on $1 million bail, the prosecutor's office says.
