This blog will discuss my hope in moving forward for the intelligence community. There are two excellent videos on new ways of thinking in emotional intelligence and personal inquiry in order to develop holistic vision and to ensure analysts and leaders ask the right questions. At the end of this blog is a short profile of Michael Morell the new CIA Acting Director just appointed by President Obama. It is noteworthy Michael’s expertise is in the Asia Pacific area reinforcing the United States shifting focus away from the Middle East to Asia. I found it interesting to learn he was a trained economist.

From my perspective the core problem we are facing in respect of increasing financial crisis relate primarily to declining ethics in business, government dealings and society. The early economists such as Adam Smith whose principles have driven the market based ideologies of politics, were designed primarily to benefit the wellbeing of the people. Adam Smith was a moral philosopher. He did not believe in unfettered trade without ethics or causing harm.

In my view, the world is at a critical turning point, let’s hope it is not a vanishing point but a transcendence to new ways of thinking and being to ensure all win. To understand that what we believe we attract and create. Our thinking is the wild card manifesting the future we see. That is framed by fear or love.  The hope of moving forward is for all intelligence agencies.

The United States has an excellent President and an opportunity to turn the sinking ship around and to action the true meaning of the Statue of Liberty.

I would like to share with you democratically my vision of hope in moving forward for the US and the World community.  I feel REAL HOPE for the future.

My hope in moving forward is that we see a new common era of emotional intelligence as the central intelligence of the United States. 

My hope in moving forward is a recoupling of trade to human rights.  Thus the decoupling of human rights from trade in reality decoupled business and governments from the humanitarian spirit espoused in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the Bill of Rights that the US and UN advocates as freedoms.  Therefore, my hope in moving forward is that the intelligence community focus  on gathering evidence to stop illegal and unethical trade that undermines human rights.

My hope in moving forward is that the intelligence community trains its staff in the importance of social justice, nonviolence and conflict resolution. To develop new ways of seeing and engaging in counterterrorism in terms of collecting information to assist governments in peace building rather than undermining other governments covertly through spying, untruths and assassinations. To understand the power of win/win rather than win/lose, hence the creation of hidden and disgruntled grievances which fuel violent insurrection and powerlessness.

My hope in moving forward is that the intelligence community no longer sees protestors as anti-government but persons engaged in exercising their democratic rights of freedom of speech. In addition that they recognise that filming without permission is not acceptable and creates a barrier to the exercise of those rights. That this only be applicable in cases where there is evidence that protestors are engaged in violence or activities that counter democracy and freedoms in reality.

My hope in moving forward is that the intelligence community is not corrupted or co-opted by politicians who are pushing private interest agenda’s. To propose an independent pathway if the agencies suspect the politicisation of intelligence, the right to non-cooperation with government and an inquiry. This was seen clearly in the Bush Administration in respect to energy interests and was evident here in Australia during the Howard years where Australian intelligence was clear there were no WMD’s in Iraq and there was no case for Australia’s involvement in the war. Nonetheless both governments went ahead against the wishes of the people and the intelligence community. There has to be democratic mechanisms to protect the integrity of organisations and clear mandates regarding their purpose on behalf of the people.

My hope in moving forward is that intelligence no longer be secretive but increasingly open about its activities given the public pay for them. Clearly those activities that are secret must be accountable to some form of government public ethics committee and to ensure they are in alignment with the values, principles, policies and Bill of Rights of the United States. A good quick test could be modelled on Rotary International’s 4 Way Test:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all Concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

My hope in moving forward is that whistle blowers, inside the intelligence agencies, are protected and that there is no subterfuge of retribution through falsifying criminal offences to remove people they feel betrayed them. Democracy has to be the key foundation that ensures all respect the right to freedom of speech whether you agree with them or not. There has to be an acceptance that if wrongdoing is occurring, the public have a right to know.

My hope in moving forward is that there is a renewed culture for intelligence agencies ensuring there is a wide range of professionals, thus open to providing a unique range of insights and questioning to avoid group think or narrow thinking. The overall foundation to the culture links to peace and security, therefore a Culture of Peace with security not only for the United States but worldwide.

My hope in moving forward is that intelligence agencies revisit their core values. For to truly win the hearts and minds of people they must walk the talk of who they say they are and the principles they indicate they are working for.

My hope in moving forward is that intelligence agents, as a collective of professional agents are employed with proven values, integrity and honesty and able to apply leadership skills to any problem or challenge they are facing. The values could incorporate President Obama’s acceptance speech and vision of the United States.  The mission statement could include values of: peace, harmony, cooperation, trust, nonviolence, honesty, integrity to name a few. The purpose of living values is to build a culture that follows core values thus enabling deeper insights into effective strategies that work for present and longer term visions. They will need to be resilient to deal with the temper of the times.

My hope in moving forward is that agents will be required to adopt a broad global view whereby they understand how to balance US interests with shared global interests. Moreover, to understand the complex economic, social, cultural, political, environmental and planetary challenges within a framework of conflict resolution, problem solving and emotional intelligence.

My hope in moving forward is that the intelligence community will have an ability to creatively craft strategies that orchestrate positive change rather than fear based change based on control.

My hope in moving forward is that intelligence agencies have a balance of males and females working for them. That their ages cover the age spectrum to ensure older people with wisdom and experience are present in the teams. Thus to acknoweldge there are differences between males and females in respect to how they process information, how they see, feel and relate to challenges in the world. Moreover, males and females have different orientations. Males tend to be goal orientated, they are fixed on the goal and will do what they have to, to reach the objective. They tend to question superiors less and just get the job done. Women on the other hand are oriented to understanding relationships, emotional landscapes and will analyse potential consequences. Women tend to feel their emotions and express them readily, they are likely to air their feelings if they feel something is wrong. Males tend to suppress their feelings as society does not give them permission to show their feeling side. This is a gender prejudice which has created lopsided decision making. Moreover, the structured male thinking restricts intelligence gathering capabilities, as the full story, in my view, is not understood nor considered professional. Thus, blended perspectives incorporating values from the feminine with the masculine perspectives builds a holistic vision from which to make informed and wise decisions.

My hope in moving forward is that the intelligence community fosters a culture open to differences and accepting of argument and disagreement (democracy). It is in the natural tensions that often solutions and insights arise, rather than a military approach of obeying superiors and cautiously challenging. If conformity is the name of the game, then critical gut feelings will not be included as they are not backed up with evidence. Yet in truth it is not possible to know 100% the complete picture, intuitive can be very useful sensing the appropriate direction.

My hope in moving forward is cooperation amongst all agencies to ensure the left-hand knows what the right-hand is doing. This would require staff moving around agencies to get to know counterparts; this could be extended to other countries as staff exchange programs to build understanding. President Obama mentioned the importance of working together for a joint vision of a peaceful United States. This leads to a peaceful World Community.

My hope in moving forward is that nuclear weapons are abolished as the greatest threat to security. This is an issue that intelligence agencies could contribute to do given recent experiences in Iraq and the many mistakes made and then the knock on effect with North Korea and Iran and other countries seeing them as creating security from attack. The Non Proliferation Treaty and the START Treaty to name but two are examples of focusing intelligence on ensuring nuclear weapons do not proliferate. Discussions around nonviolence and world peace must have a genuine place at the negotiation table. Intelligence agencies play an important role in asking the right questions even if governments don’t like it. They are responsible for the safety of the public and national security. For example – how can one ask any country to disarm when they are armed with the same weapons? Is that leadership, bullying or hypocrisy? Security and de-escalation of possible nuclear futures would be facilitated by a worldwide ban on all nuclear weapons and a meaningful disarmament. The public do not wish to go down the path of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was indicated by McNamara that the general in charge was not open to questions and had no qualms about bombing these cities. This reinforces the importance of emotional intelligence in decision makers. The bombing wasn’t what stopped the war as the Japanese had already surrendered. It was done to test the weapons. The excuse was that they didn’t surrender unconditionally, hence refusing to surrender Emperor Hirohito.  The problem was that the people regarded their leader as a god. In an emotionally intelligent world those bombings would not have happened. The fact they did has sparked arms races and many other nations acquiring them. Imagine if the money had been spent on peace building and conflict resolution. We would be much more affluent and equal today.

My hope in moving forward is that wisdom is not just a word but encouraged in reality as a higher knowledge applied. This wisdom would filter from the top down and from the bottom up. Wisdom could be modelled throughout the organisations as all would be seeking wise solutions rather than winning a conflict (military strategic outcomes). Ethics and values are what enable people to learn from the past and develop their own wisdom in problem solving. Thus wise decisions are made. This requires personnel with broad experiences, questioning minds for truth rather than rightness (ego), positivity and long sighted vision to really explore the possible iterations and impacts of decisions.

 Examples of wisdom are:

‘be the change you wish to see in the world’
‘what you resist persists what you look at disappears’
‘to thine own self be true’
‘the world is a reflection of your self’
‘what you do to another returns to the self’
‘what you focus on expands’
‘we are our brothers and sisters keepers’
‘love your neighbour as yourself’
‘there are no enemies only teachers’
‘what you fear you attract’.

My hope in moving forward is a shift from military doctrines to positive peace initiatives.  Of course for those who have seen it all and see the world in a Hobbesian worldview (tooth and claw), they may subscribe to a format of intelligence which still looks for problems (threats) framed similarly to the military defence doctrines, rather than looking for what is working? How can that be strengthened as security? how to build strong relationships with other nations? Thus to truly understand not only individuals but cultures, learning not to manipulate them but to find common ground or resonance where agreements can be solid and long lasting.

My hope in moving forward is that all intelligence agencies actively build tolerance, trust, respect, goodwill and understanding between countries. Not sending in the spies but sending in the analysts to seek first to understand, then to be understood as Stephen Covey so wisely stated in his books ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ and ‘Principle Centred Leadership.’

My hope in moving foward is that emotional intelligence is utilised in training of staff and as central to intelligence. Staff would feel great emotional pressures of overworking, tension with colleagues, bullying, powerlessness and a culture of secrecy where they are being seen to be and not themselves. If they are in career mindsets, which most would be, they would keep their noses clean and do the job. Some of them work up to 18 hours. It is extremely gruelling. for their wellbeing and effectiveness,.  Emotional intelligence training and activities would enable them to release built up tensions and learn how to articulate how they feel and manage their emotions intelligently without suppression. Suppression leads to mental health issues and can lead to violence or espionage. It is essential they feel, face and express their emotions as human beings without it being connected to the feminine as weak which has been traditional. As a woman it is insulting and ends up suppressing women at work as well. Social emotional learning is an imperative to expanding broader intelligence to understand complex situations that are deeply immersed in emotional problems. To be able to sense the mood of individuals, groups and society is invaluable in understanding when the timing is right to implement strategies and to look at creative ways to de-escalate tensions which is a realistic approach to safety, if that is the overall goal..

Daniel Goleman is famous for his work on emotional intelligence. Here is an excellent video entitled ‘Emotional Intelligence or Behaviorial Control? (part 1)’

Here is a further video by Daniel Goleman on Social Intelligence and Leadership.

All conflicts have emotions and cultural perspectives as salient drivers, it is essential for leaders and staff in agencies to deeply understand human nature and to utilise intelligence to guide strategies which resolve conflict, de-escalate disputes and restore peace to our deeply troubled world. That requires sensitivity, empathy, awareness and positive hope for the future. To not just couch strategy in safety (an unconscious response to threats) not unlike the negative peace philosophy (see Johann Galtung for further explanation) but to proactively build peaceful, confident and positive environments. Thus, through the prism of emotionally intelligent people, seek to develop positive solutions rather than running on fear seeing red’s under the bed or a terrorist in the face of any middle eastern person with a beard.

Therefore, it is essential to build skills in problem solving, emotional intelligence and conflict resolution to assist governments in making wise decisions. To-date it appears military strategies have been regarded as the modus operandi where the negative is seen (what is wrong) and the powerful belief that people must be protected. Rather than examining the environment that creates conflict, violence and negativity and crafting positive environments that foster security, community, values, peacefulness as the real inner security.   I will come in right field here, as a clown I can de-escalate a situation by being present as people identify a clown as safe and fun.  If any negative behaviour is present they tend to smile at the clown and laugh and I notice community members smile and laugh with them.  It is hard to steal from someone you are laughing with, suddenly the shared humanity emerges and you join without even realising it.  In my view military strategy creates greater insecurity because of the core principle of using fear to control in order to change behaviour.  It is not unlike the bullying in schools, it subconsciously works on the theory that people can only be controlled if they are in fear of something relating to their self interest.  We do have a ways to go to undo many misconceptions to build a society and world community that trusts and contributes in proactive ways.  What has not been understood at all levels is the wisdom of ‘what you focus on expands.’ If you see terrorists that is what you will create (in your mind), if you see opportunities to create peaceful societies, you will find the answers. Actually the answers find you.

My hope in moving forward is that intelligence agencies ask the right questions. The tool which I believe is the most effective and simple is The Work by Byron Katie.

Critical thinking and indeed awareness of the power of projection is central to inquiry. One must be able to frame a negative question and with honesty and a desire for peace, go through The Work and question for truth and reality. If intelligence agencies cannot do this they will get caught up in group think, delusional thinking and ignorance that comes from unquestioned mantras. We saw that with military power not defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan. McNamara spoke in the Fog of War about the importance of asking the right questions.

The Work is a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to identify and question the thoughts that cause all the suffering in the world. It’s a way to understand what’s hurting you, and to address the cause of your problems with clarity.

Here is a quote from Byron katie:

“I discovered that when I believed my thoughts, I suffered, but that when I didn’t believe them, I didn’t suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always.” — Byron Katie

The Work Process

	1		2		3
	Fill out the Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet		Ask the Four Questions		Find the Turnarounds

 The four questions and a turnaround.

1. Is it true?

2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?

3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

4. Who would you be without the thought?

5. Then turn it around (the concept you are questioning), and don’t forget to find three genuine examples of each turnaround.

Imagine if every fearful belief was tested first before billions and trillions were spent.  Imagine if it was directed to those in poverty, education and envisaging a new future.

If we are 100% projecting, which we are, we will see the world of our beliefs and not the real world. Therefore, how we think determines the world we see and the reality. The real world people speak of differs for 6 to 7 billion people. If they believe the similar concepts they will co-create the times they are moving through. If they see armageddon that is what they create through the law of attraction. They will increasingly see enemies, danger and fear and will spend money accordingly. The more they focus on it the more they attract the outcome. If the critical mass of humainty see peace on earth that is exactly what will be. Where focus goes, energy flows!

My hope in moving forward is that we come to see what we do to others returns to ourselves. That ‘might is not right’ or notions of better than through wealth, prestige etc. is not superior and the use of force just creates opposing force.

My hope in moving forward is that proactive strategies for real peace be crafted and implemented as part of the intellgence communities wonderful work in building true peace and security in our world. May intelligence be enlightened information about what works and what does not and to connect with values and wisdom to intuitively know how to move forward with deeper world understanding of true peace. Thich Nhat Hanh is a notable example in his book ‘reating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community, and the World’ http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/excerpts.php?id=14038. The intelligence community will become the heroes of our time.

Thus, a consciousness shift in how those in power see, relate and deal with other countries will indeed change the world.  In truth it is a shift from a fear based consciousness to a love based consciousness.

My hope in moving forward is that we choose positive peace strategies to feed into a Culture of Peace in harmony with UNESCO and the future of children.

Lastly, may Michael Morell be a leader unafraid of creating change to inspire peace in the world. When the US is secure within we all breathe easy to live life, liberty and happiness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Morell

Michael J. Morell (born 1958) is the current Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, his second time in that role, having served as Acting Director the year before, in 2011. In May 2010, Morell was sworn in as the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, succeeding Stephen Kappes.^[1] As stated, from July 1^[2] to September 6, 2011, he served his first stint as Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. On November 9, 2012, Morell once again became Acting Director following the resignation of General David Petraeus, following an extramarital affair.^[3] President Obama plans to nominate him as the Director.^[4]

Morell is a native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.^[5] He joined the CIA in 1980. He was chief of the CIA‘s division on Asia, Pacific and Latin America.^[6] Most of his work in the agency was devoted to Asian projects.^[5] He also managed the staff that produced the Presidential Daily Briefings for President George W. Bush.^[5][6] Before his 2010 nomination as Deputy Director, Morell served as Director for Intelligence, a position he had held since 2008. Before that, he served as the CIA’s first Associate Deputy Director from 2006-2008.

https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/michael-j.-morell.html

Michael J. Morell

Acting Director, Central Intelligence Agency

Mr. Michael J. Morell became Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on November 9, 2012. A career Agency officer, he has held a variety of leadership positions, including Deputy Director of CIA, Associate Deputy Director of CIA, and Director for Intelligence.

Mr. Morell served as Deputy Director, beginning in May 2010, under former Directors Leon E. Panetta and David H. Petraeus.  As Associate Deputy Director from July 2006 until May 2008, he assisted the Director in the overall leadership of the Agency, focusing on its internal management. As Director for Intelligence for the two years prior to his current assignment, Mr. Morell guided the Agency’s all-source analytic arm, which produces strategic and tactical assessments for US policymakers and military commanders.

Mr. Morell began his Agency career as an analyst tracking international energy issues, and subsequently worked for 14 years as an analyst and manager on East Asia. In 1999, he was appointed Director of the DI’s Office of Asian Pacific and Latin American Analysis. He also has served as a presidential briefer, as chief of the staff that produces the President’s Daily Brief, and as an executive assistant to DCI George J. Tenet. From 2003 until 2006, he served overseas. Upon his return, he was briefly Deputy Director for Intelligence at the National Counterterrorism Center before being asked to become Associate Deputy Director at CIA.

Mr. Morell earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Akron and a master’s degree in economics from Georgetown University.