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"Together, we provided early and accurate warning of the war that was coming - the essential function of any intelligence service. When the president sent me to Moscow before the war, and early November of 2021, I found Putin and his senior advisors unmoved by the clarity of our understanding of what he was planning, convinced that the window was closing for his opportunity to dominate ukraine. I left even more trouble than when I arrived. Good intelligence has helped President Biden mobilize and sustain a strong coalition of countries in support of ukraine. Good intelligence has helped Ukraine defend itself with such remarkable bravery and resolve, and to launch The crucial counteroffensive that is now underway."
Some of us provided a little bit more accurate information than others. I know it was a little difficult and someone like me, who would also put myself in the shoes of Putin and think: 'what would I do' might have overshot some of it, and gave him too much credit.
Good intelligence only gets you so far if your adversary is smarter than you.
I had also found that Putin and his senior advisors as well as the common public of Russia was definitely unmoved by the fact that they had lost any element of surprise. They seemed disinterested in the fact that people already knew their plans ahead of time. They seemed confident that they would be able to achieve their goals right in front of everybody. However, if they paid attention, they would know that would never be the case.
