Since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre that killed more than 1,200 Israelis, President Biden has had Israel’s back, even though his staunch support for the nation's right to defend itself has rattled many not just within the Democratic Party, but in his own administration, too. Biden’s senior aides have even held “multiple” meetings with officials upset over the commander in chief’s position and rhetoric about war to hear their grievances. But not all of the objections are taking place behind closed doors.
According to a new report, a senior CIA official appeared to make her position known just two weeks after the Oct. 7 attack in what Financial Times calls “a rare public political statement by a senior intelligence officer.”
The agency’s associate deputy director for analysis changed her Facebook cover photo to an image of a man waving a Palestinian flag. The photo is often used in stories that are critical of Israel.
BREAKING: A top CIA official posted a pro-Palestine image on Facebook two weeks after Hamas attacked Israel, in a rare public political statement by a senior intelligence officer on a war that has sparked dissent within the Biden administration. - FT pic.twitter.com/02DGwcewtg
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 28, 2023
One person familiar with the situation dismissed how the new photo was being interpreted, telling the FT, it “was not intended to express a position on the conflict.” But the former intelligence officials FT spoke with were surprised by the officer’s post on a divisive issue, especially considering her position in the agency.
The CIA official has previously overseen the production of the President’s Daily Brief, the highly classified compilation of intelligence that is presented to the president most days. The deputy CIA director for analysis and his two associates are also responsible for approving all analysis disseminated inside the agency. (Financial Times)
In a statement, the CIA emphasized that despite personal beliefs, officers can still be objective in their work.
“CIA officers are committed to analytic objectivity, which is at the core of what we do as an agency,” the agency said in a statement. “CIA officers may have personal views, but this does not lessen their — or CIA’s — commitment to unbiased analysis.”
After the FT report came out, however, the CIA sent an internal email to employees reminding them of "existing policy" that discourages posting political messages on social media.