#170 Mike Benz - USAID Funding CIA-Backed Mercenaries, Media Superweapons and Samantha Powers

The history and operational dynamics of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reflect its intricate role in foreign aid and covert operations.

Usaid, Founded In 1961 by President Kennedy, Provides International Aid and Development

USAID was established in 1961 by an executive order from President John F. Kennedy, marking a significant step in America's approach to international aid and development.

Usaid's Mandate now Includes Covert Political Warfare, Regime Change, and Foreign Intervention

Mike Benz touches upon the complex and sometimes opaque activities of USAID, intimating its involvement in funding research that might relate to contentious practices such as gain-of-function research, which suggests a capability for covert operations. Furthermore, USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), created in 1993, has been particularly focused on post-Cold War political warfare. Its primary focus has been directed towards the former Soviet colonies in Eastern Europe, where it has been actively involved in efforts for regime change, political stabilization, and operates under the humanitarian aid umbrella, often circumventing the traditional approval processes.

Usaid Was Intended As a Civilian Counterpart to the Cia’s Covert Capabilities, With Flexibility to Bypass Oversight and Approval

JFK envisioned USAID as a civilian apparatus capable of operating with a degree of flexibility and autonomy not commonly associated with military and intelligence entities, ...

The discussion led by Mike Benz explores the controversial activities of USAID, implicating the agency in foreign politics, privacy invasions, and supporting opposition groups to align governments with U.S. objectives.

Usaid Activities Influence Foreign Politics and Undermine Sovereignty

USAID has come under scrutiny for its involvement in activities that extend beyond traditional humanitarian assistance. Its operations include working with the U.S. Defense Department and special forces, suggesting a role in political activities that influence foreign politics and undermine national sovereignty.

Usaid Supports Opposition, Civil Society, and Media for "Color Revolutions" and Regime Change

Mike Benz comments on USAID's capacity for covert activity and political maneuvers, suggesting that the agency is weaponized and uses tactics that influence foreign politics. This includes support for CIA-backed mercenary groups, suggesting that USAID more than humanitarian aid is involved in regime change work, particularly through its Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).

USAID's approach often involves targeting multiple sectors within a country, including media, social media, unions, worker groups, judiciaries, parliamentarians, cultural institutions, universities, and the commercial sector. They perform strategic assessments to identify gaps between existing assets in the region and the requirements to achieve a State Department foreign policy goal. After this, initiatives are funded to fill these gaps, aligning a country’s resources with U.S. foreign policy.

Mike Benz refers to past events where USAID was caught engaging in activities during the Arab Spring and various color revolutions. Notably, the Obama administration was seen as utilizing USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to fund networks and train them on social media coordination for protests.

Internal USAID documents revealed a plan to create a "Cuban Spring" with orchestrated street protests and riots through social media, dubbed "smart mobs."

Usaid Targets Populist Movements Seen As Threats To Us Foreign Policy Interests, Regardless of Democratic Legitimacy

Usaid Interventions Aim For "Democracy" but Often Install Governments Aligned With Us Objectives

USAID has been implicated in Joe Biden's threat to Viktor Shokin regarding the removal of the prosecutor in Ukraine, an action suggesting leverage over foreign judicial outcomes. It targets election management bodies to influence court systems or task forces in election processes, particularly concerning disinformation.

The agency is also credited with significant asset seizures, policy changes, and the removal of government officials through media action. They are described as having caused regime change influence by leveraging connections between sponsored journalists and local prosecutors.

Mike Benz underscores the concern with USAID's flexibility, implying it handles activities too controversial for the CIA. He likens USAID’s current actions to the CIA’s historical involvement ...

Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of oversight for USAID, suggesting that this could enable activities not approved through normal channels, potentially including covert action and foreign interference.

Usaid's Structure and Lack of Oversight Enable Covert Action and Foreign Interference Not Approved Through Normal Channels

Mike Benz points to the difficulties in auditing USAID, implying a lack of oversight that could allow it to fund initiatives typically reserved for the CIA, Defense, and State Department with less scrutiny. Benz references USAID's ability to carry out activities without a presidential finding, which is usually required for CIA covert actions, thereby enabling actions without as much government oversight.

USAID's structure as an "independent" agency allows it to navigate bureaucratic constraints more easily than agencies like the State Department, leading senior DOD leadership to express a preference for working with USAID. This is evidenced by Benz's mention of a "CIA back channel" and indications that USAID has funded entities implicated in foreign policy tactics not subject to the usual checks and balances, such as Creative Associates International.

For example, Benz discusses USAID’s ability to bypass standard approval processes, mentioning a loophole discovered by Trump's Inspector General for USAID that allows contractors to bypass restrictions on counterterrorism funds. Furthermore, USAID has been implicated in a scheme that rerouted humanitarian funds earmarked for Pakistan to fund a social media platform in Cuba, without presidential approval or Senate oversight.

Usaid's Role in the US "Political Warfare" Apparatus: Navigating the "Grey Area" Between Overt and Covert Action

The conversation suggests that USAID operates in a "grey area" between overt and covert action, serving as a swing player in US "political warfare." Benz hints that U.S. aid-funded networks were involved in the political instability in Ukraine, possibly influencing domestic political matters such as US elections or targeting citizens. These allegations raise concerns over USAID funding of groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, suggesting the agency might be conducting activities without proper interagency approval procedures.

Benz also discusses the involvement of USAID-funded networks in events like the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych, the U ...

Concerns regarding the influence of USAID on US media and politics, as well as its potential role in targeting US citizens considered threats to foreign policy, come to the forefront in a discussion with Mike Benz.

Usaid Has Funded US Media, Think Tanks, and Institutions, Often Influencing Their Coverage and Editorial Decisions

USAID funded the Tide Center with $27 million, the fiscal sponsor of the Black Lives Matter Foundation and Fair and Just Prosecutions (FJP), which is involved with Soros prosecutors, advising them on prosecutions and providing social media posts and talking points. Such funding suggests an ability to influence media coverage, potentially affecting the information landscape.

Shaped US Information Landscape, Promoting Narratives Favorable to US Foreign Policy and Undermining Alternatives

Benz points out that USAID grants may affect media outlets' content, detailing specific grants to Reuters while pointing out a perceived conflict of interest when these outlets report on figures like Trump and Elon Musk coincidently with actions against their companies.

Also, USAID's influence extends to think tanks, such as the Atlantic Council, which receives USAID funds and produces documents advising on how to sell and implement internet censorship. This extends to shaping narratives concerning disinformation, potentially influencing the political landscape and global perceptions.

In addition, USAID-funded entities like think tanks and media are implicated in performing statecraft and achieving US State Department ends supported by grant funding.

Usaid Harasses US Citizens Seen As Foreign Policy Threats, Collaborating With Agencies

Silencing Tactics Against Critics of US Foreign Policy

The discussion suggests that USAID may be involved in targeting US citizens seen as threats to foreign policy, potentially in collaboration with agencies like the State Department. This could manifest as harassment or silencing individuals, including Trump supporters, who have been branded as unwitting Russia sympathizers by groups funded by USAID.

The implication of this funding from agencies like USAID is that it influences the information landscape, promoting narratives in line with US foreign policy, and implementing silencing tactics against critics of that policy.

Benz alludes to example scenarios where USAID funds journalists who then create hit pieces that can lead to arrests, suggesting a direct line from this funding to media influence, which could shape media n ...