#220 Simone Ledeen - Fmr. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy

Simone Ledeen has carved a distinguished career path across various government sectors including the Pentagon, Treasury, and global battlefields, establishing herself as an expert in national security, counterterrorism, and intelligence.

Ledeen's Distinguished Career in National Security and Defense

Simone Ledeen has devoted significant portions of her professional life to the service of national security and defense, facing challenges in volatile environments and playing a crucial role in shaping policy and strategy.

Civilian Advisor in Post-Invasion Iraq

During her tenure, Ledeen worked as an advisor in Baghdad for the Coalition Provisional Authority following the invasion of Iraq. She played a critical role by serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Finance, demonstrating her capacity to navigate complex and challenging post-conflict environments.

Transitioned To Counter-Threat Finance at Treasury

Leaning on her expertise in national security and defense, Ledeen was approached by General Flynn, for whom she had worked for about five years, to take an assistant secretary position at the Treasury focused on counter-threat finance. Her appointment underscored her deep knowledge and skill in combating financial activities that threaten national security, although the opportunity at the Treasury later fell through when Flynn departed.

She Moved To the Defense Intelligence Agency to Aid Its Reorgan ...

Simone Ledeen scrutinizes policy decisions, flawed assumptions, and the mismanagement of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mourning the resulting loss of life and opportunities.

Ledeen Critiques Flawed Assumptions, Poor Foresight, and Mismanagement in Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

Ledeen highlights various challenges and mistakes that plagued the U.S. efforts in these countries.

Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in US-funded Iraq Reconstruction

Simone Ledeen remarks on immense challenges, such as the waste, fraud, and abuse that occurred during the Iraq reconstruction. She recalls how even in the early days, clear signs of mismanagement were evident, with basic necessities like trailers with bathrooms missing. Soldiers unlawfully dealing with vehicles showcased the level of oversight and illegal activities that transpired.

Afghanistan Withdrawal 2021 Disturbed Ledeen: Abandonment of Partners and Strategic Damage

The 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan particularly disturbed Ledeen, highlighting the abandonment of effective partners like a border police commander left without military assets, leading to his assassination. Ledeen also points out the strategic mistake of giving up Bagram Air Base which was crucial for regional oversight. She expresses dismay at the mismanagement and chaos of the withdrawal, including personnel at the embassy being unprepared to evacuate, and critiques the decision-making that led to the withdrawal's execution. She laments the lost opportunities and abandonment of individuals who fought alongside U.S. forces.

Over the span of these conflicts, political misjudgments such as ignoring early signs of insurgency in Iraq had significant implications. Intelligence analysts were restricted from using the term "insurgency," reflecting the administrative denial and lack of foresight.

On a personal level, Ledeen opens up about her disillusionment with the mission's purpose after years of dedication, and how the negative war outcomes weighed heavily on her mental health.

Ledeen acknowledges the competency of Afghan fighters and is troubled by the message sent globally by the U.S. withdrawal, suggesting that it emboldened jihadists.

Challenges in Ensuring Afghanistan's Financial Self-sufficiency

Implementing projects to make the government of Afghanistan self-sufficient in revenue generation was an enormous task. Ledeen describes a pilot project aimed at managing corruption at borders to increase customs revenue, an effort that she witnessed to have tangible successes.

However, Ledeen also observed political disputes that hindered effective program management, like the unwarranted questioning of motives behind approved strategies. After a transition from military to embassy control, the removal of necessary assets led to declining security situations.

She recounts failures such as the delay in a US-funded road paving project, which led to a fatal IED incident. Further, unsavory dealings, such as the acceptance of illegal gifts by a USAID representative in Herat, exemplify the corruption challenges faced during her tenure there.

Reflections on Early War Years and Personal Expe ...

Simone Ledeen elaborates on the intricate counter-threat finance efforts, including the pioneering Swift program, which she managed at the Treasury Department. These operations are paramount for disrupting the sophisticated financial networks of adversaries such as terrorist organizations.

Ledeen's Role in Treasury's Swift Counter-Threat Finance Program

Ledeen was instrumental in the Treasury Department's incisive work on counter-threat finance, focusing on intercepting the financial streams that were vital to the enemies. She shed light on how the Treasury, in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DOD), and various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, endeavored to dismantle financial networks that supported hostile activities.

Swift Program Let Us Monitor Transactions, Disrupt Terrorist Funds

The Swift program is a crucial tool in the fight against terrorism. It serves as an international mechanism that facilitates the electronic transfer of funds between banks and was a classified part of the Patriot Act, aimed at tracking transactions for counterterrorism purposes. When in charge of the program, Ledeen employed it to closely monitor transactions, identifying designated accounts and tracking their activity. She explained that, with valid targets, Swift transactions could be requested and scrutinized. The program proved successful in instances such as confirming that Norwegian child killer Anders Breivik funded his operations independently over a decade.

Ledeen Led Swift, a Sensitive Counterterrorism Tool, and Coordinated With International Partners

While there are no specific mentions in the provided content about Ledeen's coordination with international partners through the Swift program, it can be inferred from the context of her roles in counter-threat finance that such cooperation was likely. The Swift program's sensitivity and effectiveness necessitate meticulous coordination at international levels, especially considering Europe's stringent privacy laws that came into play when the program was exposed publicly.

Ledeen Argues Privacy Concerns From Swift Program's Public R ...

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has undergone changes to enhance its intelligence collection and analysis, spearheaded by leaders like Simone Ledeen who have faced bureaucratic challenges in transforming the agency.

Ledeen, Part of Defense Intelligence Agency Leadership, Led a Reorganization to Enhance Intelligence Collection and Analysis

Simone Ledeen played a significant role in the Defense Intelligence Agency's reorganization, driven by the goal of integrating intelligence collectors and analysts to foster more responsive intelligence for decision-makers.

Integrating Collectors and Analysts For Decision-Maker-Responsive Intelligence

Ledeen discusses the pre-reorganization issue where collectors and analysts were often in different locations and not coordinating effectively. The reorganization led to the creation of specific entities like Russia House and China House within the DIA, where collectors and analysts could work together more closely on the same region. This aimed to ensure intelligence collectors gathered precise intelligence that analysts required to answer senior leadership's key questions, efficiently filling intelligence gaps.

Ledeen Faced Bureaucratic Challenges and Resistance to Change Within the Reform-Resistant Dia Culture

Simone Ledeen, as part of General Flynn's leadership team, faced a bureaucratic culture that was initially resistant to reform. These challenges also emerged when she was tasked with writing the counter-threat finance policy for the DOD, a process mired by debates with ...

Simone Ledeen played a vital role in the United States operations targeting key figures such as ISIS leader al-Baghdadi and Iranian General Soleimani.

Ledeen Involved After US Operations Killed ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi, Iranian General Soleimani

Ledeen was part of the Special Operations and Combating Terrorism team during the operations that resulted in the death of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi and Iranian General Soleimani.

Briefed Congress On Baghdadi Operation, an Impressive and Daring Special Forces Feat

Simone Ledeen's involvement in the Baghdadi operation primarily entailed briefing Congress post-operation. She extolled the competence and professionalism of the military members involved, specifically singling out a high-production-value video of the operation that was shown to select individuals. Ledeen conveyed her deep admiration and enthusiasm as she recounted how military and CIA Counterterrorism Center officials detailed the Baghdadi operation in Congressional briefings. She felt proud to explain the operation's specifics to lawmakers and to be part of telling the story.

Ledeen: Soleimani Strike Was Bold, Risky, yet Justified by His Attacks on Americans

Ledeen highlighted the malicious influence of Soleimani, who oversaw networks inside Iraq with connections to security forces. She suggested that Chalabi may have had ties to Soleimani and could have been an Iranian asset managed by him. The bold and risky decision to strike General Soleimani was framed by Ledeen as a response to his history of American casualties, labeling him an "evil mastermind." Ledeen described President Trump’s decision as "ballsy," unique to his administration since no prior president likely would have made such a decision.

The context for the Soleimani strike related to Iran's attack on a US base in Iraq, which led to an American contractor’s death. Ledeen supported the necessity for action, emphasizing that America could not let the killing of its citizens go unpunished.

Ledeen Lauds Military Professionalism in High-Stakes Operations

Simone Ledeen lauded the precision of the Baghdadi operation in which no soldiers were hurt, except for a dog named Conan. This mission was meticulously executed by special missi ...

Simone Ledeen provides valuable insights into the Abraham Accords and Israel's growing role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Ledeen Witnessed Israel-Arab Abraham Accords Normalization

During her time as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East, Simone Ledeen played a significant role in the aftermath of the Accords.

Abraham Accords: Middle Eastern Countries Previously Hostile to Israel Establish Formal Ties

Simone Ledeen discusses the historical significance of the Abraham Accords, noting that since the founding of Israel in 1948, most Arab League countries had never officially recognized Israel, despite individual peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan. However, the Abraham Accords signaled a groundbreaking change, with nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan establishing diplomatic, economic, and military ties with Israel.

Ledeen Worked to Strengthen Israel's Military and Economic Ties Post-Accords

Ledeen details her direct involvement in the reinforcement of these new relationships, especially in military and defense matters. She played a part in defense deals following the Accords and highlighted joint military exercises and Israel's entry into CENTCOM as results of the agreements, enhancing joint military activities in the region.

Abraham Accords May Reshap ...