CIA director says 'deception campaign' was initiated in rescue mission

[0:00] It's a privilege to be here with you today to share what we can about this exceptional [0:06] mission and to recognize the ingenuity and bravery of those who executed it, as well [0:12] as the leadership and resolve of the President who ordered it. [0:18] One thing that has been clear to me in this role is that the flawless military operations [0:22] that the Department of War is known for are hostage to flawless intelligence. [0:28] We saw that in the skies over Iran in Operation Midnight Hammer last summer. [0:33] We witnessed it in Venezuela during Operation Absolute Resolve. [0:38] We've seen it against the cartels in the Western Hemisphere, and we're seeing it every day [0:44] in Operation Epic Fury, including this mission to rescue an aviator buried deep behind enemy [0:51] lines. [0:53] Because it is the unique tradition of the U.S. Armed Forces that we leave no man or [0:58] woman behind, this was a no-fail mission. [1:02] Thank you. [1:02] That was the spirit in which the President put us to work, and we were determined not [1:07] to let him down or our airmen down. [1:12] As an agency, the CIA possesses unique capabilities that only the President can deploy. [1:19] Some of these capabilities fall under covert action authorities, and because covert means [1:24] exactly that, I'm not going to be able to tell you everything that you want to know. [1:32] At the President's direction, we deployed both human assets and exquisite technologies [1:37] that no other intelligence agency has ever seen. [1:39] We deployed artificial intelligence, which is below this level in the world, and we [1:44] deployed nuclear weapons used for human-based unmanned aerial surveillance. [1:46] Our first mission was to capture a plane that has the most armed control over the world, [1:52] and destroy every single agent and service in the world possesses, to a daunting challenge, [1:59] comparable to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert. [2:07] This was also a race against the clock, as it was critical that we locate the downed [2:11] aviator as quickly as possible while, at the same time, keeping our enemies misdirected. [2:12] For that reason, in addition to the human and technical assets deployed by the President [2:12] to find our airmen, CIA executed a deception campaign. [2:12] Dear President, I hereby declare you all to be ready to meet, tomorrow, at noon tonight, at 5 p.m. [2:13] campaign to confuse the Iranians who were desperately hunting for our airmen. [2:19] On Saturday morning, we achieved our primary objective by finding and providing confirmation [2:26] that one of America's best and bravest was alive and concealed in a mountain crevice [2:33] still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA. [2:38] That confirmation was relayed by Secretary Hegseth to the president, and the operation [2:43] quickly moved to the execution phase. [2:47] Following the successful exfiltration on Saturday night, our intelligence reflects [2:52] that the Iranians were embarrassed and ultimately humiliated by the success of this audacious [2:58] rescue mission. [3:01] When the president asked me to lead the CIA, he made it clear, get back to basics, no politics, [3:08] no agendas, tackle the hardest problems, and execute the toughest missions. [3:14] This president is about results, and now that's what his CIA is about, too. [3:21] The professionals at the agency are working hard to ensure that the Iranians are safe [3:22] and secure. [3:22] The ground forces are on the line. [3:24] Those of us who are on the duty at the agency and at the Department of War deserve immense [3:30] credit for their flawless execution during this daring mission. [3:33] Their skill, creativity, and courage are unmatched on the battlefield wherever they [3:41] step. [3:41] But none of that matters and all of that is wasted without a president with the political [3:46] courage to put them into action. [3:49] Mr. President, I've had the privilege of seeing you act with political courage in the best [3:55] interest of the United States up close on a daily basis. [3:58] has given the American people a window into that as well. [4:04] The Secretary and Chairman will tell you that our service members' confidence is boosted [4:08] by a Commander-in-Chief who has their back the same way they have yours. [4:14] And I know that the confidence of CIA's officers is boosted by the knowledge that their work [4:20] is informing a president who's not afraid to make the hardest decisions when the stakes are highest. [4:27] And to the American people, your confidence should be boosted by knowing that the security [4:35] of the nation is in the hands of a president who's willing to take on problems that have [4:41] confounded both sides of the political aisle for nearly half a century. [4:47] It is an honor to serve under a leader who just proved that you can believe him when [4:52] he says, no matter what, we will leave no one behind. [4:58] We will come for you. [5:00] Thank you.