OPINION:
As was his intention, William Webster — former head of the FBI and CIA — created a firestorm and predictable talking points for liberals by opposing Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for director of national intelligence and the FBI, respectively.
Mr. Webster is the only person ever to head both the FBI and the CIA. This is an amazing accomplishment by a man who served his nation with great distinction for decades.
I became aware of Mr. Webster in 1987 while working in the White House after President Ronald Reagan appointed him director of the CIA. After that appointment, I researched his background and was amazed by his service to our country.
Before Reagan appointed him head of the CIA, Mr. Webster had been appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 to lead the FBI. Before that, in 1970, President Richard Nixon had nominated Mr. Webster to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. In 1973, Nixon nominated Judge Webster to a seat on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Talk about a resume.
Unfortunately, it would not be difficult to believe that Mr. Webster is one of many from the entrenched elites on both sides of the aisle who suffer from Trump derangement syndrome. Less than two weeks ago, Mr. Webster (or his ghostwriter) penned a column for The Wall Street Journal headlined “In Praise of Christopher Wray.” Interesting timing, to say the least.
That would be the same Christopher Wray who authorized an armed FBI raid on Mr. Trump’s home and who Mr. Trump believes has failed the FBI and our nation. The same Christopher Wray whom Mr. Trump seeks to replace with Kash Patel.
Like so many, has Mr. Webster made the shocking mistake of evaluating Mr. Trump more on personality than on his policies? “Shocking,” because Mr. Webster should know better than most as the former head of the FBI and CIA, our nation runs based upon notable, relevant and successful policies — not on personalities or hearsay.
Mr. Webster’s opposition to Mr. Trump and criticism of Ms. Gabbard and Mr. Patel raises several questions. The first and most obvious is whether Mr. Webster has ever sat down at length with Mr. Trump, Ms. Gabbard or Mr. Patel. Next, who is feeding him his information on the three? Could it be the same people who politicized the FBI, the CIA and the deep state?
The next obvious question is: Is Mr. Webster, at age 100, originating these thoughts, words and objections, or are they being created for him by others? If so, what are their motivations?
At age 100, Mr. Webster could still be sharp as a tack. But as we have sadly seen with President Biden — who is almost 20 years younger than Mr. Webster — advanced age can negatively affect the human mind.
Given this subject and his prior acclaimed titles and career, it is also logical to ask if Mr. Webster spoke out when the FBI, the Department of Justice and the CIA were weaponized against Mr. Trump as a businessman, candidate, president and former president.
Did he speak out against the 51 “spies” opposed to Mr. Trump, who claimed the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation? If he did speak out against any of those unethical, un-American, seemingly illegal and partisan attacks, I could find no record of it.
By any fair measurement, Ms. Gabbard and Mr. Patel are more than qualified to be director of national intelligence and FBI director. As Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning noted about Ms. Gabbard — while highlighting that Mr. Webster supported Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris against Mr. Trump:
“Lt. Col. Gabbard is an active member of the Army and has served in the military for over two decades and in Congress. As someone who has consumed intelligence at the highest levels, including during wartime, she recognizes the importance of partnerships with allies to ensure close coordination to keep the American people safe.”
Like Mr. Trump, Ms. Gabbard is a commonsense, pragmatic voice unafraid to take on the conventional wisdom of the entrenched elites or their insatiable desire to drain the U.S. Treasury — and American taxpayers — by continually putting America last as they seek to engage in armed conflict around the world. As Mr. Trump has continually and rightfully pointed out, this strategy has led us to the edge of World War III.
As for Mr. Patel, Alex Pfeiffer, another Trump transition team spokesman, cut right to the chase: “Kash Patel is loyal to the Constitution. He’s worked under Presidents Obama and Trump in key national security roles.”
On a personal note, as we have the same publisher — Post Hill Press — I have long followed Mr. Patel’s career. For that reason, I asked our publisher for an advance copy of Mr. Patel’s 2023 book, “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy.” It was chilling and jaw-dropping with its many shocking revelations.
As Mr. Trump himself said of the book: “A brilliant roadmap highlighting every corrupt actor, to ultimately return our agencies and departments to work for the American People. … We will use this blueprint to help us take back the White House and remove these Gangsters from all of Government!”
It’s natural to wonder if Mr. Webster — as he criticizes Mr. Patel — has ever read the book. If not, why not? Anyone in his former business should proclaim it required reading.
If Mr. Webster has something against Mr. Trump, he should not take it out on Ms. Gabbard and Mr. Patel. Better yet, talk with all three and discover why thousands from the military, the FBI and the CIA support them. As Mr. Webster surely knows, there is nothing like engaging directly with the subject in the intelligence business.
• Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of “The 56 — Liberty Lessons From Those Who Risked All to Sign the Declaration of Independence.” Follow him @DougOfSkye.
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