News Coverage of 2017 Texas National Security Forum

Oct 16, 2017

Here’s just a sample of news coverage of the event: 

National media

The Hill reported that Director Pompeo, in his keynote speech at the Texas National Security Forum, took aim at the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling it “a thuggish police state” and a “despotic theocracy, comparing its ambitions to those of ISIS.”

NBC News quoted Director Pompeo’s speech at length, highlighting his indictment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: “Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are the cudgels of a despotic theocracy…they’re the vanguard of a pernicious empire that is expanding its power and influence across the Middle East.”  

The Washington Post added the Director’s remarks about Iran to their PowerPost, a “morning briefing for decision-makers,” drawing a connection between the Director’s keynote and statements from President Trump’s administration that could signal a harder stance on Iran.  

Business Insider and Reuters also covered the 2017 Texas National Security Forum, arguing that the Director’s keynote “kept up a steady drumbeat of Trump administration criticism of Iran.” 

 

Texas media

The Austin American-Statesman highlighted Director Pompeo’s remarks about Wikileaks, citing them as a hostile non-state actor. Pompeo noted, “For an awful long time the CIA’s adversaries were nation states and nearly exclusively nation states…That’s simply no longer the case…Today, there’s another category of intelligence service that has done and continues to work to destroy the United States of America.” As the Statesman reported, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange found humor in the Director’s characterization of his website. 

The Houston Chronicle noted the “packed room” of students, faculty, journalists, and members of the public that were drawn to hear Director Pompeo speak. “Pompeo spoke and fielded questions for more than an hour on a wide range of other topics, including Iran, North Korea and the media” writes Chronicle reporter Paul Cober. 

UT’s student run newspaper The Daily Texan covered the event. They noted student reactions to the forum: “It’s a free event that introduces you to so many important people, and you get to ask questions to national security advisers,” [undergraduate sophomore Daniela] Cos said. “As an opportunity for an undergrad, it’s priceless.”

Spectrum News also highlighted UT student involvement in the forum. They quote undergraduate student Usman Mahoov: “During a time like this, I think it’s really important for all citizens to know and learn about the different types of events going on in the world and how America is aligned to it all.” 

Austin-based KXAN too noted student engagement at the forum, interviewing doctoral candidate Alyssa Peterson who is also a member of the National Guard. Alyssa came to the forum because she “wanted to know what is happening in the higher levels of our government, especially considering national security, because eventually it’s going to trickle down to me.” Watch the full segment below: 

 

A full transcript of Director Pomepo’s keynote speech can be found at the CIA website

Videos and photos from the 2017 Texas National Security Forum will be posted by October 23rd.