Flynn could be a great adviser — if his mouth doesn’t get in the way

Retired Lieutenant General Flynn, designated by President-elect Trump as his national security adviser, has drawn ferocious criticism. Detractors are pressuring Trump to dump him and Flynn fueled this campaign with inflammatory statements and tweets.

Critics assert the same claim that they threw at the president-elect, that Flynn’s “intemperate” personality disqualifies him.

But they highlight Flynn’s recent faults and missteps while downplaying his numerous achievements over a career of military service.

{mosads}As director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from 2012 to 2014, Flynn warned that al-Qaeda was metastasizing despite the high-profile deaths of al-Zarqawi in Iraq, al-Awlaki in Yemen, and Bin Laden in Pakistan. In early 2014, Flynn testified ISIS was on the verge of seizing swaths of Syria and Iraq, while Obama belittled ISIS as the “jayvee team.”

Obama also blamed the Intelligence Community for the U.S. being caught off guard by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Yet Flynn and the NATO commander gave the White House a 7 to 10 day strategic warning of the imminent Russian invasion. Subsequently, they aggressively documented Putin’s geopolitical machinations.

He could only butt heads with the commander-in-chief for so long.

Flynn “spoke truth to power” and blames his 2014 firing as DIA director on his refutation of the White House’s overly optimistic ISIS narrative.

Indeed, few U.S. officials have more experience in assessing and battling Islamic terrorists than Flynn.

JUST IN: Trump offers retired Lt. Gen. Flynn position as national security advisor: report https://t.co/1de9EycMR7 pic.twitter.com/kgNdTiGLs9

— The Hill (@thehill) November 18, 2016

He served as a senior intelligence officer in the post-9/11 Afghanistan invasion. He was also intelligence chief of Joint Special Operations Command’s Task Force under Gen. McChrystal in Iraq before and during the fabled “surge.” He also served as Central Command’s intelligence chief, overseeing Iraq and Afghanistan.

Flynn, along with McChrystal, National Security Agency Director Gen. Alexander and others, was key to revolutionizing counterterrorism targeting operations. He championed “Human Terrain” intelligence as a precondition for successful counterinsurgency operations.    

In the Army, Flynn was blunt, iconoclastic, and forward-looking. He appraised national security threats in an objective, clear-headed fashion. In the White House, he would not be cowed by rivals.

The retired lieutenant general had good working relationships with retired Gens. Mattis and Kelly, incoming secretary of Defense and Homeland Security director, respectively. He worked with current Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dunford. This relationship should facilitate collaboration in the Trump administration.

Flynn likely will not micro-manage military operations, unlike present National Security Adviser Susan Rice. He understands the need to loosen rules of engagement.

However, since Flynn was fired, a darker side has emerged. During the Trump campaign and transition, he set aside the nuanced, modulated Intelligence Community style in favor of charged rhetoric and tweets.  

Flynn’s haranguing Clinton by leading chants of “lock her up” was jarring. He later subjected FBI Director Comey to tirades. Of course this is not the appropriate demeanor for a future national security adviser.

Flynn’s appearance, seated near Putin, at a December 2015 birthday gala for Russian RT Television raised questions as to whether he had jettisoned hardline anti-Russian positions or been co-opted.

He also used Twitter to promote anti-Clinton conspiracies, alleging Clinton involvement in money laundering, pedophilia, and other crimes. Spreading conspiracies and fake news is unacceptable. Flynn tweeted “Fear of Muslims is rational,” sparking charges of Islamophobia.

Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions… https://t.co/NLIfKFD9lU

— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) February 27, 2016

However, Flynn states in his book that only radical Islamists who target the U.S. and allies are “enemies.” In Iraq, the surge and Anbar Awakening were predicated on partnering with anti-ISIS Muslims. In Afghanistan, he sought the population’s loyalty in counterinsurgency operations.  

One troubling Flynn harangue was his embrace of Turkey’s Erdogan in a November op-ed, calling Turkey “our strongest ally against (ISIS).” Erdogan, an autocratic Islamist who plays the U.S. and Russia off each other, allowed ISIS to use Turkey as a transit zone for most of the Syrian civil war and still aids Islamist Syrian insurgents.

Turkish troops in Syria, allied with Syrian Arab proxy fighters, aim to create a buffer zone along the border to prevent pro-U.S. Kurdish militias from uniting Syrian Kurdish cantons.

Clashes between Turkey and Syrian Kurds are impeding efforts to capture the ISIS Syrian capital of al-Raqqa.

Finally, Flynn critics point to his mismanaged DIA reorganization. However, respected Director for National Intelligence Gen. Clapper carried out his own disruptive DIA reorganization in the 1990s.  

Flynn’s flaws and his controversial nature are obvious. But some of this behavior may be due to bitterness over being fired from DIA.

The incoming national security adviser should recognize Trump’s victory vindicated him, allowing him to forget grudges and continue serving his country. If he does not put behind him bitterness and resentment, their toxins may poison and doom him.

Flynn can be successful as national security adviser if he focuses on the tasks at hand, objectively assessing national security threats. When he acts and speaks publicly, he must remember the obligations his solemn office imposes on him.   

Robert B. Davis is a retired intelligence analyst, who worked with the Army Special Operations Command, Defense Intelligence Agency, and CIA.