Americans have historically been distracted from and gave Russia a strategic pass during the 20-year war in Afghanistan and Iraq, during which time Russian intelligence was actively conducting operations against the West but received minimal attention in US national security discourse
causalpending
Speaker
Shawn WestwesterEvidence Quote
“We had 20 years of war...But, in that time period, Russia was getting a pass. In 2016, prior to the election meddling, Russia wasn't even on the map”
Source
Inside Russian Intelligence: CIA Insider on Putin’s Playbook, Ukraine & the Next War— The Cipher BriefCreated: 8/12/2026, 6:23:34 PM
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