29 August 2024

NEWS MAKER: Deputy CIA Director David Cohen

Russian President Vladimir Putin will mount a counteroffensive to try to retake territory in the Kursk region captured by Ukrainian troops, but Russian forces will encounter "a difficult fight," Deputy CIA Director David Cohen said on Wednesday.
Cohen told a national security industry conference that the significance of the Ukrainian incursion, which has overrun some 300 square miles (777 square km) of the Russian province, remained to be seen.

The plot to attack Taylor Swift's Vienna shows was intended to kill thousands, a CIA official says
The suspects in the foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna earlier this month sought to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before the CIA discovered intelligence that disrupted the planning and led to arrests

By 


BERLIN — The suspects in the foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna earlier this month sought to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before the CIA discovered intelligence that disrupted the planning and led to arrests, the agency’s deputy director said.

The CIA notified Austrian authorities of the scheme, which allegedly included links to the Islamic State group. The intelligence and subsequent arrests ultimately led to the cancellation of three sold-out Eras Tour shows , devastating fans who had traveled across the globe to see Swift in concert .


CIA Deputy Director David Cohen addressed the failed plot during the annual Intelligence and National Security Summit, held this week in Maryland.

“They were plotting to kill a huge number — tens of thousands of people at this concert, including I am sure many Americans — and were quite advanced in this,” Cohen said Wednesday. “The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.”

  • ...Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, previously said help from other intelligence agencies was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, can’t legally monitor text messages.
Cohen on Wednesday praised the CIA’s work in preventing the planned violence, saying that other counterterrorism “successes” in foiling plots typically go unheralded.

“I can tell you within my agency, and I’m sure in others, there were people who thought that was a really good day for Langley,” he said, referring to the CIA headquarters. “And not just the Swifties in my workforce.”


Putin faces ‘reverberations’ from surprise Ukrainian offensive

Washington —
Ukraine’s surprise offensive into Russia’s Kursk region has left the Kremlin reeling, although the ultimate impact of the risky military maneuver remains to be seen, according to a top U.S. intelligence official.

CIA Deputy Director David Cohen told a security conference just outside of Washington on Wednesday that Kyiv’s ongoing incursion into Russia, launched earlier this month, shows no sign of letting up, forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to face potential domestic consequences.
  • "They are remaining in Russia. They are building defenses,” Cohen said of Ukraine’s forces in Kursk. 
  • “They seem to be intent on retaining some of that territory for some period of time.
“Putin is going to have to face not only the fact that there's a front line now within Russian territory that he's going to have to deal with; he has to deal with the reverberations back in his own society,” Cohen said. 
“That has the potential to change the dynamic a little bit going forward.”


CIA Deputy Director: 
In the hands of Hamas leader, the fate of the plan to put out the fire in the Gaza Strip
August 28, 2024, 22:25 – World
The fate of the ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas largely depends on the leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement., supported today (28/8) CIA Deputy Director David Cohen. 
This is a «question that will be answered » by Hamas leader, said Cohen, without referring to Yahia Sinuar by name. . .Commenting on diplomatic efforts, Cohen said: People may sometimes be removed from the brink of collapse, but...The Israeli side has shown seriousness in the negotiations, said the CIA deputy director at a conference on national security
Ukraine's Kursk Incursion: CIA Says It Could Change Conflict Dynamics 
By Saumya Joshi Published: Thursday, August 29, 2024, 12:24 [IST]
The ongoing cross-border incursion by Ukraine into Russia's Kursk Region is expected to persist "for some period of time," according to statements made by Deputy CIA Director David Cohen at the Intelligence and National Security Summit on Wednesday, as reported by RT News.
Oneindia
8 hours ago
Ukraine's Kursk Incursion: CIA Says It Could Change Conflict Dynamics - Oneindia News
Cohen, when asked about whether the CIA was taken by surprise by the Ukrainian incursion, chose not to provide a direct response. 
  • He mentioned that the significance and implications of the attack "remain to be seen." 
  • The Deputy CIA Director stated that the Ukrainian forces are establishing defenses within Russia and appear intent on holding onto some of the captured territory for an extended period. 
  • Details regarding the conversations that led to this assessment were not elaborated upon, as per Russian Media reports.
The surprise raid, which began earlier this month, was launched by Kiev and involved up to 10,000 troops equipped with Western-supplied heavy weaponry. Some border areas have been seized by the Ukrainian forces, resulting in numerous civilian casualties
  • Despite this, significant advances into Russian territory have not been achieved. 
  • It has been noted that Kiev did not consult its Western sponsors prior to initiating the operation, leaving these allies uncertain about the ultimate objectives of the raid.
The Ukrainian leadership's objectives for the Kursk Region operation have been described as inconsistent. 
  • Initially, the office of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the capture of Russian territory was crucial for gaining leverage in future peace talks with Russia. 
  • It was also mentioned that the operation aimed to pressure Moscow by intimidating the Russian public into accepting Ukrainian terms, as per local media reports. 
Subsequently, the messaging shifted, with Zelenskyy emphasizing the creation of a buffer zone as a key achievement. 
  • Last Saturday, he asserted that the incursion had thwarted a Russian attempt to advance into Ukraine's Sumy Region from the Kursk Region. 
  • In response to the incursion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that the attack and its impact on Russian civilians have rendered negotiations with Ukraine impossible. 
  • Previously, a ceasefire offer had been extended by Putin in exchange for political and military concessions. 
Published On August 29, 2024
Read more at: https://www.oneindia.com/international/ukraines-kursk-incursion-cia-says-it-could-change-conflict-dynamics-3919933.html
Ukraine intent on retaining captured Russian territory, US intel official says

Ukrainian forces are intent on retaining the territory in Russia’s Kursk region they seized in their incursion for “some period of time” and any Russian counteroffensive will be a difficult fight, Deputy CIA Director David Cohen said on Wednesday. 
The announcement came after the Kremlin dismissed talk by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about a plan to end the war and said Russia would continue what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Read our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.
Issued on: 28/08/2024 - 13:37 Modified: 28/08/2024 - 16:48
Top stories
X.com
12 hours ago
SilencedSirs◼️ on X: "CIA admits 'conversations' over Ukraine's incursion into Russia Deputy CIA Director David Cohen Hopes Kiev's Troops Will Put Up a “Difficult Fight for the Russians” Ukraine's ongoing cross-border incursion
X.com
23 hours ago
CIA on X: "#CIA's Deputy Director David Cohen joined Intelligence Community leaders today to discuss global security challenges at the AFCEA/INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit." / X
X.com
23 hours ago
Breaking News on X: "David Cohen, Deputy Head of the CIA: We see Israel's seriousness in the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza. #Israel #Gaza #Hamas #IDF https://t.co/3UG1qCHxpg" / X
X.com
19 hours ago
The Jerusalem Post on X: "CIA Deputy Director David Cohen emphasizes that Hamas' leader holds the key to resolving the Gaza hostage crisis and ceasefire, amid US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediation efforts.
CIA deputy director: Sinwar is the decision-maker, not Iran| 
"Axios" correspondent Barak Ravid quoted the CIA deputy director David Cohen as saying: "Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar is the decision maker regarding hostage and ceasefire deal - not Iran".
  • Cohen added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the previous agreement in November.
Wednesday 28 August 2024
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