Marc Polymeropoulos
@mpolymer1.bsky.social
Once worked at a 3 letter alphabet soup govt agency. TBI Survivor. MSNOW ntl security contributor. The Crisis Room Podcast. Leadership speaker. Obsessive RedSox fan. Heavy Metal aficionado. Dive bars. 🇺🇸🇬🇷
Pinned
I wrote this in Sept of 2019, about our Afghan allies (which the agency review staff cleared for pub). “Afghanistan and the Dark Side of No Man Left Behind – The Cipher Brief” www.thecipherbrief.com/column_artic...
Afghanistan and the Dark Side of No Man Left Behind
As the U.S. considers its exit from Afghanistan, former CIA Officer Mark Polymeropoulos contemplates what it means for U.S. partners.
www.thecipherbrief.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I wrote this in Sept of 2019, about our Afghan allies (which the agency review staff cleared for pub). “Afghanistan and the Dark Side of No Man Left Behind – The Cipher Brief” www.thecipherbrief.com/column_artic...
My comments on our Afghan partners. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
The National Guard shooting suspect was in one of the CIA’s ‘Zero Units’
The man charged with shooting two National Guard members in D.C. is an Afghan national who came to the United States in September 2021 and worked with the CIA.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
My comments on our Afghan partners. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Reposted by Marc Polymeropoulos
New episode 🚨
In a special episode of The Crisis Room, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social look back at the Salisbury Poisonings - Russia's extraordinary attempt to assassinate a former spy on British soil.
Listen on @globalplayer.com 🎧
In a special episode of The Crisis Room, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social look back at the Salisbury Poisonings - Russia's extraordinary attempt to assassinate a former spy on British soil.
Listen on @globalplayer.com 🎧
November 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
New episode 🚨
In a special episode of The Crisis Room, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social look back at the Salisbury Poisonings - Russia's extraordinary attempt to assassinate a former spy on British soil.
Listen on @globalplayer.com 🎧
In a special episode of The Crisis Room, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social look back at the Salisbury Poisonings - Russia's extraordinary attempt to assassinate a former spy on British soil.
Listen on @globalplayer.com 🎧
On 8am hour @msnownews.bsky.social , where we r on US-Russia-Ukraine talks after a truly chaotic week in my old ntl security world. Happy Thanksgiving all!
November 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
On 8am hour @msnownews.bsky.social , where we r on US-Russia-Ukraine talks after a truly chaotic week in my old ntl security world. Happy Thanksgiving all!
Can’t stop thinking of following: Who leaked the audio files to Bloomberg? If it’s a friendly govt (who had such SIGINT capability) that would be most extraordinary. In essence, an op directed at the US. Because of abject fear of what had transpired, what this admin has become. Wow.
November 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Can’t stop thinking of following: Who leaked the audio files to Bloomberg? If it’s a friendly govt (who had such SIGINT capability) that would be most extraordinary. In essence, an op directed at the US. Because of abject fear of what had transpired, what this admin has become. Wow.
Reposted by Marc Polymeropoulos
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next bonus episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻
#QnA #questions #podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻
#QnA #questions #podcast
November 25, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next bonus episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻
#QnA #questions #podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻
#QnA #questions #podcast
Just like Rubio return to conus from Geneva (focus shift Ukraine to Venezuela)...I'll be on @ms.now 130pm to discuss what appears to be decision time for action in the western hem...perhaps my time in messy regime change ops can be helpful re current cost-benefit calculus.
November 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Just like Rubio return to conus from Geneva (focus shift Ukraine to Venezuela)...I'll be on @ms.now 130pm to discuss what appears to be decision time for action in the western hem...perhaps my time in messy regime change ops can be helpful re current cost-benefit calculus.
Rubio to the rescue. And a highly dysfunctional govt exposed. Secret deals with Russians (Jared and Russians, again?), power play between Secstate and VP in open, no interagency process. Well, the IC collect on Russian reaction will be fascinating. economist.com/europe/2025/...
from The Economist
from The Economist
Ukraine survives another crisis with Donald Trump
A deal in Geneva salvages relations with America. It might not last
economist.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Rubio to the rescue. And a highly dysfunctional govt exposed. Secret deals with Russians (Jared and Russians, again?), power play between Secstate and VP in open, no interagency process. Well, the IC collect on Russian reaction will be fascinating. economist.com/europe/2025/...
from The Economist
from The Economist
On @ms.now during 3pm hour to discuss what appears to be a galactic USG diplomatic snafu that Trump owns.... the ugly origin+perpetuation of the Witkoff-Russia peace plan, the cycle of endorsements and walkbacks, the apparent Rubio-Vance divide, and where this all goes now....hang on, mercy me.
November 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
On @ms.now during 3pm hour to discuss what appears to be a galactic USG diplomatic snafu that Trump owns.... the ugly origin+perpetuation of the Witkoff-Russia peace plan, the cycle of endorsements and walkbacks, the apparent Rubio-Vance divide, and where this all goes now....hang on, mercy me.
Will cease fire hold? What will Govt of Lebanon reaction be? An aside- continued extraordinary find/fix/ finish from Israeli IC and military. They still absolutely own the intel space in Lebanon. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-nov...
In escalation, IDF targets Hezbollah chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai in Beirut strike
First Israeli strike on Beirut since July * Israel reportedly did not tell US ahead of hit * Senior Hamas team said in Cairo to discuss Gaza violence
www.timesofisrael.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Will cease fire hold? What will Govt of Lebanon reaction be? An aside- continued extraordinary find/fix/ finish from Israeli IC and military. They still absolutely own the intel space in Lebanon. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-nov...
Something not yet considered by the media- how this total US diplomatic fiasco re Russia-Ukraine talks must have landed on US diplomats, military, and IC who work side by side Ukrainians. Questions from US staff presumably like-WTF is happening? What is our policy? What do we say to our partners?
November 23, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Something not yet considered by the media- how this total US diplomatic fiasco re Russia-Ukraine talks must have landed on US diplomats, military, and IC who work side by side Ukrainians. Questions from US staff presumably like-WTF is happening? What is our policy? What do we say to our partners?
Day 3 of the dysfunctional shit show, our Russia-Ukraine follies. Rubio reportedly calling everyone and essentially saying the Witcoff/Vance plan is a piece of Russian shit…well, that’s very good at least. Entire episode is ludicrous, and almost amusing, if stakes were not so high.
November 23, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Day 3 of the dysfunctional shit show, our Russia-Ukraine follies. Rubio reportedly calling everyone and essentially saying the Witcoff/Vance plan is a piece of Russian shit…well, that’s very good at least. Entire episode is ludicrous, and almost amusing, if stakes were not so high.
What is it with the Trump entourage and meeting secretly with Russians?…Did they not learn from last time around that this shit goes south quickly? 😬 (btw-the “Trump didn’t know” argument just a little stale now). His administration. He owns it. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
What is it with the Trump entourage and meeting secretly with Russians?…Did they not learn from last time around that this shit goes south quickly? 😬 (btw-the “Trump didn’t know” argument just a little stale now). His administration. He owns it. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Must read. There has been epic arguments amongst my peers on the degree in which the Trump admin supports Ukraine. Phillips always was a skeptic. I was too, but I acknowledged some steps Trump took that were positive (intel sharing, PURL). Well, here we are. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump’s Devastating Plan for Ukraine
The White House is giving Putin permission to try again.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Must read. There has been epic arguments amongst my peers on the degree in which the Trump admin supports Ukraine. Phillips always was a skeptic. I was too, but I acknowledged some steps Trump took that were positive (intel sharing, PURL). Well, here we are. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Details on the extraordinary dysfunction within the Trump admin re Ukraine, as I’ve previously noted. Dysfunction is the key word. Ultimately, however, in all of this, Trump is responsible. It’s his admin. He owns whatever Witkoff has done. www.kyivpost.com/post/64660
Inside Trump Admin’s Quiet Push for Peace Plan That Smells Like Moscow
Recent revelations of a Russia-friendly proposal calling for major concessions have ignited infighting in Trump’s foreign-policy team and rattled Kyiv and European allies.
www.kyivpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Details on the extraordinary dysfunction within the Trump admin re Ukraine, as I’ve previously noted. Dysfunction is the key word. Ultimately, however, in all of this, Trump is responsible. It’s his admin. He owns whatever Witkoff has done. www.kyivpost.com/post/64660
I predicted this. New Yorkers being New Yorkers . Check my previous posts (on the other site, sorry)….was absolutely inevitable…Now let MAGA world and Fox freak out begin…. The entire GOP message against the Democrats played on Fox 24/7 surrounded the new mayor. That is now blown up in their face.🤣
Reporter: Would you feel comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani administration?
Pres. Trump: Yeah, I would.
Pres. Trump: Yeah, I would.
November 22, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I predicted this. New Yorkers being New Yorkers . Check my previous posts (on the other site, sorry)….was absolutely inevitable…Now let MAGA world and Fox freak out begin…. The entire GOP message against the Democrats played on Fox 24/7 surrounded the new mayor. That is now blown up in their face.🤣
Driscoll running point for Vance, no friend of Ukraine. It’s all making sense now…. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
A DMZ for Ukraine
Trump’s peace plan envisages a divide like the one that splits the Korean peninsula.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Driscoll running point for Vance, no friend of Ukraine. It’s all making sense now…. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
The WSJ Op Ed board tears to shreds the Trump Peace plan. With “appeasement” as the operative word. www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
Opinion | Trump Issues an Ultimatum to Ukraine
His latest peace offer fulfills Vladimir Putin’s wishes and leaves Kyiv with a terrible choice.
www.wsj.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The WSJ Op Ed board tears to shreds the Trump Peace plan. With “appeasement” as the operative word. www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
George nails it. It’s amazing more people don’t understand this.
An really important thing a lot of people don't realize about Trump is that he doesn't bully people he doesn't think he can bully.
Let’s be clear.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social got Trump so charmed that Trump posted two photos of the two of them with Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait behind them AND one of just Mamdani and FDR’s portrait.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social got Trump so charmed that Trump posted two photos of the two of them with Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait behind them AND one of just Mamdani and FDR’s portrait.
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
George nails it. It’s amazing more people don’t understand this.
Reposted by Marc Polymeropoulos