Spycraft and Soulcraft on the Front Lines of History: A Conversation with James Olson

In this edition of the popular podcast series "Thinking in Public," Albert Mohler speaks with James Olson, former Chief of Counterintelligence at the Central Intelligence Agency, about his career with the CIA and his books, "Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying" and "To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence."
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[@edwardb7811]

This is a good discussion by thoughtful men on the ethics of intelligence.

[@natearmstrong8510]

This conversation reminds one of The Prince by Machiavelli.

[@robertmize327]

I listened earlier. Exceptional interview, Dr. Mohler. Stunning and sobering.

[@DBlanco48]

Wow! Just wow! He answered many things that I have always wondered about, wrestled with. A needed part of security, but definitely not for everyone

[@jimbuford4147]

He misses an important ingredient. As a man of faith he has access to the wisdom that only God can provide. The Holy Spirit is God's way of bringing wisdom and knowledge through the gifts of the Spirit into our understanding. We sometimes, actually many times, forget that our pattern for living is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the God man that walked the earth as a man. Through the Holy Spirit He was privy to all the machinations of the devil and his cohorts. He recognized we Christians fight a spiritual battle first and foremost. Israel was every bit as threatened as we feel our country is but Jesus never resorted to any of the dark doings our intelligence agencies do routinely. The Holy Spirit is the source of true wisdom and will trump natural wisdom and the subsequent effort to obtain information and make decisions on the national and international stage. He perhaps is a man of faith but appears to subordinate it to natural means of obtaining information. For those who have engaged in a just war to the point of killing someone else are not judged by me but I believe there are times when they feel their souls have been stained by what they did, even if it is possible to condone it and perhaps even celebrate it.

[@brucekyer5530]

I'm so curious, what did Mr. Olson's parents and children think that they did for a living? What was their false persona to the rest of the world all those years? What reason did they give for living in Vienna?

[@brucekyer5530]

You were absolutely right Dr. Mohler, a fascinating conversation that needs a follow-up part two soon. I want to hear his thoughts about what's been happening in this country with the political scene and culture ideology wars. Also, what does one do with a master's from the Bush program? Can't be a CIA agent I imagine since you are making yourself known right from the start,

[@sebastianluna4481]

He joined the military out of college then went back home for law school, got recruited by the cia and then decades later he got a job offer from bush school of government to teach a class and boom (he just gave my leadership group a presentation today)

[@LBizKid04]

At what point do you say that God will provide justice, instead of trying to provide it themselves? Where is that line?

[@jboland3223]

St. Thomas agreed w/ St Augustine that telling a lie was always a sin if the intent was to deceive; no exceptions, period. Moral Theologians have struggled w/ this since the beginning. The Catholic Catechism merely uses the same Augustine "intent to deceive" definition.

[@Hisgirlsue]

St. Thomas also wrote about the Just War theory, in which a justified war allows for, well, killing people for one thing, and not being liable for violating the commandment against killing. So then in a cold war that is justified one might also lie, cheat and steal and not be held accountable under the moral law.

[@robertholmes12]

There's no place for CRT in the SBC. Al Mohler has two sides and two mouths, I fear he is using them both to deconstruct a denomination.

[@HearGodsWord]

How does your opinion relate to this discussion?

[@robertholmes12]

@@HearGodsWord The SBC Presidential election was approaching at the time of the video. I was commenting about the state of Southern Seminary and it's professoriate. Jarvis Williams and Curtis Woods (amongst others) are both CRT proponents. Both advocating unbiblical paradigms while teaching at Al Mohler's forementioned seminary. Luke 16 commands believers to be wise in stewardship and Matthew 23 commands believers to be faithful in stewardship. Al Mohler failed the Bride of Christ on both counts.

[@HearGodsWord]

@@robertholmes12 so he's a fraud because of what others are doing. OK. I haven't yet find any teaching from Dr. Mohler were he has demonstrated being a CRT proponent.

[@robertholmes12]

@@HearGodsWord He doesn't have to openly advocate CRT in order to be a supporter of it. Hence the word I used, fraud. He is allowing CRT to flourish while saying and doing nothing. He can remain untainted by it's poor reputation while giving it room to grow.

[@HearGodsWord]

@@robertholmes12 there's at least three videos I've seen on KZbin where he has criticised it.

[@robertharbitzii2763]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with waterboarding in fact that’s kind compared to countless things that could be done.

[@cinemaparadiso5402]

They should try it on you then