Senator Murphy Questions Michael Waltz on Dismantling US Information Warfare Agencies

Concerns Over Dismantling Smart Power Tools

• 💡 Senator Murphy expresses concern that Michael Waltz, during his time at the National Security Council (NSC), oversaw the dismantling of key "smart power" tools in US foreign policy.
• 🎯 These tools include diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and economic development, which are crucial for stabilizing the world.

Attack on Information and Media Operations

• 📢 Murphy highlights the attempted destruction of US information and media operations, specifically mentioning the shutdown of USAGM (the umbrella agency for global media operations) and the firing of 92% of its staff.
• 🎙️ Plans to shut down Radio Free Europe and Voice of America were also noted, with these entities only remaining operational due to court orders.
• 🚫 The Global Engagement Center, tasked with countering Chinese and Russian propaganda, has also been shut down.

Information War and Adversaries

• ⚔️ Murphy argues that the US is losing the information war against adversaries like Russia and China due to the dismantling of its own counter-propaganda capacity.
• 📉 He states that the US was already being outpaced by adversaries even before these actions were taken.

Waltz's Rationale for Agency Decisions

• 📊 Waltz agrees on the necessity of winning the information war but questions the effectiveness and metrics of existing entities, describing them as expensive and bloated.
• private sector and innovation, particularly in AI, as better ways to counter adversaries.
• 💰 Resources were reallocated based on questions about the effectiveness of the tools.

Yemen Operations and Red Sea Attacks

• 🚢 Murphy questions the effectiveness of US operations in Yemen, noting that the Houthis have restarted attacks on shipping lanes despite significant US expenditure.
• 📉 He points out that the Houthis still possess robust offensive capabilities against shipping lanes and allies.
• ✅ Waltz counters that there has been a 20-30% increase in shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, and US warships are no longer being used as target practice, as they were in the previous administration.