Over the weekend, a new detail from Nikki Haley’s political past was brought to light – a meeting she had with the FBI during her time as the South Carolina Governor and a candidate in the Republican Party presidential primary race. Haley shared that the Bureau had warned her of an interference plot by Iran intended to undermine her campaign.
In conversation with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan on the popular Sunday program ‘Face The Nation’, Haley explored the topic of foreign incursions into U.S. elections, attaching a new level of importance to the issue.
Haley’s reflections on foreign interference didn’t stop with Iran. In her discussion with Brennan, Haley alluded to questionable incidents concerning New York Governor Kathy Hochul and disturbing Chinese influence. She pointed out, ‘Look at what was happening there.’
In an even more shocking comment, Haley noted a threat to her life via a murder-for-hire scheme, allegedly orchestrated by Iran, on American soil. It was a chilling example of the lengths foreign adversaries may go to disrupt U.S. political processes.
She pointed out that this wasn’t a new phenomenon isolated to the most recent election cycle. ‘Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, to some extent, they have been engaged in years of a particularly economical form of conflict: endeavouring to create discord and foment mayhem among Americans,’ Haley articulated.
‘They’ve succeeded. When my presidential campaign was underway, the FBI convened a special session with me to communicate that Iran was not merely observing but actively attempting to interfere with the election by engaging with my campaign,’ she added.
The FBI did not minimize the severity of the threat. They informed Haley that Iran’s objective was to inflict significant damage to her campaign or even, it appears, to target her life directly.
‘But don’t limit your gaze to Russia, China, or Iran alone. Our takeaway should be far wider than that,’ she urged. Haley emphasized that one should also consider the intricate web of foreign engagements on social media platforms, asserting that these represent a substantial percentage of interactions.
Illustrating her point, she spoke about the subtle manipulation of content, based on her own experiences when she visited Taiwan. ‘If Taiwan attempted to share any information, it was essentially invisible,’ she explained, ‘While if China disseminated any content, it was significantly amplified.’
Attributing this to an insidious form of information warfare, Haley reinforced her view that the U.S. should be more cognizant of foreign actors, especially in the world of the internet and social media where they can influence opinion subtly and effectively.
She underscored the importance of being alert to these issues, extending her attention beyond a singular focus on major government players such as Russia, China, and Iran, and widening it to the broader landscape of online engagement—very much an integrated part of modern electoral campaigns.
The tale Haley spun was intricate, weaving in elements of international intrigue, informational warfare, and political chicanery. Her positioning highlighted an urgent need for a wide-reaching re-evaluation of the varied digital spheres in which foreign actors can wield influence.
In conclusion, Haley’s revelations pulled back the curtain on the darker side of political campaigning and the potential threat that foreign actors pose to America’s democratic processes. In doing so, she compelled the American public to reassess their view of foreign interference.
Her final words on the topic were a plea for heightened awareness. As a nation, we need to ‘wake up’ to the reality of the advanced, subtle, and pervasive influence of foreign forces, not just in the sphere of politics, but in the broader landscape of American life.
.@NikkiHaley says the FBI told her during her presidential campaign that Iran was meddling in the election to hurt her bid for the White House. She adds that she was later named in Iranian assassination plots, which also targeted President Biden and former President Donald Trump.… pic.twitter.com/hoyKEdNnvX
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 8, 2024
Nikki Haley’s Reflection on Foreign Interference in her Presidential Campaign appeared first on Real News Now.
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