The head of the French military intelligence, General Eric Video, was fired after failing to predict the Russia-Ukraine war. “The Americans said the Russians were going to attack, they were right”
Seven months after taking office, the head of French military intelligence, General Eric Vida, was fired after he complained that he had provided “unsatisfactory briefings” and showed “lack of control over issues”. Background to the allegations: The fact that the US correctly estimated that Russia was planning a large-scale invasion, while France concluded that it was unlikely.
French intelligence chief Vidaud fired over Russian war failings https://t.co/diwI6eNC3j
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 31, 2022
However, the military source told AFP news agency that his job was to provide “military intelligence on operations, but not before they happen”. In early March, however, Burkhardt admitted that French intelligence did not meet the level of U.S. or British briefings issued to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin. “The Americans said the Russians were going to attack, they were right,” he told Le Monde.
“Our intelligence thought that instead of an occupation of Ukraine, the Russians had other options to overthrow the government of Vladimir Zalansky from Ukraine.” Added.
France’s erroneous analysis was even more embarrassing, as President Emanuel Macron spoke with him regularly in the days leading up to the February 24 invasion. The intelligence expert, Prof. Alexander Papamnuel, told AFP. Because it is too easy to blame military intelligence for the failure that lies within the entire French intelligence community.
But General Video, the former commander of France’s special forces, appears to have been fired for other reasons. Weeks after accepting responsibility for military intelligence, it was criticized when Australia canceled a multi-billion-dollar submarine contract with France in favor of a security deal with the US and UK, the BBC reported.