Soviet Union collapse made world a more dangerous place: Spy chief explains how fall of the 'Evil Empire' uncorked today's evils 

  • James Clapper said that basic bipolar contest between US and USSR had led to stability
  • At that time, all other threats had been 'basically subsumed'
  • Following the USSR's collapse it set off a whole range of 'forces', globally
  • Clapper: This is the most diverse set of threats in his 45 years of service
  • We now face threats from cyberspace and outer-space, from lone wolves and terrorist groups - as well as known enemy states

By Alexandra Genova For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:46 EST, 9 February 2016 | Updated: 02:29 EST, 10 February 2016

It was a climate of fear and repression that few would want to return to.

But a leading intelligence boss has said the world was actually a 'safer place' when the Soviet Union was still stable.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper explained that prior to the fall of the USSR, all other threats were subsumed under the 'basic bipolar contest' between the Soviet Union and the West, led by America.

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Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (above) explained that the world was actually a 'safer place' when the Soviet Union was still stable

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (above) explained that the world was actually a 'safer place' when the Soviet Union was still stable

Clapper said that all other threats were subsumed under the 'basic bipolar contest' between the Soviet Union and the West, led by America. Pictured: A Soviet warship (foreground) passes alongside the U.S. guided missile frigate USS Thach as it enters the Gulf off the coast of Oman November 21, 1987

Clapper said that all other threats were subsumed under the 'basic bipolar contest' between the Soviet Union and the West, led by America. Pictured: A Soviet warship (foreground) passes alongside the U.S. guided missile frigate USS Thach as it enters the Gulf off the coast of Oman November 21, 1987

He said that this decades-long climate was characterized by stability. 

Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday he said the current climate was experiencing the most dangerous threat to global security he had ever seen in his 45 years of service.

Clapper told Sen. Tom Cotton that the threats came from all over the globe - both inside and outside the US.

They come from cyberspace and outer-space, from lone wolves and terrorist groups - as well as enemy states including Russia, Iran, China and Cuba.

Clapper added: 'It's certainly the most diverse array of challenges and threats that I can recall.'

Diverse threats: Clapper said the current climate saw the most dangerous threat to global security he had ever seen in his 45 years of service. He said ISIS (above) can 'direct and inspire attacks against a wide range of targets around the world'

Diverse threats: Clapper said the current climate saw the most dangerous threat to global security he had ever seen in his 45 years of service. He said ISIS (above) can 'direct and inspire attacks against a wide range of targets around the world'

Clapper also revealed that North Korea had expanded a uranium enrichment facility and restarted a plutonium reactor that could begin recovering material for nuclear weapons in weeks or months. Pictured: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) watches the controversial long range rocket that was launched on Sunday 

Clapper also revealed that North Korea had expanded a uranium enrichment facility and restarted a plutonium reactor that could begin recovering material for nuclear weapons in weeks or months. Pictured: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) watches the controversial long range rocket that was launched on Sunday 

While the retired lieutenant general has alluded to this idea before, Cotton appeared intent on pushing Clapper for an elaboration on the matter, said Huffington Post.

He explained that 'when that ended, that set off a whole range of, a whole group of forces, I guess, or dynamics around the world'.

His testimony at the committee also described Islamic State as the 'pre-eminent terrorist threat' and said that the 'militant group can 'direct and inspire attacks against a wide range of targets around the world'.

Clapper also revealed that North Korea had expanded a uranium enrichment facility and restarted a plutonium reactor that could begin recovering material for nuclear weapons in weeks or months, Clapper said in delivering the annual assessment by intelligence agencies of the top dangers facing the country.

On Afghanistan, Clapper said the country is at 'serious risk of a political breakdown during 2016.' 

 

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