David Taylor in Conversation with Michael Morell
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
David Taylor’s collection of reference materials can be found here.
Podcasts
Intelligence Matters, hosted by Michael Morell
Michael Morell on 9/11, the CIA and Afghanistan: Part 1
In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell offers personal reflections on the CIA's strategic warnings before 9/11, the terror plots it helped foil in its aftermath and developments in Afghanistan post-9/11. Morell explains why he believes the CIA provided "the loudest and most persistent warning in the history of the agency on any issue" about al Qaeda to both the Clinton and Bush administrations, and he outlines the missteps that may have failed to prevent the attacks.
Michael Morell on 9/11, the CIA and Afghanistan: Part 2
In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell offers personal reflections on the CIA's strategic warnings before 9/11, the terror plots it helped foil in its aftermath and its efforts on the ground in Afghanistan post-9/11. Morell offers new details about the CIA's race to gather intelligence on secondary al Qaeda plots targeting the U.S. He also shares his perspective on the agency's Detention and Interrogation Program and how it affected the CIA's public standing.
DECLASSIFIED: Ret. Adm. Bill McRaven and Michael Morell on the Raid on Osama bin Laden’s Compound
In this episode of Intelligence Matters, CBS News Intelligence and National Security Reporter Olivia Gazis interviews Michael Morell and retired Admiral Bill McRaven about the raid on the complex in Abbottabad, Pakistan that brought Osama bin Laden to justice.
Books
“The Great War of Our Time” - Michael Morell and Bill Harlow
“88 Days to Kandahar” - Robert Grenier
Documents
Documentaries
“9/11: Inside the President’s War Room” Directed by Adam Wishart
Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 11, 2024 for David Taylor’s presentation about the true story of The Great Escape.
David’s collection of multimedia additions can be found here.
One of the Washington Post articles that inspired David can be found here (note that it requires a subscription to view).
David’s documentary on “The Great Escape” created for National Geographic here.
David’s article Intelligence Support to Communications with US POWs in Vietnam published by the CIA in Studies in Intelligence Vol 60, No. 1
Look at the photos David presented here.
Listen to the sound clips David presented below.
