Conservative commentator Glenn Beck believes there is an evil motivation behind the New York Times’ revelation that the CIA operated 12 spy centers targeting Russia on Ukrainian soil. “Maybe,” he said, “they’re desirous of World War III.”

Beck said the explosive piece may be an attempt “to spark a flame that will result in all of us being lit on fire.”

The Times revealed on Sunday that for the last decade the U.S. intelligence community funded and operated a dozen espionage facilities near the Russian border. This provocative piece sparked agitation on both sides of the Ukraine war and drove Beck to speculate on their reasoning.

The paper noted that these centers are “almost fully financed and mostly equipped by the CIA.” This in turn made Ukraine the most valuable intelligence partner for Washington to spy on the Kremlin in their own backyard.

Gen. Serhii Dvoretskiy, a leading intelligence commander, was interviewed at one of the spy bases. He declared that the CIA funded his operation.

Beck wondered, “Why would the New York Times print this?”

I don't think there is anyway to know. Both Putin and Zelensky are liars. It turns out the Navalny died of natural causes – Putin was telling the truth. It turns out the CIA has been operating a network of more than a dozen spy centers in Ukraine for more than a decade – Putin…

— @amuse (@amuse) February 26, 2024

Such sensitive information on facilities so close to Russian territory and other military installations must be the object of profound secrecy. 

Some experts noted that publicizing such details is highly detrimental to those who seek a Ukrainian victory. Could the agenda instead be to draw the U.S. and Russia into a hot war that would divide the globe and cause untold millions of deaths?

The Times reported that U.S. involvement completely overhauled the Ukrainian intelligence community.

Before Washington’s extensive funding and training, Kyiv’s spy services were long believed to be thoroughly compromised by the Kremlin. From these humble roots, Ukraine’s intelligence operations are now engaged within Russia, across Europe and in Cuba.

An example of just how embedded the CIA is in the country came in the tense weeks leading up to the Russian invasion in 2022. U.S. personnel were evacuated in advance of the conflict, but CIA officers stayed put at a remote location in the western part of the country.

These same officers are credited with providing crucial intelligence on where Russian forces intended to strike and the types of armaments they deployed.

And now the secret’s out in the open. As Beck wisely asked, to what end?