Disgraced former CIA director and convicted criminal David Petraeus has been remaking the NSC, and thus America's national security policy, in his image through puppet H.R. McMaster. In what is being called "Petraeus' second war," McMaster has been advising Trump to raise an army to impose a regime change in Syria. Some reports estimate McMaster wants to send 150,000 ground troops to the Middle East.

Petraus, using his considerable contacts in the media as well as substantial Saudi money, has been manipulating personnel decisions within the NSC for months.

The NSC has already been stacked with Petraus loyalists.

Surge: My Journey with General David Petraeus and the Remaking of the Iraq War describes Petraus' inner circle as including H.R. McMaster, now head of the NSC, Derek Harvey (the NSC's top adviser on the Middle East), Joel Rayburn (Harvey's deputy) and will soon include Major General Ricky Waddell if McMaster is able to squeeze out K.T. McFarland.