Being David Cohen The apparent news that Joe Biden tapped me to help lead one of his new administration’s most important agencies left me in a bit of a tizz. Obviously, I’m only human and it’s immensely flattering when a new American president immediately names you as the next deputy director of the CIA. But I also felt puzzled. For one thing, according to the media reports, the appointment would see me returning to this new position after having spent an earlier period in a ‘vital role combating illicit finance and developing economic sanctions against foreign governments’, including Russia, Iran and North Korea. Really? I had absolutely no idea. And surely even the staunchest supporter of ‘diversity’ in the ranks of a new American administration would draw the line at any requirement to include a New Zealander.