What does it actually look like when a country falls apart? And what happens when the agency designed to help stabilize them is suddenly destroyed?

Clifford Brown, a former USAID Mission Director with a 27-year career, takes us to the front lines of civil chaos. He describes witnessing military coups in Haiti, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, and gun battles in Guinea. He explains the terrifying reality of seeing bodies on the side of the road and watching social consensus evaporate overnight.

This episode is a critical look at the fragility of civilization. Clifford discusses the sudden termination of USAID in 2025—an institutional failure he calls a tragedy for the world. He reflects on leaving a lucrative law partnership in Beverly Hills for a life of service, the "preemptive capitulation" of US policy regarding religion and terrorism, and why he believes helping others is the ultimate form of success.

In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover:

* Clifford's transition from Beverly Hills lawyer to the chaos of foreign aid.

* The shocking termination of USAID in 2025 and its global impact.

* First-hand accounts of societal collapse in Haiti, Guatemala, and Kyrgyzstan.

* The "Tulip Revolution" and what happens when the police disappear.

* The "Better Angels" of foreign aid: Why it wasn't just about money.

* The dangerous disconnect caused by national borders.

* Why the US government could fund shooting terrorists but not arguing with their beliefs.

* Clifford's definition of true success: Helping others.

This episode is for anyone interested in geopolitics, history, or understanding the delicate balance that keeps societies from falling into chaos.

Connect With Clifford Brown:

* Substack: https://cliffordbrown.substack.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clifford-brown-2608428/

* Book: Inside USAID: An Odyssey of Foreign Assistance (Available on Amazon)

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Chapters:

00:00 Hook: Witnessing a Coup in Haiti

01:16 Introduction: Clifford Brown & The End of USAID

02:05 The Termination of USAID in 2025

04:14 Leaving Beverly Hills Law for the Front Lines

07:57 Was Leaving a Lucrative Career a Mistake?

09:31 When Society Collapses: First-Hand Accounts

12:37 The Fragility of Social Consensus

13:00 Clifford's Definition of True Success

13:53 The Danger of Polarization & Borders

15:20 How to Read Clifford's Stories