An Islamophobic "master assassin" once described by former Secretary of State Colin Powell as a "right-wing nutty" (and worse) has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to the post of national security adviser, placing Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn in one of the administration's most powerful roles in shaping military and foreign policy. Flynn formerly ran the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) before being ousted in 2014 for reportedly clashing with other intelligence offices and, according to Powell, being "abusive with staff" and "work[ing] against policy."