I recently read a post from Spying Bad Things noting that the FBI looked rather squeaky clean next to the CIA and NSA. That may be the case for two reasons: 1.) the budgets of the CIA and NSA are significantly larger than that of the FBI, therefore lack of funding may be a culprit; and 2.) if high-ranking individuals, such as the president, authorize a questionable act but classify it, the mere mention of it subjects the whistleblower to criminal charges, even if it was to the benefit of the nation.
I am a little lenient towards the intelligence community for that reason. When they speak up, they become the sacrificial lamb for the entire community. It is the best and worst of both worlds: the punishment to the official that authorized the questionable act lets future officials know that they can be made culpable, and punishing the whistleblower warns other personnel to be silent.
3 comments:
paranoia...yeah, I'd say so.
Just because I'am paranoid, does not mean that nobody is after me.
Peace.
I agree with your comments Sheri.
Spying is by definition a dirty game.
Spies are paid extra to break foreign laws and often don't see the difference when they break their own nation's laws.
They realise that they are a special tool of their political masters so they feel "bulletproof" that is above the restrictions placed on ordinary citizens.
As you've said, whoever questions this little arrangement, or reveals intelligence operations, risks the government's ire.
That said the avalanche of criticism of the CIA and NSA is a far healthier situation to that in Russia, where the KGB's successors are held up as "sacred cows". Putin was a genuine spook and is fond of his spies (see the current post on my site).
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