Agree that the CIA has reached their limit. I grew up as an agency brat (both parents) and worked there myself for a number of years, so I understand the “culture”. They will put up with a lot, accept the blame, let false perceptions ride, etc. They are used to that.
What’s different about this is that they know they’re not being protected. There were many people deeply scarred by what happened to William Buckley in Beirut and they have never gotten over it. I have friends who are supposed to go to Mali (with their children!) and after Benghazi they freaked out. They’re terrified and I’ve never seen that before. I think this is why we’re starting to see them push back. They know they’re being sent out with no protection and no back up and that they won’t stand for.
“What’s different about this is that they know they’re not being protected.”
That’s exactly the problem. Everybody knows that in certain jobs, your function is to be the fall guy, but that’s simply to cover up after the fact. But now there are real human lives in play.
Somebody posted a great article by Daniel (?) Jonescu this morning that I will try to find and ping you to - I’ve sent it to friends.