[CondorFlight]

Intelligence gathering used to be the domain of the three branches of the military, and the State Dept.

At least then there was a direct line of command, and clear oversight.

Now we have a colossal behemouth of a bureaucracy, which is like a rogue pit bull off leash, and which threatens even our domestic politics.

[Lisbon1940]

Intelligence should be outsourced to private enterprise. Is Blackwater still in business?

[Grampa Dave]

I added a few words to your excellent analysis. Now we have a colossal behemoth of a bureaucracy, which is like hundreds/thousands of rogue pit bulls off leash, and which threatens even our domestic politics and American citizens, senators, congressmen and governors.

[Jumper]

The Department of State is authorized 15,000 foreign service officers/specialists and have about 17,500 (another 50K civil service and foreign service nationals support state). The CIA imbeds itself throughout the Dept of State in undercover and some “declared” spy positions; they also impregnate the Peace Corps, USAID, Treasury, Spec Ops, etc. So in essence the CIA is integrated into many agencies and American corporations. If yo look at the Department of State manning across the world, you will see there are more than 15,000 or 17,500 people in Foreign Service positions.