It scares me that I followed that, Swordmaker. It makes all kinds of sense.
So if I really DID follow you, then it is the CIA, as Q has been hinting all along who is the main puppet master.... but then the question is, who is the MASTER puppet master....do we get into the pope=chair=master thing again?
IS there ONE main puppet master who rules them all? Pope? GS? Who is the head of the CIA? Or is that person with the name on the door equally a puppet? Who owns HIM?
Riffing off your thoughts Swlordmaker and drifting a bit.
The bankers . . . The Federal Reserve controlling interest owners, the same people who own either outright or own the controlling interest in almost every other "national" bank that creates its nations currency. Thats a Committee made up of the representatives of twelve families, but there is likely one domineering person who chairs this committee. There is your puppet master.
Money equals power. The ability to create money as you please is near infinite power.
FYI for your consideration...
Rulers of Evil by Tupper Saussy