[Travis McGee]

The first commandment: Thou shalt not embarrass the Bureau (or Agency).

That means, "don't go digging into our past lapses."

[PhilDragoo]

CIA "missed" Ames' purchase of half-mil house w/o mortgage--asked its Bogota station if Rosario's family had money. On the basis of yet more wrong information from a single bad informant, Ames was allowed to continue spying for the KGB for four more years.

FBI did not inform Freeh of Kindred Spirit for two years (unless we look at Freeh's denial as CYA). Even then, it did not pursue investigation of Chinese espionage so as to not offend PRC at the time Freeh was trying to establish legat in Beijing.

CIA and FBI have not been merely inept, but stunningly, breathtakingly inept--even criminally inept.

See also the lengthy Colleen Rowley letter in the Bill Gertz Breakdown appendix: mistakes were made, and for calling us on them, we will crush you.