"The spies are far better at operating in the shadows than you politicians will ever be. They have a license to dissemble."
And because their work is covered by confidentiality, they can hide their screw ups and vendettas.
I guess in the long run, the article reads like what we would/have/might set forth. His "stab in the back", unsaid is "speculate if you will", but Libby is going to trial.