A Domestic CIA (We need a spy agency that operates inside the U.S.)

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 15, 2006 | RICHARD A. POSNER

[Ben Mugged]

Is it to be assumed that there are no people (citizens or other) inside our nation plotting against us? Either we trust our Government or we don't. Our enemies use any distrust against us.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I thought that was called the FBI?

[puppypusher]

That's exactly what I was going to say.

[bayouranger]

IF you happen to stay abreast of this development, would you please ping me for any future articles that relate to this?

Thank you,
BR

[Little Ray]

We have one. Its called the FBI.

[roaddog727]

THe FBI is criminal investigative and as such, very reactive. What the CIA and other Intel agencies are is proactive pre-operational gathering.

Huge difference in mindset and functional capabilities.

[P-40]

I thought that was called the FBI?

I thought it was called the DNC.

[Oh Brother]

I thought it was called CTU?

Oops, sorry, that's Hollywood.

[ClearCase_guy]

I've lost track of Richard Posner as a pundit. If he is a good guy who usually has good ideas, then I will apologize in advance. Now ...

This strikes me as a Chuck Rangel -- "Let's bring back the draft" idea. That was proposed by someone who hated the idea, for the purpose of beating Republicans over the head with it as soon as anyone was dumb enough to say "Chuck may be right".

With all the bad publicity Bush is getting right now, I think the last thing he wants to say is "I want a new agency -- one which is totally focused on spying on Americans!"

As others have said, we have the FBI. We don't need this.

[sean327]

I have a pretty good hunch that this is happening already, and I'm not so keen on this idea. If the CIA is unleashed and allowed to spy at home, where are the controls, who is going to rein these guys in? I just do not trust the govt, and I really don't care who it is, Republican or Democrat, this is just too damn open for abuse. Look at the rouge elements in the CIA already, they are doing their best to thwart the President every time he makes a move. This is gonna be bad juju.

[TeenagedConservative]

CTU!

We need something like the CTU, anyway. And Jack Bauer. Several thousand of him.

[Thrusher]

We need a spy agency that operates inside the U.S.

We already have a bunch of spy agencies operating inside the U.S.

None of them work for us.

[cripplecreek]

I'm pretty sure that Gerald Ford reinforced the separation of the CIA from operating in America. And rightly so, in my opinion.

[WhiteGuy]

A Domestic CIA (We need a spy agency that operates inside the U.S.)

That spys on whom?

[A. Pole]

I thought that was called the FBI?

Me too.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Either we trust our Government or we don't.

[Doctor Stochastic]

That spys on whom?

Whomever President Rodham shall deem a threat.

[George W. Bush]

Given that we wouldn't expel the 9/11 attackers and have let thousands of undocumented people here the hardline Muslim countries, it seems futile to start another spy agency when what we need is enforcement.

Expel the citizens of the hostile countries. Expel the illegals of all stripes.

Hiring more people to spy on the general population will be useless if you don't address the real problem.

[FreeInWV]

This is why we need to teach more history in schools. Very few people remember the Church committee hearings and the many good reasons why the CIA is prohibited from operating inside the US.