[5Madman2]

I know Tom Clancy writes fiction, but in one of his books he described an initiative within the CIA to recruit cops and security types as case officers, people that are used to developing, training ang working informants.

As a theory-might not be a bad way to go, given our lack of HUMINT

[StJacques]

I think Tom Clancy is worth mentioning too Madman, and I also recall reading that, because I read EVERYTHING that Clancy writes, at least everything in the "Jack Ryan" series. In fact, my reading of Clancy was in part what motivated me to post what I did.

I believe the CIA could benefit from people who think in terms of the "real world," knowing that very basic human emotions like greed, love and hate, pride, megalomania, and more are a natural part of the human condition. As field agents, the "security types" you mention would be perfect. But even at the analysis level, you need people who are not so prone to fall into those traps that "nations act in terms of their interests" and that "no one wants to undermine the system that preserves the right of nations." The reality of human life is subjective and people with plain common sense and an exposure to the real world understand "the human factors" and the way they impact the behavior of nations much better than the "academic types."

And by the way, as an individual with an advanced college education in the Liberal Arts, I fall under the heading of the "academic type." I think I know them better than anyone.