Indeed, a total overhaul of the spaghetti tangle of security agencies is desperately needed — it would be a great idea, if it weren’t being done by Trump.
But overall, it is unquestionable that the CIA (and the rest of the security apparatus) is a lawless force of illiberal despotism. Perhaps the greatest moral stain on President Obama’s legacy is how he backed the CIA to the hilt in is fight with the Senate, and publicly made garbage excuses for its lawbreaking and torture.
There isn’t much else that can be done about Trump’s fight with the CIA in either direction, of course. Democrats are all but powerless at every level of government. But it’s still critical to remember that there is no way that the agency could “beat” Trump that would not lead to a far worse outcome.
On the one hand, the CIA might blackmail Trump into submitting to its demands. On the other, it might be co-opted to be used against his political enemies. Neither option is good for liberalism that isn’t mere Obama-worship.
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