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Is it prima facie clear though? Of the controversial activities the spy agencies have taken post-WW2, weren't virtually all of them under some White House or C

Is it prima facie clear though? Of the controversial activities the spy agencies have taken post-WW2, weren't virtually all of them under some White House or Congressional auspice? The actions and capabilities revealed in the Snowden leaks were overtly defended by both the President and (most) members of Congressional intelligence committees. If there's a deep state in the Intelligence Community, then the Commander-in-Chief, appointed Executive Branch officials (e.g. Director of National Intelligence and Defense Secretary), and Senators & Representatives on Intel committees are part of it. In which case, public elections are part of the deep state?

cpr 10y ago
Until you get a president the deep state loathes (like Trump) and whom they would not have chosen, and then they can turn on him, like leaking negative things about him and taking out his appointees (like Mike Flynn).
- linkregister 10y ago
  Chris, I respect you. However, your comment contains conjecture without much facts. 1. >The deep state loathes. What makes you think that a large amount of intelligence community members didn't vote for Trump? He won a third of Maryland and almost half of Virginia. And what about the military? Do you honestly think even 40% of servicemembers voted Democrat? 2. >and then they can turn on him, like leaking negative things So a handful of leaks blemish the whole IC? The IC has been doing its job, supporting military operations ordered by the President and assisting ICE and CPB. As far as we know, the leaks came from congressional or White House staff. 3. >taking out his appointees Is Mike Flynn's conduct defensible? He was working for foreign governments without reporting it. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking to the Russian Ambassador, but he brought all this on himself. You never addressed my point about the "deep state" being controlled by Congress and the Executive. The IC is dependent on line items in its budget to be passed in order to get funding. Unless congressmen are corrupted, there isn't an autonomous "deep state."

cpr 10y ago

Until you get a president the deep state loathes (like Trump) and whom they would not have chosen, and then they can turn on him, like leaking negative things about him and taking out his appointees (like Mike Flynn).

linkregister 10y ago
Chris, I respect you. However, your comment contains conjecture without much facts. 1. >The deep state loathes. What makes you think that a large amount of intelligence community members didn't vote for Trump? He won a third of Maryland and almost half of Virginia. And what about the military? Do you honestly think even 40% of servicemembers voted Democrat? 2. >and then they can turn on him, like leaking negative things So a handful of leaks blemish the whole IC? The IC has been doing its job, supporting military operations ordered by the President and assisting ICE and CPB. As far as we know, the leaks came from congressional or White House staff. 3. >taking out his appointees Is Mike Flynn's conduct defensible? He was working for foreign governments without reporting it. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking to the Russian Ambassador, but he brought all this on himself. You never addressed my point about the "deep state" being controlled by Congress and the Executive. The IC is dependent on line items in its budget to be passed in order to get funding. Unless congressmen are corrupted, there isn't an autonomous "deep state."