However, how does one run a successful spy operation where everything's done in the open? The fundamental problem is the main adversaries the US faces (China,

However, how does one run a successful spy operation where everything's done in the open? The fundamental problem is the main adversaries the US faces (China, Russia, Iran & co) are not bound by open society rules. Since at least WW2, in trying to fight back against these dictatorial and at times totalitarian regimes, the US has itself become a bit like them. If you gaze long into an abyss... More democratic oversight of US spy agencies is Xi's dream, it would mean they won't even have to do much spying because the US themselves would lay open all their intelligence agency work in plain sight in committees and public hearings. So how do you balance the two, how to preserve freedom while fighting an enemy that feeds on this weakness? That is rarely ever discussed and democracies don't seem to have found good solutions to this dilemma at all. That is part of the reason why we're seeing ever more surveillance and overreach. Unless ways are found to build open societies more resilient to attacks, things are not going to change. >There will be rampant nonpartisan corruption in the intelligence agencies targeting US politicians of all stripes. That's never been the case in the history of unchecked power. We can argue if it's already the case or not but the loss of neutrality of these agencies is only a matter of time. There is no mechanism in place that would prevent it.