I wonder to what extent propaganda played a role in disbelieving their claims. US propaganda is very strong on the US being the best, having the most advanced t

I wonder to what extent propaganda played a role in disbelieving their claims. US propaganda is very strong on the US being the best, having the most advanced technology, and that nations like Russia and China are inferior to us. So it's totally plausible to me that agents in the CIA would fall for that same propaganda: this technology doesn't exist, because, if it did, we would have invented it. Propaganda can galvanize, but propaganda can also lull.