Without actually numbers this is a really hard thing to say. For example, arguably all the above is true of most intelligence assets- so we need a baseline to c

Without actually numbers this is a really hard thing to say. For example, arguably all the above is true of most intelligence assets- so we need a baseline to compare their performance with. But if one or two of these assets really payed of in a big way, it might have all been worth it. All an all I am saying the above quote from the article is a as subjective of an assessment as they come. In intelligence both quantity and quality can matter. Maybe 50 mediocre assets are valuable for gaining coverage, maybe 1/50 suburb asset is worth the risk, etc. I think we would need to hear the opinion of the men who operated these assets to know if it was worth it.