Do We Really Need the CIA? Why or Why not?

I am starting to wonder if the CIA is still necessary. Without actually being in the intelligence game, it is tough to say whether we still need the CIA. But based on them acting like their own quasi government, I am starting to feel like maybe the CIA should just be ended. Let the Defense Intelligence Agency, who is beholden to military officers, who are absolutely beholden to the President take care of the Lion's share of the necessary intelligence to keep our country safe. Plus, some of the things the CIA does just seem...unamerican. I am not one who believes the ends justify the means. Anyway, probably just random, crazy musings, but it seems like the CIA has gone rogue and needs to be put down.

Well, if the CIA were no more, it wouldn't be the worst thing to ever happen.

Be careful with questioning the existence of the CIA, they may drop a missile on your house now that they don't need to seek outside approval for it.

Truman, who started the CIA, intended no operational role for the CIA. It was only supposed to be an intelligence gathering arm for the president. He wanted the raw data rather than the biased info he was getting from the different departments including defense and the Pentagon. While I think that position is a little naive and gave one department control of the data and the ability to manipulate it how it saw fit, it would be a good thing to see the intelligence arm completed separated from operations.



http://www.maebrussell.com/Prouty/Harry%20Truman%27s%20CIA%20article.html

jvquarterback wrote:
Truman, who started the CIA, intended no operational role for the CIA. It was only supposed to be an intelligence gathering arm for the president. He wanted the raw data rather than the biased info he was getting from the different departments including defense and the Pentagon. While I think that position is a little naive and gave one department control of the data and the ability to manipulate it how it saw fit, it would be a good thing to see the intelligence arm completed separated from operations.



http://www.maebrussell.com/Prouty/Harry%20Truman%27s%20CIA%20article.html

I guess therein lies the rub. They shouldn't be running operations. They should be gathering intelligence for the President to make decisions.