Whaaat?

[iconoclam]

From the New York Times:
Throughout its history, the C.I.A. has prided itself for its independence and flair,
and for a culture that values truth-telling and risk-taking over deference to authority.

Um...excuse me? The C.I.A.? Truth-telling? Throughout its history? What the fuck!?

Comments

[tamias]

Yeah, the CIA has always valued it when the people it interrogated told the truth rather than deferring to their home authorities. That's what we meant.

[parakkum]

To be serious, that means "truth-telling" in the sense of "speaking truth to power." Thus, they have a lot of shame recently for bowing to political concerns in terms of how intelligence about Iraq wss delivered, because they have a tradition to telling presidents things other than what those presidents want to hear -- in Vietnam, the CIA was generally more accurate and upfront about how things were going than the highest echelons of the Army were, for example.

[juliandc]

I like the bit about flair. Like the CIA all wear little buttons and badges all over their suits.

CIA flair

[juliandc]

hey, man, those CIA spies on "Alias" are a bunch of snappy dressers!

[hooveraardvark]

the problem with the CIA is that we kind of do need them. same as national security. but that doesn't make them less asshole-ish . . .

i added you some time back - add me back? i lived on your hall freshman year.