More importantly, though, accountability will never occur because it is not possible to pin down responsible managers at the CIA. The CIA’s chain of command is octopus-like, doubling back upon itself. Like relationships in a polygamist compound, a person’s uncle by one limb of the family tree might be his nephew by another. Successful CIA operations have dozens of managers claiming credit; embarrassing operations mysteriously prove to be connected to no one.

— “Ishmael Jones” is a former deep-cover officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. He is author of The Human Factor: Inside the CIA’s Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture, published last year by Encounter Books

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.