David

I am tempted not to respond to your ridiculous scenario which has nothing to do with 'interventionist policies' as they relate purely to US economic interests.

Of course if an intelligence agency becomes aware of mad right wing dictator's plans to send over a nuclear device the obvious answer is yes do something about it. One assumes the evidence would be overwhelming and not the same calibre of evidence that assumed WMDs were being housed in Iraq.

Knowledge is everything. Without it, you are nothing. And it's not the knowledge that's the issue, it's what you do with it is what counts.

There are wars fought in every country on the planet in various forms. Bullets and bombs step in where intelligence (in all forms) failed.

Daeron said:

"I think it is time the United States put away its childish toys and began adult discussions, yes they like us as entitled to gather information, but neither are entitled to conduct sabotage in other nations unless we have declared war."

You're naive and a dreamer. Good for you, but you've got NO IDEA going by that statement.

My response the other week appears to have gotten lost in a server hiccup.

StG and BOAZ_David have had lengthy fantasy debates about what they want to believe other people said. In case anybody else forgot the subject, I'll re-state for you.

1) Intelligence agencies that gather real inform for government departments in Australia and other nations, are vital and important tools.

2) In the US idiots like the CIA and NSC should stop playing Matt Helm and James Bond dress-up, it is time to grow-up and allow the experts at the DoS, DoD, and DoJ to do their actual jobs.

The CIA has a long history of 'blow-backs' that started with Operation Ajax to place a US-friendly British style monarch in power which twenty five years later produced the Islamic Republic of Iran. The DoS thought it was a bad idea, the DoD thought it was a bad idea; but the CIA following its mantra believed it could install US friendly governments around the world. In 1990 there was a point in declaring war on Iraq, but George Bush Snr being a bonesman idiot decided to stop at the gates of Baghdad and leave President Saddam Hussein to in place (He had been told by the CIA that Saddam's own people would handle the rest, and being ex-CIA and a bonesman he didn't question the grounds for that opinion). In 2002 the CIA and other agencies generated reports to support GW Bush's wish to invade.

It is time to stop the childish games, time to let the DoS, DoD and DoJ to have the information that the CIA and NSC have concealed for sixty years from their government and allowed their Whitehouse executives to hear from the DoS, DoD and DoJ without being re-interpeted. Just like StG and BOAZ_David trying to convince readers that I said the opposite of what I actually said, it is not helpful when the US President is having the information distorted by the CIA and NSC agenda.