Mark mentioned that he wasn't serious about combining the CIA and FBI.

An organization like the CIA is basically tasked with destablizing foreign governments, political assassinations, dirty tricks, etc. The big issue with such an organization is keeping it from performing these tricks within the United States. It would be extremely easy for a CIA type organization to become a Praetorian Guard with the U.S. President reduced into being a puppet with real political power residing with the CIA director. This failure mode happen within the Roman Empire. The Emperor Tiberius was murdered by the Praetorian Prefect Macro who then put the deranged Gaius (Caligula) on the throne as emperor. A similar failure mode happen in the Soviet Union when Yuri Andropov as head of the KGB became General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Prior to 9/11, I would have strongly argued that we do not need an organization like the CIA. Basic intelligence gathering could be done by the State Department though open research methods. Violence should be restricted to open warfare following the established Laws of War. However 9/11 has kicked over that apple cart with Al Qaeda and bin Laden changing all the rules. The "Laws of War" do not apply to a totally amoral enemy who will use any means at his disposal to annihilate our population. Using the CIA to fight an enemy like bin Laden is like sleeping with a rattlesnake. It is true that organizations like the CIA / KGB are the best way to kill off islamic facists. Unfortunatley cultivating an organization like the CIA / KGB is a good way to set up a Praetorian Guard. Quite frankly (for me) this problem is too hard. I'm glad I don't have to solve it.

Gary