Inside Story - Is the CIA effective?

[Benny B]

The reputation of U.S. military intelligence is in tatters after al-Qaeda inflicted a devastating blow on the CIA in Afghanistan.

This week seven Americans working for the CIA were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan. The deceased bomber is now alleged to have been a double agent, working for al-Qaeda as well as the CIA. Jordananian intelligence have disputed this, however.

So is Washington loosing the intelligence war there? And why? And how would that impact its ongoing military operations?

[powerpack]

I did not watch all of that.
All countries need a Secret service for overseas intel full stop.

What I can tell you is that the CIA has a terrible reputation both for endangering allies and getting it all wrong.
When the South Africans were in Southern Angola in the 1980s the CIA went in nearly got my Captain who was escorting them killed.
They listen to no one, put others in harms way with out a second thought and when the shit gets real they run away (they stayed too long against advice and then grabbed the plane used to bring them in leaving the South Africans stuck in a war zone)
It was actually a standing joke that the CIA has standard procedures in place for deserting allies

[chadstallion]

read the history of the CIA   "Legacy of Ashes" and then you will be able to answer your question.

[MB_722]

effective enough to make you think they're ineffective

[MRDUMPLING]

effective enough to make you think they're ineffective

Yep...they're best work in my opinion was when they were still the OSS.  Crazy shit...makes you think.