The problems at the State Department [known as “foggy bottom”] and CIA predate Bill Clinton by many, many years. The Federal bureaucracy has defined the illness known as “inside the beltway” at least since FDR.
Many of the Federal departments have a life of their own. Since they all tend to to protect their own turf by aggrandizing power and money to themselves, the result tends to be larger and more intrusive government.
The State Department has never been known to hold our enemies accountable, but they don’t seem to mind putting our friends at risk. Jimmy Carter was known for keeping the Soviets happy while stabbing our friends in the back. I would find it quite easy to believe that all of his inept policies originated from foggy bottom. He certainly seemed to be in concert with their usual drivel.
The problems with the CIA seem to have been worse during the last 15 years. I am not familiar with the politics, but I would suspect that some of the Congressional oversight that occurred after Iran-Contra may have strengthened the hand of the appeasers. It certainly gutted the agency of its ability to gather “gray” intelligence.
Well said.
And, you just reminded me of a comment made by the late Milton Friedman: (I think I have it right) "The country is no longer run by our elected officials - it's run by career bureaucrats."
There is more than ample evidence to support that statement but, sadly the media refused to report it to the masses.