Sorry in advance for the long post!
Here’s some REAL history for you from one who was there—me!
The Deep State problem was the fall of the Soviet Union. As long as they had a foreign enemy, they were on our side.
I was at the Defense Intelligence Agency in the 1980s—we worked hand-in-hand with CIA, and then under the NSA from 1991-1996. When we had the Cold War mission, everyone acted like a patriot, civilian and military, and we did a good job, I think, containing them.
When the Wall fell, you could read the despair in every senior leaders face. There was no longer a defined mission.
I clearly remember at the Pentagon in the Summer of 1990, when walking in from North parking, how everyone had a glum look on their face. I mentioned this to a good friend. There were dozens of rumors going around that Dick Cheney (then Sec Def), was going to start HUGE cuts—the so-called Peace Dividend.
So August 2nd, 1990. Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait.
Within two days everyone at the Five Sided Monkey House was walking with a fast, new confidence, determined looks and smiles on all their faces! Operation “Save our Jobs” had begun!
Well, seriously, Saddam had to be stopped, and we did it.
But within a year, by the Summer of 1991, that war was over. The real cuts began. I went to Europe that year. Many famous and old standing units assigned to Europe were just sent home rather than returning back to their permanent bases in Germany, Italy and the UK.
My career from about 1992-1996 was going to different bases, posts, and casernes in Europe closing stuff: removing and properly disposing of classified computers and their data, closing military circuits, and taking down whole systems. It was a lot of work! I had to leave a 30 meter dish at the end of the runway at Subic Bay, Greece because we couldn’t fit it on smaller craft and had to wait for a C-5 but none were available. You could still see the pile of it on Google Earth up to a few years ago!
Anyway, I noticed that the intel weenies were flailing all about trying to find a new mission. They were all excited about “Cyber Security”. I groaned. I was the Compusec, COMSEC and TEMPEST officer for our part of Europe (all the commissioned officers had left) and I did not want these IDIOTS messing around with our stuff. I actually remember a meeting in 1994 when the Chief Counsel of NSA had to fly out to us to warn the EUCOM Intel and our wing Commander and his fellows to NOT—EVER—use civilian or other military assets to test “attacks”.
But you could see the rest of agency—the ops side—not leagal—were eager to do so.
Anyway, I retired so I don’t know much about what happened beyond this from 1998-2001, so the below is my opinion, not something I observed.
After 9/11, we all became potential terrorists and the rest is history. Meaning the Deep State turned it’s gaze upon US. Bush I think had some constraints on it, but the Obama era turned it into a political machine. Now Mueller “runs” it.
Thank you for your service! I didn’t realize how deep Bush the first went with his [takeover]! Manifested itself into Bowbama!
The mid-east has been a disaster/no-win or short term wins only, for decades.It has to do with so many players unacknowledged like the CIA that ran roughshod all over the place making it impossible to avoid the chaos they created.
Impressive experience you had. Thanks for sharing. I found it enlightening.