CIA's Brennan complacent about independent intelligence gathering in Egypt & Saudi Arabia

New Law Shifts Fight on Claims for 9/11 Victims and Saudis Warn of Risks is a headline that reflects CIA Director Brennan's erroneous view that Saudi Arabia is a key intelligence source for our fight against terrorism rather than that their extreme Wahabbi vision of Islam is the source of terrorism. Another problem is that Authoritarian regimes are opaque to the CIA but with the reassurance it's getting the really good stuff from official sources. The Agency ought to remember its experience with the Shah of Iran's authoritarian regime where it was caught flat footed when he had to flee. Brennan appears to be complacent about the need for independent intelligence gathering in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  

Internal Revolt Is Different from Externally Sponsored Regime Change

Rand Paul mentioned in his Exeter, New Hampshire rally last night that he is against regime change and uses Libya's Muammar Gaddafi downfall as an example.  It's not a good analysis because it was started in country, as were Tunisia's Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak downfalls. Also defending a regime from a popular revolt is contrary to our Declaration of Independence heritage.  On the other hand its agreed George W Bush's unilateral regime change in Iraq was a huge mistake. This point is made despite a Stand with Rand support because totalitarian regimes that promise short term stability blow up terribly and The Shah of Iran's downfall and the rise of an implacable enemy is the prime example.