American spies outed, CIA suffers in Lebanon

[AdamG]

Abu Muqawama on poor tradecraft.

http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawam...ry-munson.html

[Misifus]

No such thing as an American "spy," IMO, as we are incapable of growing them. These spies were not Americans. They were local paid for informants and are typically looked down upon by their American handlers (CIA case officers). There will be no accountability. A shame.

The articles are correct. We did not really retool after the comfiness of the cocktail party type spying of the Cold War.

[ganulv]

No such thing as an American "spy," IMO, as we are incapable of growing them. These spies were not Americans. They were local paid for informants and are typically looked down upon by their American handlers (CIA case officers).

Do you really think they are “looked down upon”? I would suspect a much more complicated relationship something like that between a detective and a CI would often develop.