I'm seeing three different functions here:

1. Intel is the direction, collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of information - intel cycle. Intel consumers should not be their own analysts.

2. Political subversion, economic subversion, propaganda (I'd use "disinformation" here, since propaganda which is white on white should be totally separate from disinformation operations), and the "etc." of this softer side of covert ops.

3. Paramilitary operations (e.g., Bay of Pigs, which was neither clandestine nor covert in its execution; but very compartmentalized in its preparation); but more so in the present context, DAs which should not be handled by the military (Gary Berntsen's pitch).

In any given situation, two or more of these functions can and probably need to be linked. So, one agency fits all; or separate agencies ?

If the latter, there are at least two problems:

1. Co-ordination of efforts (joint task forces ?);

2. How to hide the appropriations for their efforts (dumping all the $ into one agency makes that easier) ?

Is this roughly where this discussion is at ?