[dzonga]

because majority of the spending and revenue generated is off the books.

they're not only getting financed by the US gvt through the budget. But they have their own ventures that generate profits to feed the monster. their ventures could be public such as the CIA venture firm or dark money as usual.

[jonnybgood]

For FY 2023, the IC was appropriated $99.1b. By your suggestion, the majority of their budget is off the books, which means that more than $99.1b is off the books. That's a pretty extraordinary claim.

[khrbrt]

Have you never heard of Iran-Contra?

The CIA was caught selling weapons to Iran to illegally fund contras and death squads in Latin America.

There's also BCCI, their own international bank to fund who knows what. By going through shell companies and subsidiaries they escape congressional oversight and FOIA requests.

[newZWhoDis]

You think it’s extraordinary to suggest that the majority of a secret agency’s budget is… secret?

[r00fus]

I don't find it unreasonable.

[AnimalMuppet]

I don't find it demonstrated, though. Certain people have biases which lead them to find the claim reasonable. Certain others have different biases.

It's really hard to have a meaningful conversation based on that...

[_3u10]

Well, given that these companies have unlimited profit making ability to fund their unlimited budget if they were to list these companies on the stock market the share price would be infinite.

Truly whatever they have figured out is a massive boon to humanity. And they probably should be in charge of everything as no one else has figured out how to make unlimited profit. Their workers must be exceptionally productive.

The TLAs could thus balance the budget simply by paying the taxes owed on these unlimited profit companies.

[dkjaudyeqooe]

Your comment is deep into tinfoil hat territory.

[dzonga]

how so ?

Does IranContra ring a bell ? the CIA pushing drugs in the minority community in the 80s ? Now the CIA is supposed to be handling foreign issues - but they're doing this in their homeground. Now imagine what they're doing in other foreign countries.

Then take the DOD which has failed multiple audits - you know how dysfunctional you've to be as an org to fail audits ? and the amounts are in the trillions. Even though the CIA is not part of DOD - just to throw that there.

[dilyevsky]

Given the recent news, tinfoil hats can actually be quite useful

[imwillofficial]

Nice try CIA ;)

[dkjaudyeqooe]

Great, now I have to issue a burn notice for this account. It's got over 5000 points, goddammit.

[imwillofficial]

What a great show

[NEETPILLED]

Actually, its not tinfoil if its already been proven they have a history of this.

[AnimalMuppet]

Do share the proof, then.