Anatomy of The Deep State

6/5/2015
Essay:AnatomyoftheDeepState|BillMoyers.com
Essay:AnatomyoftheDeepState
February21,2014
byMikeLofgren
Romeliveduponitsprincipaltillruinstareditintheface.Industryistheonlytrue
sourceofwealth,andtherewasnoindustryinRome.BydaytheOstiaroadwas
crowdedwithcartsandmuleteers,carryingtothegreatcitythesilksandspicesof
theEast,themarbleofAsiaMinor,thetimberoftheAtlas,thegrainofAfricaand
Egyptandthecartsbroughtoutnothingbutloadsofdung.Thatwastheirreturn
cargo.
TheMartyrdomofManbyWinwoodReade(1871)
ThereisthevisiblegovernmentsituatedaroundtheMallinWashington,andthen
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thereisanother,moreshadowy,moreindefinablegovernmentthatisnotexplainedin
Civics101orobservabletotouristsattheWhiteHouseortheCapitol.Theformeris
traditionalWashingtonpartisanpolitics:thetipoftheicebergthatapublicwatchingC
SPANseesdailyandwhichistheoreticallycontrollableviaelections.Thesubsurface
partoftheicebergIshallcalltheDeepState,whichoperatesaccordingtoitsown
compassheadingregardlessofwhoisformallyinpower.[1]
Duringthelastfiveyears,thenewsmediahasbeenfloodedwithpunditsdecryingthe
brokenpoliticsofWashington.Theconventionalwisdomhasitthatpartisangridlock
anddysfunctionhavebecomethenewnormal.Thatiscertainlythecase,andIhave
beenamongtheharshestcriticsofthisdevelopment.Butitisalsoimperativeto
acknowledgethelimitsofthiscritiqueasitappliestotheAmericangovernmental
system.Ononelevel,thecritiqueisselfevident:Inthedomainthatthepubliccansee,
Congressishopelesslydeadlockedintheworstmannersincethe1850s,theviolently
rancorousdecadeprecedingtheCivilWar.
AsIwroteinThePartyisOver,thepresentobjectiveof
congressionalRepublicansistorendertheexecutive
branchpowerless,atleastuntilaRepublicanpresidentis
elected(agoalthatvotersuppressionlawsinGOP
controlledstatesareclearlyintendedtoaccomplish).
PresidentObamacannotenacthisdomesticpoliciesand
budgets:BecauseofincessantGOPfilibustering,notonly
Yes,thereisanother
governmentconcealed
behindtheonethatis
visibleateitherendof
PennsylvaniaAvenue,a
hybridentityofpublic
andprivateinstitutions
rulingthecountry
couldhenotfillthelargenumberofvacanciesinthe
federaljudiciary,hecouldnotevengethismost
innocuouspresidentialappointeesintooffice.DemocratscontrollingtheSenatehave
respondedbyweakeningthefilibusterofnominations,butRepublicansaresureto
reactwithotherparliamentarydelayingtactics.Thisstrategyamountstocongressional
nullificationofexecutivebranchpowersbyapartythatcontrolsamajorityinonlyone
houseofCongress.
Despitethisapparentimpotence,PresidentObamacanliquidateAmericancitizens
withoutdueprocesses,detainprisonersindefinitelywithoutcharge,conductdragnet
surveillanceontheAmericanpeoplewithoutjudicialwarrantandengagein
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unprecedentedatleastsincetheMcCarthyerawitchhuntsagainstfederal
employees(thesocalledInsiderThreatProgram).WithintheUnitedStates,this
powerischaracterizedbymassivedisplaysofintimidatingforcebymilitarizedfederal,
stateandlocallawenforcement.Abroad,PresidentObamacanstartwarsatwilland
engageinvirtuallyanyotheractivitywhatsoeverwithoutsomuchasabyyourleave
fromCongress,suchasarrangingtheforcedlandingofaplanecarryingasovereign
headofstateoverforeignterritory.Despitethehabitualcantofcongressional
RepublicansaboutexecutiveoverreachbyObama,thewouldbedictator,wehaveuntil
recentlyheardverylittlefromthemabouttheseactionswiththeminorexceptionof
commentsfromgadflySenatorRandPaulofKentucky.Democrats,saveafew
maverickssuchasRonWydenofOregon,arenotundulytroubled,eithereventothe
extentofpermittingseeminglyperjuredcongressionaltestimonyunderoathby
executivebranchofficialsonthesubjectofillegalsurveillance.
Thesearenotisolatedinstancesofacontradictiontheyhavebeensopervasivethat
theytendtobedisregardedasbackgroundnoise.Duringthetimein2011when
politicalwarfareoverthedebtceilingwasbeginningtoparalyzethebusinessof
governanceinWashington,theUnitedStatesgovernmentsomehowsummonedthe
resourcestooverthrowMuammarGhaddafisregimeinLibya,and,whenthe
instabilitycreatedbythatcoupspilledoverintoMali,provideovertandcovert
assistancetoFrenchinterventionthere.Atatimewhentherewasheateddebateabout
continuingmeatinspectionsandcivilianairtrafficcontrolbecauseofthebudgetcrisis,
ourgovernmentwassomehowabletocommit$115milliontokeepingacivilwargoing
inSyriaandtopayatleast100mtotheUnitedKingdomsGovernment
CommunicationsHeadquarterstobuyinfluenceoverandaccesstothatcountrys
intelligence.Since2007,twobridgescarryinginterstatehighwayshavecollapseddue
toinadequatemaintenanceofinfrastructure,onekilling13people.Duringthatsame
periodoftime,thegovernmentspent$1.7billionconstructingabuildinginUtahthat
isthesizeof17footballfields.Thismammothstructureisintendedtoallowthe
NationalSecurityAgencytostoreayottabyteofinformation,thelargestnumerical
designatorcomputerscientistshavecoined.Ayottabyteisequalto500quintillion
pagesoftext.Theyneedthatmuchstoragetoarchiveeverysingletraceofyour
electroniclife.
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Yes,thereisanothergovernmentconcealedbehindtheonethatisvisibleateitherend
ofPennsylvaniaAvenue,ahybridentityofpublicandprivateinstitutionsrulingthe
countryaccordingtoconsistentpatternsinseasonandout,connectedto,butonly
intermittentlycontrolledby,thevisiblestatewhoseleaderswechoose.Myanalysisof
thisphenomenonisnotanexposofasecret,conspiratorialcabalthestatewithina
stateishidingmostlyinplainsight,anditsoperatorsmainlyactinthelightofday.Nor
canthisothergovernmentbeaccuratelytermedanestablishment.Allcomplex
societieshaveanestablishment,asocialnetworkcommittedtoitsownenrichmentand
perpetuation.Intermsofitsscope,financialresourcesandsheerglobalreach,the
Americanhybridstate,theDeepState,isinaclassbyitself.Thatsaid,itisneither
omniscientnorinvincible.Theinstitutionisnotsomuchsinister(althoughithas
highlysinisteraspects)asitisrelentlesslywellentrenched.Farfrombeinginvincible,
itsfailures,suchasthoseinIraq,AfghanistanandLibya,areroutineenoughthatitis
onlytheDeepStatesprotectivenesstowardsitshigherrankingpersonnelthatallows
themtoescapetheconsequencesoftheirfrequentineptitude.[2]
HowdidIcometowriteananalysisoftheDeepState,andwhyamIequippedtowrite
it?Asacongressionalstaffmemberfor28yearsspecializinginnationalsecurityand
possessingatopsecretsecurityclearance,IwasatleastonthefringesoftheworldIam
describing,ifneithertotallyinitbyvirtueoffullmembershipnorofitbypsychological
disposition.But,likevirtuallyeveryemployedperson,Ibecame,tosomeextent,
assimilatedintothecultureoftheinstitutionIworkedfor,andonlybyslowdegrees,
startingbeforetheinvasionofIraq,didIbeginfundamentallytoquestionthereasons
ofstatethatmotivatethepeoplewhoare,toquoteGeorgeW.Bush,thedeciders.
Culturalassimilationispartlyamatterofwhatpsychologist
IrvingL.Janiscalledgroupthink,thechameleonlikeabilityof
peopletoadopttheviewsoftheirsuperiorsandpeers.This
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WashingtonsTacit
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syndromeisendemictoWashington:Thetownischaracterized
bysuddenfads,beitnegotiatingbiennialbudgeting,making
grandbargainsorinvadingcountries.Then,afterawhile,allthe
townscoolkidsdropthoseideasasiftheywereradioactive.As
inthemilitary,everybodyhastogetonboardwiththemission,
andquestioningitisnotacareerenhancingmove.Theuniverse
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ofpeoplewhowillcriticallyexaminethegoingsonatthe
institutionstheyworkforisalwaysgoingtobeasmallone.AsUptonSinclairsaid,It
isdifficulttogetamantounderstandsomethingwhenhissalarydependsuponhisnot
understandingit.
Amoreelusiveaspectofculturalassimilationisthesheerdeadweightofthe
ordinarinessofitallonceyouhaveplantedyourselfinyourofficechairforthe
10,000thtime.GovernmentlifeistypicallynotsomevignettefromanAllenDrury
novelaboutintrigueundertheCapitoldome.Sittingandstaringattheclockontheoff
whiteofficewallwhenits11:00intheeveningandyouarevowingnever,evertoeat
anotherpieceoftakeoutpizzainyourlifeisnotanexperiencethatsummonsthe
higherliteraryinstinctsofawouldbememoirist.Afterawhile,afunctionaryofthe
statebeginstohearthingsthat,inanothercontext,wouldbequiteremarkable,orat
leastnoteworthy,andyetthatsimplybounceoffonesconsciousnesslikepebblesoff
steelplate:Youmeanthenumberofterroristgroupswearefightingisclassified?No
wondersofewpeoplearewhistleblowers,quiteapartfromtheviciousretaliation
whistleblowingoftenprovokes:Unlessoneisblessedwithimaginationandafine
senseofirony,growingimmunetothecuriousnessofonessurroundingsiseasy.To
paraphrasetheinimitableDonaldRumsfeld,IdidntknowallthatIknew,atleastuntil
Ihadhadacoupleofyearsawayfromthegovernmenttoreflectuponit.
TheDeepStatedoesnotconsistoftheentiregovernment.Itisahybridofnational
securityandlawenforcementagencies:theDepartmentofDefense,theDepartmentof
State,theDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,theCentralIntelligenceAgencyandthe
JusticeDepartment.IalsoincludetheDepartmentoftheTreasurybecauseofits
jurisdictionoverfinancialflows,itsenforcementofinternationalsanctionsandits
organicsymbiosiswithWallStreet.AlltheseagenciesarecoordinatedbytheExecutive
OfficeofthePresidentviatheNationalSecurityCouncil.Certainkeyareasofthe
judiciarybelongtotheDeepState,suchastheForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceCourt,
whoseactionsaremysteriouseventomostmembersofCongress.Alsoincludedarea
handfulofvitalfederaltrialcourts,suchastheEasternDistrictofVirginiaandthe
SouthernDistrictofManhattan,wheresensitiveproceedingsinnationalsecuritycases
areconducted.Thefinalgovernmentcomponent(andpossiblylastinprecedence
amongtheformalbranchesofgovernmentestablishedbytheConstitution)isakindof
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rumpCongressconsistingofthecongressionalleadershipandsome(butnotall)ofthe
membersofthedefenseandintelligencecommittees.TherestofCongress,normallyso
fractiousandpartisan,ismostlyonlyintermittentlyawareoftheDeepStateandwhen
requiredusuallysubmitstoafewwellchosenwordsfromtheStatesemissaries.
Isawthissubmissivenessonmanyoccasions.Onememorableincidentwaspassageof
theForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceAmendmentsActof2008.Thislegislation
retroactivelylegalizedtheBushadministrationsillegalandunconstitutional
surveillancefirstrevealedbyTheNewYorkTimesin2005andindemnifiedthe
telecommunicationscompaniesfortheircooperationintheseacts.Thebillpassed
easily:Allthatwasrequiredwastheinvocationofthewordterrorismandmost
membersofCongressrespondedlikeironfilingsobeyingamagnet.Onewho
respondedinthatfashionwasSenatorBarackObama,soontobecoronatedasthe
presidentialnomineeattheDemocraticNationalConventioninDenver.Hehad
alreadywonthemostdelegatesbycampaigningtotheleftofhismainopponent,
HillaryClinton,ontheexcessesoftheglobalwaronterrorandtheerosionof
constitutionalliberties.
Astheindemnificationvoteshowed,theDeepStatedoesnotconsistonlyof
governmentagencies.Whatiseuphemisticallycalledprivateenterpriseisanintegral
partofitsoperations.InaspecialseriesinTheWashingtonPostcalledTopSecret
America,DanaPriestandWilliamK.ArkindescribedthescopeoftheprivatizedDeep
StateandthedegreetowhichithasmetastasizedaftertheSeptember11attacks.There
arenow854,000contractpersonnelwithtopsecretclearancesanumbergreater
thanthatoftopsecretclearedcivilianemployeesofthegovernment.Whiletheywork
throughoutthecountryandtheworld,theirheavyconcentrationinandaroundthe
Washingtonsuburbsisunmistakable:Since9/11,33facilitiesfortopsecret
intelligencehavebeenbuiltorareunderconstruction.Combined,theyoccupythefloor
spaceofalmostthreePentagonsabout17millionsquarefeet.Seventypercentofthe
intelligencecommunitysbudgetgoestopayingcontracts.Andthemembranebetween
governmentandindustryishighlypermeable:TheDirectorofNationalIntelligence,
JamesR.Clapper,isaformerexecutiveofBoozAllenHamilton,oneofthe
governmentslargestintelligencecontractors.Hispredecessorasdirector,Admiral
MikeMcConnell,isthecurrentvicechairmanofthesamecompanyBoozAllenis99
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percentdependentongovernmentbusiness.Thesecontractorsnowsetthepolitical
andsocialtoneofWashington,justastheyareincreasinglysettingthedirectionofthe
country,buttheyaredoingitquietly,theirdoingsunrecordedintheCongressional
RecordortheFederalRegister,andarerarelysubjecttocongressionalhearings.
WashingtonisthemostimportantnodeoftheDeepStatethat
hastakenoverAmerica,butitisnottheonlyone.Invisible
threadsofmoneyandambitionconnectthetowntoother
nodes.OneisWallStreet,whichsuppliesthecashthatkeeps
thepoliticalmachinequiescentandoperatingasadiversionary
marionettetheater.Shouldthepoliticiansforgettheirlinesand
threatenthestatusquo,WallStreetfloodsthetownwithcash
andlawyerstohelpthehiredhandsremembertheirownbest
interests.Theexecutivesofthefinancialgiantsevenhavede
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factocriminalimmunity.OnMarch6,2013,testifyingbefore
theSenateJudiciaryCommittee,AttorneyGeneralEricHolderstatedthefollowing:I
amconcernedthatthesizeofsomeoftheseinstitutionsbecomessolargethatitdoes
becomedifficultforustoprosecutethemwhenwearehitwithindicationsthatifyou
doprosecute,ifyoudobringacriminalcharge,itwillhaveanegativeimpactonthe
nationaleconomy,perhapseventheworldeconomy.This,fromthechieflaw
enforcementofficerofajusticesystemthathaspracticallyabolishedtheconstitutional
righttotrialforpoorerdefendantschargedwithcertaincrimes.Itisnottoomuchto
saythatWallStreetmaybetheultimateowneroftheDeepStateanditsstrategies,if
fornootherreasonthanthatithasthemoneytorewardgovernmentoperativeswitha
secondcareerthatislucrativebeyondthedreamsofavaricecertainlybeyondthe
dreamsofasalariedgovernmentemployee.[3]
ThecorridorbetweenManhattanandWashingtonisawelltroddenhighwayforthe
personalitieswehaveallgottentoknowintheperiodsincethemassivederegulationof
WallStreet:RobertRubin,LawrenceSummers,HenryPaulson,TimothyGeithnerand
manyothers.Notallthetrafficinvolvespersonsconnectedwiththepurelyfinancial
operationsofthegovernment:In2013,GeneralDavidPetraeusjoinedKKR(formerly
KohlbergKravisRoberts)of9West57thStreet,NewYork,aprivateequityfirmwith
$62.3billioninassets.KKRspecializesinmanagementbuyoutsandleveragedfinance.
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GeneralPetraeusexpertiseintheseareasisunclear.Hisabilitytopeddleinfluence,
however,isaknownandvaluedcommodity.UnlikeCincinnatus,themilitary
commandersoftheDeepStatedonottakeuptheplowoncetheylaydownthesword.
PetraeusalsoobtainedasinecureasanonresidentseniorfellowattheBelferCenter
forScienceandInternationalAffairsatHarvard.TheIvyLeagueis,ofcourse,the
preferredbleachingtubandcharmschooloftheAmericanoligarchy.[4]
PetraeusandmostoftheavatarsoftheDeepStatetheWhiteHouseadviserswho
urgedObamanottoimposecompensationlimitsonWallStreetCEOs,thecontractor
connectedthinktankexpertswhobesoughtustostaythecourseinIraq,the
economicguruswhoperpetuallydemonstratethatglobalizationandderegulationarea
blessingthatmakesusallbetteroffinthelongrunarecarefultopretendthatthey
havenoideology.Theirpreferredposeisthatofthepoliticallyneutraltechnocrat
offeringwellconsideredadvicebasedonprofoundexpertise.Thatisnonsense.They
aredeeplydyedinthehueoftheofficialideologyofthegoverningclass,anideology
thatisneitherspecificallyDemocratnorRepublican.Domestically,whateverthey
mightprivatelybelieveaboutessentiallydiversionarysocialissuessuchasabortionor
gaymarriage,theyalmostinvariablybelieveintheWashingtonConsensus:
financialization,outsourcing,privatization,deregulationandthecommodifyingof
labor.Internationally,theyespouse21stcenturyAmericanExceptionalism:theright
anddutyoftheUnitedStatestomeddleineveryregionoftheworldwithcoercive
diplomacyandbootsonthegroundandtoignorepainfullywoninternationalnormsof
civilizedbehavior.ToparaphrasewhatSirJohnHarringtonsaidmorethan400years
agoabouttreason,nowthattheideologyoftheDeepStatehasprospered,nonedare
callitideology.[5]Thatiswhydescribingtorturewiththewordtortureonbroadcast
televisionistreatedlessaspoliticalheresythanasaninexcusablelapseofWashington
etiquette:Likesmokingacigaretteoncamera,thesedaysitissimplynotdone.
AfterEdwardSnowdensrevelationsabouttheextentanddepth
ofsurveillancebytheNationalSecurityAgency,ithasbecome
publiclyevidentthatSiliconValleyisavitalnodeoftheDeep
Stateaswell.Unlikemilitaryandintelligencecontractors,
SiliconValleyoverwhelminglysellstotheprivatemarket,butits
businessissoimportanttothegovernmentthatastrange
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Reactions:Heidi
BoghosianonMass
Surveillance
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relationshiphasemerged.Whilethegovernmentcouldsimply
dragoonthehightechnologycompaniestodotheNSAs
bidding,itwouldprefercooperationwithsoimportantan
engineofthenationseconomy,perhapswithanimpliedquid
proquo.Perhapsthisexplainstheextraordinaryindulgencethegovernmentshowsthe
Valleyinintellectualpropertymatters.IfanAmericanjailbreakshissmartphone
(i.e.,modifiesitsothatitcanuseaserviceproviderotherthantheonedictatedbythe
manufacturer),hecouldreceiveafineofupto$500,000andseveralyearsinprison
somuchforacitizensvauntedpropertyrightstowhathepurchases.Thelibertarian
poseoftheSiliconValleymoguls,socarefullycultivatedintheirpublicrelations,has
alwaysbeenasham.SiliconValleyhaslongbeentrackingforcommercialpurposesthe
activitiesofeverypersonwhousesanelectronicdevice,soitishardlysurprisingthat
theDeepStateshouldemulatetheValleyanddothesameforitsownpurposes.Noris
itsurprisingthatitshouldconscripttheValleysassistance.
Still,despitetheessentialrolesoflowerManhattanandSiliconValley,thecenterof
gravityoftheDeepStateisfirmlysituatedinandaroundtheBeltway.TheDeepStates
physicalexpansionandconsolidationaroundtheBeltwaywouldseemtomakea
mockeryofthefrequentpronouncementthatgovernanceinWashingtonis
dysfunctionalandbroken.ThatthesecretandunaccountableDeepStatefloatsfreely
abovethegridlockbetweenbothendsofPennsylvaniaAvenueistheparadoxof
Americangovernmentinthe21stcentury:dronestrikes,datamining,secretprisons
andPanopticonlikecontrolontheonehandandontheother,theordinary,visible
parliamentaryinstitutionsofselfgovernmentdecliningtothestatusofabanana
republicamidthegradualcollapseofpublicinfrastructure.
Theresultsofthiscontradictionarenotabstract,asatouroftherotting,decaying,
bankruptcitiesoftheAmericanMidwestwillattest.Itisnotevenconfinedtothose
partsofthecountryleftbehindbyaWashingtonConsensusthatdecreedthe
financializationanddeindustrializationoftheeconomyintheinterestsofefficiency
andshareholdervalue.ThisparadoxisevidentevenwithintheBeltwayitself,the
richestmetropolitanareainthenation.Althoughdemographersandurbanresearchers
invariablycountWashingtonasaworldcity,thatisnotalwaysevidenttothosewho
livethere.Virtuallyeverytimethereisaseveresummerthunderstorm,tensoreven
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hundredsofthousandsofresidentslosepower,oftenformanydays.Thereare
occasionalwaterrestrictionsoverwideareasbecausewatermains,poorlyconstructed
andinadequatelymaintained,haveburst.[6]TheWashingtonmetropolitanarea
considersitaHerculeantaskjusttobuildaraillinktoitsinternationalairportwith
luckitmaybecompletedby2018.
ItisasifHadriansWallwasstillfullymannedandthefortificationsalongtheborder
withGermaniawereneverstronger,evenasthecityofRomedisintegratesfromwithin
andthelifesustainingaqueductsleadingdownfromthehillsbegintocrumble.The
governingclassesoftheDeepStatemaycontinuetodeceivethemselveswiththeir
dreamsofZeuslikeomnipotence,butothersdonot.A2013PewPollthatinterviewed
38,000peoplearoundtheworldfoundthatin23of39countriessurveyed,aplurality
ofrespondentssaidtheybelievedChinaalreadyhadorwouldinthefuturereplacethe
UnitedStatesastheworldstopeconomicpower.
TheDeepStateisthebigstoryofourtime.Itistheredthreadthatrunsthroughthe
waronterrorism,thefinancializationanddeindustrializationoftheAmerican
economy,theriseofaplutocraticsocialstructureandpoliticaldysfunction.
WashingtonistheheadquartersoftheDeepState,anditstimeinthesunasarivalto
Rome,ConstantinopleorLondonmaybetermlimitedbyitsoverweeningsenseofself
importanceanditshabit,asWinwoodReadesaidofRome,toliveuponitsprincipal
tillruinstareditintheface.Livinguponitsprincipal,inthiscase,meansthatthe
DeepStatehasbeenextractingvaluefromtheAmericanpeopleinvampirelike
fashion.
Wearefacedwithtwodisagreeableimplications.First,thattheDeepStateissoheavily
entrenched,sowellprotectedbysurveillance,firepower,moneyanditsabilitytocoopt
resistancethatitisalmostimpervioustochange.Second,thatjustasinsomany
previousempires,theDeepStateispopulatedwiththosewhoseinstinctivereactionto
thefailureoftheirpoliciesistodoubledownonthoseverypoliciesinthefuture.Iraq
wasafailurebrieflycamouflagedbythewhollypropagandisticsuccessofthesocalled
surgethislegerdemainallowedforthesurgeinAfghanistan,whichequallycameto
naught.Undeterredbythatfailure,thefunctionariesoftheDeepStateplungedinto
LibyathesmokingrubbleoftheBenghaziconsulate,ratherthandiscouragingfurther
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misadventure,seemedmerelytoincitetheitchtobombSyria.WilltheDeepStateride
onthebackoftheAmericanpeoplefromfailuretofailureuntilthecountryitself,
despiteitshugereservesofhumanandmaterialcapital,isslowlyexhausted?Thedusty
roadofempireisstrewnwiththebonesofformergreatpowersthatexhausted
themselvesinlikemanner.
But,therearesignsofresistancetotheDeepStateandits
demands.IntheaftermathoftheSnowdenrevelations,the
Housenarrowlyfailedtopassanamendmentthatwouldhave
defundedtheNSAswarrantlesscollectionofdatafromUS
persons.Shortlythereafter,thepresident,advocatingyet
anothermilitaryinterventionintheMiddleEast,thistimein
Syria,metwithsuchoverwhelmingcongressionalskepticism
thathechangedthesubjectbygraspingatadiplomaticlifeline
throwntohimbyVladimirPutin.[7]
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Hasthevisible,constitutionalstate,theoneenvisagedby
MadisonandtheotherFounders,finallybeguntoreassertitselfagainsttheclaimsand
usurpationsoftheDeepState?Tosomeextent,perhaps.Theunfoldingrevelationsof
thescopeoftheNSAswarrantlesssurveillancehavebecomesoegregiousthateven
institutionalapologistssuchasSenatorDianneFeinsteinhavebeguntobackpedalif
onlyrhetoricallyfromtheirkneejerkdefenseoftheagency.Asmorepeoplebeginto
wakenfromthefearfulandsuggestiblestatethat9/11createdintheirminds,itis
possiblethattheDeepStatesdecadeoldtacticofcryingterrorism!everytimeit
facesresistanceisnolongerelicitingthesamePavlovianresponseofmeekobedience.
AndtheAmericanpeople,possiblyeventheirlegislators,aregrowingtiredofendless
quagmiresintheMiddleEast.
ButthereisanothermorestructuralreasontheDeepStatemayhavepeakedinthe
extentofitsdominance.Whileitseemstofloatabovetheconstitutionalstate,its
essentiallyparasitic,extractivenaturemeansthatitisstilltetheredtotheformal
proceedingsofgovernance.TheDeepStatethriveswhenthereistolerablefunctionality
inthedaytodayoperationsofthefederalgovernment.Aslongasappropriationsbills
getpassedontime,promotionlistsgetconfirmed,black(i.e.,secret)budgetsget
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rubberstamped,specialtaxsubsidiesforcertaincorporationsareapprovedwithout
controversy,aslongastoomanyawkwardquestionsarenotasked,thegearsofthe
hybridstatewillmeshnoiselessly.ButwhenonehouseofCongressistakenoverbytea
partyWahhabites,lifefortherulingclassbecomesmoretrying.
IfthereisanythingtheDeepStaterequiresitissilent,uninterruptedcashflowandthe
confidencethatthingswillgoonastheyhaveinthepast.Itisevenwillingtotoleratea
degreeofgridlock:Partisanmudwrestlingoverculturalissuesmaybeauseful
distractionfromitsagenda.Butrecentcongressionalanticsinvolvingsequestration,
thegovernmentshutdownandthethreatofdefaultoverthedebtceilingextensionhave
beendisruptingthatequilibrium.Andanextremegridlockdynamichasdeveloped
betweenthetwopartiessuchthatcontinuingsomelevelofsequestrationispolitically
theleastbadoptionforbothparties,albeitfordifferentreasons.Asmuchasmany
Republicansmightwanttogivebudgetrelieftotheorgansofnationalsecurity,they
cannotfullyreversesequestrationwithouttheDemocratsdemandingrevenue
increases.AndDemocratswantingtospendmoreondomesticdiscretionaryprograms
cannotvoidsequestrationoneitherdomesticordefenseprogramswithout
Republicansinsistingonentitlementcuts.
So,fortheforeseeablefuture,theDeepStatemustrestrainitsappetitefortaxpayer
dollars.Limiteddealsmaysoftensequestration,butagencyrequestswillnotlikelybe
fullyfundedanytimesoon.EvenWallStreetsrentieroperationshavebeenaffected:
Afterhelpingfinancetheteapartytoadvanceitsownplutocraticambitions,Americas
BigMoneyisnowregrettingtheFrankensteinsmonsterithascreated.Likechildren
playingwithdynamite,theteapartyanditscompulsiontodrivethenationintocredit
defaulthasalarmedthegrownupscommandingtheheightsofcapitalthelatterare
nowtellingthepoliticianstheythoughttheyhadhiredtoknockitoff.
TheHousevotetodefundtheNSAsillegalsurveillanceprogramswasequally
illustrativeofthedisruptivenatureoftheteapartyinsurgency.Civilliberties
DemocratsalonewouldneverhavecomesoclosetovictoryteapartystalwartJustin
Amash(RMI),whohasalsoupsetthebusinesscommunityforhisdebtlimit
fundamentalism,wastheleadRepublicansponsoroftheNSAamendment,andmost
oftheRepublicanswhovotedwithhimwerealignedwiththeteaparty.
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ThefinalfactorisSiliconValley.Owingtosecrecyand
obfuscation,itishardtoknowhowmuchoftheNSAs
relationshipwiththeValleyisbasedonvoluntarycooperation,
howmuchislegalcompulsionthroughFISAwarrantsandhow
muchisamatteroftheNSAsurreptitiouslybreakinginto
technologycompaniessystems.GiventheValleyspublic
relationsrequirementtomollifyitscustomerswhohaveprivacy
concerns,itisdifficulttotakethetechfirmslibertarian
protestationsaboutgovernmentcompromiseoftheirsystemsatfacevalue,especially
Reactions:TimWuon
SiliconValley
sincetheyengageinsimilaractivityagainsttheirowncustomersforcommercial
purposes.Thatsaid,evidenceisaccumulatingthatSiliconValleyislosingbillionsin
overseasbusinessfromcompanies,individualsandgovernmentsthatwanttomaintain
privacy.Forhightechentrepreneurs,thecashnexusisultimatelymorecompelling
thantheDeepStatesdemandforpatrioticcooperation.Evenlegalcompulsioncanbe
combatted:Unliketheindividualcitizen,techfirmshavedeeppocketsandbatteriesof
lawyerswithwhichtofightgovernmentdiktat.
ThispushbackhasgonesofarthatonJanuary17,PresidentObamaannounced
revisionstotheNSAsdatacollectionprograms,includingwithdrawingtheagencys
custodyofadomestictelephonerecorddatabase,expandingrequirementsforjudicial
warrantsandceasingtospyon(undefined)friendlyforeignleaders.Criticshave
denouncedthechangesasacosmeticpublicrelationsmove,buttheyarestill
significantinthattheclamorhasgottensoloudthatthepresidentfeelsthepolitical
needtoaddressit.
Whenthecontradictionswithinarulingideologyarepushedtoofar,factionalism
appearsandthatideologybeginsslowlytocrumble.Corporateoligarchssuchasthe
Kochbrothersarenolongerentirelyhappywiththefauxpopulistpoliticalfrontgroup
theyhelpedfundandgroom.SiliconValley,foralltheAynRandliketendenciesofits
majorplayers,itsoffshoringstrategiesanditsfurtherexacerbationofincome
inequality,isnowlobbyingCongresstorestraintheNSA,acorecomponentofthe
DeepState.Sometechfirmsaremovingtoencrypttheirdata.Hightechcorporations
andgovernmentsalikeseekdominanceoverpeoplethoughcollectionofpersonaldata,
butthecorporationsarejumpingshipnowthatadversepublicreactiontotheNSA
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scandalsthreatenstheirprofits.
Theoutcomeofallthesedevelopmentsisuncertain.TheDeepState,basedonthetwin
pillarsofnationalsecurityimperativeandcorporatehegemony,hasuntilrecently
seemedunshakableandthelatesteventsmayonlybeatemporaryperturbationinits
trajectory.Buthistoryhasawayoftopplingthealtarsofthemighty.Whilethetwo
greatmaterialistanddeterministideologiesofthetwentiethcentury,Marxismandthe
WashingtonConsensus,successivelydecreedthatthedictatorshipoftheproletariat
andthedictatorshipofthemarketwereinevitable,thefutureisactuallyindeterminate.
Itmaybethatdeepeconomicandsocialcurrentscreatetheframeworkofhistory,but
thosecurrentscanbechanneled,eddied,orevenreversedbycircumstance,chanceand
humanagency.Wehaveonlytoreflectupondefunctglacialdespotismssuchasthe
USSRorEastGermanytorealizethatnothingisforever.
Throughouthistory,statesystemswithoutsizedpretensionsto
powerhavereactedtotheirenvironmentsintwoways.Thefirst
strategy,reflectingtheossificationofitsrulingelites,consistsof
repeatingthatnothingiswrong,thatthestatusquoreflectsthe
nationsuniquegoodfortuneinbeingfavoredbyGodandthat
thosecallingforchangearemerelysubversivetroublemakers.
AstheFrenchancienrgime,theRomanovdynastyandthe
Habsburgemperorsdiscovered,thestrategyworkssplendidly
Reactions:JuanCole
ontheVulnerabilityof
theNetwork
forawhile,particularlyifonehasatalentfordismissing
unpleasantfacts.Thefinalresults,however,arelikelytobethoroughlydisappointing.
Thesecondstrategyisoneembracedtovaryingdegreesandwithdifferinggoals,by
figuresofsuchcontrastingpersonalitiesasMustafaKemalAtatrk,FranklinD.
Roosevelt,CharlesdeGaulleandDengXiaoping.Theywerecertainlynot
revolutionariesbytemperamentifanything,theirnatureswereconservative.Butthey
understoodthatthepoliticalculturesinwhichtheylivedwerefossilizedandincapable
ofadaptingtothetimes.Intheirdrivetoreformandmodernizethepoliticalsystems
theyinherited,theirfirstobstaclestoovercomeweretheoutwornmythsthatencrusted
thethinkingoftheelitesoftheirtime.
AstheUnitedStatesconfrontsitsfutureafterexperiencingtwofailedwars,a
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precariouseconomyand$17trillioninaccumulateddebt,thenationalpunditryhas
splitintotwocamps.Thefirst,thedeclinists,seesabroken,dysfunctionalpolitical
systemincapableofreformandaneconomysoontobeovertakenbyChina.The
second,thereformers,offersaprofusionofnostrumstoturnthenationaround:public
financingofelectionstoseverthearteryofmoneybetweenthecorporatecomponents
oftheDeepStateandfinanciallydependentelectedofficials,governmentinsourcing
toreversethetideofoutsourcingofgovernmentfunctionsandtheconflictsofinterest
thatitcreates,ataxpolicythatvalueshumanlaboroverfinancialmanipulationanda
tradepolicythatfavorsexportingmanufacturedgoodsoverexportinginvestment
capital.
Allofthatisnecessary,butnotsufficient.The
MikeLofgrenontheDeepStateHidinginPlainSight
Snowdenrevelations(theimpactofwhich
havebeensurprisinglystrong),thederailed
driveformilitaryinterventioninSyriaanda
fractiousCongress,whosedysfunctionhas
beguntobeaseriousinconveniencetothe
DeepState,showthatthereisnowadeepbut
asyetinchoatehungerforchange.What
26:46
Americalacksisafigurewiththesereneself
confidencetotellusthatthetwinidolsofnationalsecurityandcorporatepowerare
outworndogmasthathavenothingmoretoofferus.Thusdisenthralled,thepeople
themselveswillunraveltheDeepStatewithsurprisingspeed.
[1]ThetermDeepStatewascoinedinTurkeyandissaidtobeasystemcomposedof
highlevelelementswithintheintelligenceservices,military,security,judiciaryand
organizedcrime.InBritishauthorJohnleCarrslatestnovel,ADelicateTruth,a
characterdescribestheDeepStateastheeverexpandingcircleofnon
governmentalinsidersfrombanking,industryandcommercewhowereclearedfor
highlyclassifiedinformationdeniedtolargeswathesofWhitehallandWestminster.I
usethetermtomeanahybridassociationofelementsofgovernmentandpartsoftop
levelfinanceandindustrythatiseffectivelyabletogoverntheUnitedStateswithout
referencetotheconsentofthegovernedasexpressedthroughtheformalpolitical
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process.
[2]Twentyfiveyearsago,thesociologistRobertNisbetdescribedthisphenomenonas
theattributeofNoFault.Presidents,secretariesandgeneralsandadmiralsin
Americaseeminglysubscribetothedoctrinethatnofaulteverattachestopolicyand
operations.ThisNoFaultconvictionpreventsthemfromtakingtooseriouslysuch
notoriousfoulupsasDesertOne,Grenada,LebanonandnowthePersianGulf.Tohis
listwemightadd9/11,Iraq,AfghanistanandLibya.
[3]TheattitudeofmanymembersofCongresstowardsWallStreetwasmemorably
expressedbyRep.SpencerBachus(RAL),theincomingchairmanoftheHouse
FinancialServicesCommittee,in2010:InWashington,theviewisthatthebanksare
toberegulated,andmyviewisthatWashingtonandtheregulatorsaretheretoserve
thebanks.
[4]Beginningin1988,everyUSpresidenthasbeenagraduateofHarvardorYale.
Beginningin2000,everylosingpresidentialcandidatehasbeenaHarvardorYale
graduate,withtheexceptionofJohnMcCainin2008.
[5]Inrecentmonths,theAmericanpublichasseenavividexampleofaDeepState
operativemarketinghisideologyunderthebannerofpragmatism.FormerSecretaryof
DefenseRobertM.GatesaonetimecareerCIAofficeranddeeplypoliticalBush
familyretainerhascamouflagedhisretrospectivedefenseofmilitaryescalationsthat
havebroughtusnothingbutcasualtiesandfiscalgriefasthestraightfromthe
shouldermemoirfromaplainspokensonofKansaswhodisdainsWashingtonandits
politicians.
[6]Meanwhile,theUSgovernmenttooktheleadinrestoringBaghdadssewersystem
atacostof$7billion.
[7]Obamasabruptaboutfacesuggestshemayhavebeenskepticalofmilitary
interventioninSyriaallalong,butonlydroppedthatpolicyonceCongressandPutin
gavehimtherunningroomtodoso.In2009,hewentaheadwiththeAfghanistan
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surgepartlybecauseGeneralPetraeuspublicrelationscampaignandbackchannel
lobbyingontheHillforimplementationofhispetmilitarystrategypreemptedother
options.Theseincidentsraisethedisturbingquestionofhowmuchthedemocratically
electedpresidentoranypresidentsetsthepolicyofthenationalsecuritystateand
howmuchthepolicyissetforhimbytheprofessionaloperativesofthatstatewho
engineerfaitsaccomplisthatforcehishand.
MikeLofgrenisaformercongressionalstaffmemberwhoservedonboththeHouseandSenate
budgetcommittees.HisbookaboutCongress,ThePartyisOver:HowRepublicansWentCrazy,
DemocratsBecameUseless,andtheMiddleClassGotShafted,appearedinpaperbackonAugust
27,2013.
TOPICS:Activism,CivilLiberties,Democracy&Government,History,Justice,Money&Politics,War&Peace
TAGS:abortion,darkmoney,deepstate,economicinequality,economy,incomeinequality,inequality,mikelofgren,moneyandpolitics,nsa,
obama,wallstreet,widget,women'shealth
2015PublicAffairsTelevision,Inc.Allrights
reserved.
||
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Anatomy of The Deep State

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