Why do people always talk about CIA as if it existed in a vacuum? The KGB were at least as ruthless and I can't imagine how badly everything would've gone without the CIA or other intelligence services on our side. Even now we have enemies which justify the continued existence of these agencies.

Interesting point. What are some specific instances in which the CIA saved us from the Soviet menace?

Simpsons did it! https://youtu.be/xSVqLHghLpw

The other guys have an unaccountable, unelected, and unconstitutional secret police, so we need one too!

You’re confusing the CIA with an intelligence agency. It is not now nor has ever been an intelligence agency. There are various other departments that do intelligence. The CIA was founded with the mission of letting the Dulles brothers conduct secret wars, and it remains true to that vision even now. There’s no excuse for it.

Reminds me of this wiki article I randomly came across last week about the former chief of the KGB predecessor… there is zero equivalent of this in the US https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavrentiy_Beria