"PDB" is the most riduculous hyperbole
Re: Richard Draper in the NY Times on Trump and Spies
Excellent commentary. Evaluating intelligence agencies from the outside, whether as a newly elected president or an investigative essayist, is exceptionally challenging. So much of the supporting information is colored by secrecy, by institutional practices, by bureaucratic inertia, by cult-like protection and veneration of lon-serving officials, it takes a mighty effort to wholly believe briefings which are meticulously prepared to persuade, recruit, enchant and manipulate recipients.
Decades, if not centuries, of national spying throughout the world, have accumulated a vast store of means and methods of spies to communicate with national leaders, with the overarching influence of official secrecy forbidding publication of biblical-grade facts, knowledge, assessment, analysis, human frailty of judgment, political pressure which cohere wildly disparate sources, their offerings, suspicions, guards against deception, time limitations, unexpected developments, into condensed PDBs, whispers to journalists, crafty disinformation campaigns, credibility gaps, dumb mistakes.
Little wonder that citizenry in all nations are repulsed by secret societies of all stripes, government spies among the top suspects along with their cohorts in other enterprises.
Secretkeepers forever argue the necessity of secrets, issue long-effective justifications and dire warnings. "If I told you I would have to kill you," among many other laughable cliches.
"PDB" is the most riduculous hyperbole.