--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The intelligence community really is a…" description: "\"The intelligence community really is a vast bureaucratic entity, and it has been politicized in ways that are not effective for the gathering of intell..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png" --- # The intelligence community really is a vast bureaucratic… ![“The intelligence community really is a vast bureaucratic entity, and it has been politicized in ways that are not effective for the gathering of intelligence and giving it to senior policymakers.” quote by Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png) > “The intelligence community really is a vast bureaucratic entity, and it has been politicized in ways that are not effective for the gathering of intelligence and giving it to senior policymakers.” [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The intelligence community is overly bureaucratic and politicized, reducing its effectiveness in gathering and delivering intelligence to leaders. **In simple terms:** Bureaucracy and politics hinder intelligence work. Key Takeaway Seek depoliticized, efficient intelligence processes. Themes bureaucracy politics intelligence policy effectiveness Mood cautious critical analytical Type observational policy When to use this quote - policy advising - national security analysis - government reform - legislative oversight - public communication Key Concepts organizational dynamics information flow government accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can intelligence agencies remain neutral? - What reforms reduce politicization? A Different Perspective Political pressures can compromise objectivity and timeliness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-community/) ## Related quotes > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [OFSTED has made large cuts in the paperwork which schools are asked to provide and further steps to reduce the bureaucratic burden will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-morris/ofsted-has-made-large-cuts-in-the-paperwork-which-schools-are-asked/) [Estelle Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-morris/) > [The bureaucratic method of building an integrated Europe has exhausted its potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/the-bureaucratic-method-of-building-an-integrated-europe-has/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [The bureaucratic manager, the consuming aesthete, the therapist, the protester and their numerous kindred occupy almost all the available culturally recognizable roles, the notions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alasdair-macintyre/the-bureaucratic-manager-the-consuming-aesthete-the-therapist-the/) [Alasdair MacIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alasdair-macintyre/) > [In the bureaucratic machine of socialism the way toward promotion is not achievement but the favor of the superiors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-the-bureaucratic-machine-of-socialism-the-way-toward-promotion-is/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [We need to call what is happening out of Washington, D.C., what it is: Bureaucratic terrorism: If you want a list of stories, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/we-need-to-call-what-is-happening-out-of-washington-d-c-what-it-is/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) > [The prison industrial complex, to put it in its crassest term, is a system of industrial mass incarceration. So there's what you call bureaucratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/the-prison-industrial-complex-to-put-it-in-its-crassest-term-is-a/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [ \[The Clinton health care initiative is\] washed-over old-time bureaucratic liberalism, or centralized bureaucratic socialism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-clinton-health-care-initiative-is-washed-over-old-time/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [My work is made on lines similar to those of a film production. A lot of my work is kind of bureaucratic, endlessly phoning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-work-is-made-on-lines-similar-to-those-of-a-film-production-a-lot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is horrible to think that the world could one day be filled with nothing but those little cogs, little men clinging to little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/it-is-horrible-to-think-that-the-world-could-one-day-be-filled-with/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [In 1966, NASA took over in space, and it has been a bureaucratic mess ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-yeager/in-1966-nasa-took-over-in-space-and-it-has-been-a-bureaucratic-mess/) [Chuck Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-yeager/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [“First, since so much time is spent by people in bureaus working with paper, they may come to set too much store by it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-since-so-much-time-is-spent-by-people-in-bureaus-working-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Valerie Plame > [My father was an air officer in the Second World War. My brother was a marine in Vietnam. When I was given this opportunity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/my-father-was-an-air-officer-in-the-second-world-war-my-brother-was-a/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Hair and make-up always helps. I did always try to be well-groomed, professional at all times. Take your job seriously - but not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/hair-and-make-up-always-helps-i-did-always-try-to-be-well-groomed/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The Cold War has ended. It's very simple. We are no longer living in a bipolar world. The chances that we will go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-cold-war-has-ended-it-s-very-simple-we-are-no-longer-living-in-a/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [We in no way are naive to think that just because Russia and the United States agree to reduce their arsenals, that everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/we-in-no-way-are-naive-to-think-that-just-because-russia-and-the/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I can tell you, all the intelligence services in the world were running my name through their databases to see did anyone by this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-can-tell-you-all-the-intelligence-services-in-the-world-were/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [These are issues we've been grappling with since the Constitution was written: how you hold your government to account for its words and deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/these-are-issues-we-ve-been-grappling-with-since-the-constitution-was/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I think a nuclear detonation is society-altering in ways that other attacks, even as horrific as 9/11, are not. This isn't because we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-think-a-nuclear-detonation-is-society-altering-in-ways-that-other/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [One characteristic that I hope I never relinquish is an intense curiosity about the world around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/one-characteristic-that-i-hope-i-never-relinquish-is-an-intense/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Joe was being called a liar and a traitor; I'm being accused of nepotism, of being a glorified secretary. The stresses that that places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-was-being-called-a-liar-and-a-traitor-i-m-being-accused-of/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The entire intelligence community is so bloated and so reliant on contractors. There's no question there's many tasks that make sense to outsource, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-entire-intelligence-community-is-so-bloated-and-so-reliant-on/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [For me, I thought I had the best job in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/for-me-i-thought-i-had-the-best-job-in-the-world/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I have always been appalled by the depiction of female CIA operatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-have-always-been-appalled-by-the-depiction-of-female-cia-operatives/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I think human intelligence is the only one that will actually tell you intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-think-human-intelligence-is-the-only-one-that-will-actually-tell/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [There's no way you can possibly intellectually justify, 'Well, it's okay for the Western Judeo-Christian countries to have nuclear weapons, but not for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/there-s-no-way-you-can-possibly-intellectually-justify-well-it-s-okay/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Of course the job has a lot of glamour. But it really is about being smarter than your average bear. Your mind is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/of-course-the-job-has-a-lot-of-glamour-but-it-really-is-about-being/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) [Explore all 102 Valerie Plame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) ## More Bureaucratic quotes > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. 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A lot of my work is kind of bureaucratic, endlessly phoning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-work-is-made-on-lines-similar-to-those-of-a-film-production-a-lot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[The Clinton health care initiative is\] washed-over old-time bureaucratic liberalism, or centralized bureaucratic socialism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-clinton-health-care-initiative-is-washed-over-old-time/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The prison industrial complex, to put it in its crassest term, is a system of industrial mass incarceration. So there's what you call bureaucratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/the-prison-industrial-complex-to-put-it-in-its-crassest-term-is-a/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [We need to call what is happening out of Washington, D.C., what it is: Bureaucratic terrorism: If you want a list of stories, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/we-need-to-call-what-is-happening-out-of-washington-d-c-what-it-is/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) > [In the bureaucratic machine of socialism the way toward promotion is not achievement but the favor of the superiors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-the-bureaucratic-machine-of-socialism-the-way-toward-promotion-is/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The bureaucratic manager, the consuming aesthete, the therapist, the protester and their numerous kindred occupy almost all the available culturally recognizable roles, the notions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alasdair-macintyre/the-bureaucratic-manager-the-consuming-aesthete-the-therapist-the/) [Alasdair MacIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alasdair-macintyre/) > [The bureaucratic method of building an integrated Europe has exhausted its potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/the-bureaucratic-method-of-building-an-integrated-europe-has/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [OFSTED has made large cuts in the paperwork which schools are asked to provide and further steps to reduce the bureaucratic burden will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-morris/ofsted-has-made-large-cuts-in-the-paperwork-which-schools-are-asked/) [Estelle Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-morris/) > [“First, since so much time is spent by people in bureaus working with paper, they may come to set too much store by it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-since-so-much-time-is-spent-by-people-in-bureaus-working-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 96 Bureaucratic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The intelligence community really is a vast bureaucratic entity, and it has been politicized in ways that are not effective for the gathering of intelligence and giving it to senior policymakers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Valerie Plame" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-vast-bureaucratic-entity-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bureaucratic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-vast-bureaucratic-entity-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/valerie-plame-5250_bureaucratic_the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-v_1242809.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The intelligence community really is a vast bureaucratic entity, and it has been politicized in ways that…” — Valerie Plame", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Valerie Plame", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The intelligence community really is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-vast-bureaucratic-entity-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-intelligence-community-really-is-a-vast-bureaucratic-entity-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```