Rise of a Rogue at the CIA
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Kyle "Dusty" Foggo's success in advancing his CIA career despite numerous acts of misconduct, moral lapses and repeated flouting of regulations is an indictment of agency leadership ["Former Top CIA Official Sentenced to 37 Months," news story, Feb. 27].
This affair demonstrates what officers in the closed society of the CIA have known for years: that senior management uses a double standard that allows members of the agency's "good ol' boy" network to do whatever they wish.
Mr. Foggo's offenses included breaches of agency regulations that, for others, have raised questions of loyalty and sometimes resulted in dismissal. Yet, Mr. Foggo simply got a wink and a nod from superiors who continued to protect him. This sort of cronyism continues to harm agency morale.
As Mr. Foggo's defenders have done, these senior officials also would undoubtedly like to portray themselves as great "patriots." But Samuel Johnson said it best when he noted that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
RICHARD K. PYLE SR.
Rockville
The writer served as an intelligence officer in the CIA from 1977 to 2003.
