Cord Byrd: “There you have it in a nutshell. The CIA became a government within a government which could evade oversight of its…”

“There you have it in a nutshell. The CIA became a government within a government which could evade oversight of its activities by drawing the cloak of secrecy around it. For years my immediate predecessor as majority leader was Senator Mike Mansfield. The late Mike Mansfield said: What I am concerned with is the CIA's position of responsibility to no one but the National Security Council. He continued: The CIA is free from practically every form of congressional check. That was his caution. He said: There is no regular methodical review of this agency. Now hear the voice of the late Mike Mansfield coming down through the years. Listen to him. Listen to the late Mike Mansfield: What I am concerned with is the CIA's position of responsibility to no one but the National Security Council. The CIA is free from practically every form of congressional check. The late Senator Mike Mansfield cautioned: The CIA is free from practically every form of congressional check. There is no regular methodical review of this agency.”