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Essay:AnatomyoftheDeepStateFebruary21,2014byMikeLofgren

Romeliveduponitsprincipaltillruinstareditintheface.Industryistheonlytruesourceofwealth,andtherewasnoindustryinRome.BydaytheOstiaroadwascrowdedwithcartsandmuleteers,carryingtothegreatcitythesilksandspicesoftheEast,themarbleofAsiaMinor,thetimberoftheAtlas,thegrainofAfricaandEgyptandthecartsbroughtoutnothingbutloadsofdung.Thatwastheirreturncargo.

TheMartyrdomofManbyWinwoodReade(1871)

ThereisthevisiblegovernmentsituatedaroundtheMallinWashington,andthen

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Yes,thereisanothergovernmentconcealedbehindtheonethatisvisibleateitherendofPennsylvaniaAvenue,ahybridentityofpublicandprivateinstitutionsrulingthecountry

thereisanother,moreshadowy,moreindefinablegovernmentthatisnotexplainedinCivics101orobservabletotouristsattheWhiteHouseortheCapitol.TheformeristraditionalWashingtonpartisanpolitics:thetipoftheicebergthatapublicwatchingCSPANseesdailyandwhichistheoreticallycontrollableviaelections.ThesubsurfacepartoftheicebergIshallcalltheDeepState,whichoperatesaccordingtoitsowncompassheadingregardlessofwhoisformallyinpower.[1]

Duringthelastfiveyears,thenewsmediahasbeenfloodedwithpunditsdecryingthebrokenpoliticsofWashington.Theconventionalwisdomhasitthatpartisangridlockanddysfunctionhavebecomethenewnormal.Thatiscertainlythecase,andIhavebeenamongtheharshestcriticsofthisdevelopment.ButitisalsoimperativetoacknowledgethelimitsofthiscritiqueasitappliestotheAmericangovernmentalsystem.Ononelevel,thecritiqueisselfevident:Inthedomainthatthepubliccansee,Congressishopelesslydeadlockedintheworstmannersincethe1850s,theviolentlyrancorousdecadeprecedingtheCivilWar.

AsIwroteinThePartyisOver,thepresentobjectiveofcongressionalRepublicansistorendertheexecutivebranchpowerless,atleastuntilaRepublicanpresidentiselected(agoalthatvotersuppressionlawsinGOPcontrolledstatesareclearlyintendedtoaccomplish).PresidentObamacannotenacthisdomesticpoliciesandbudgets:BecauseofincessantGOPfilibustering,notonlycouldhenotfillthelargenumberofvacanciesinthefederaljudiciary,hecouldnotevengethismostinnocuouspresidentialappointeesintooffice.DemocratscontrollingtheSenatehaverespondedbyweakeningthefilibusterofnominations,butRepublicansaresuretoreactwithotherparliamentarydelayingtactics.ThisstrategyamountstocongressionalnullificationofexecutivebranchpowersbyapartythatcontrolsamajorityinonlyonehouseofCongress.

Despitethisapparentimpotence,PresidentObamacanliquidateAmericancitizenswithoutdueprocesses,detainprisonersindefinitelywithoutcharge,conductdragnetsurveillanceontheAmericanpeoplewithoutjudicialwarrantandengagein

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unprecedentedatleastsincetheMcCarthyerawitchhuntsagainstfederalemployees(thesocalledInsiderThreatProgram).WithintheUnitedStates,thispowerischaracterizedbymassivedisplaysofintimidatingforcebymilitarizedfederal,stateandlocallawenforcement.Abroad,PresidentObamacanstartwarsatwillandengageinvirtuallyanyotheractivitywhatsoeverwithoutsomuchasabyyourleavefromCongress,suchasarrangingtheforcedlandingofaplanecarryingasovereignheadofstateoverforeignterritory.DespitethehabitualcantofcongressionalRepublicansaboutexecutiveoverreachbyObama,thewouldbedictator,wehaveuntilrecentlyheardverylittlefromthemabouttheseactionswiththeminorexceptionofcommentsfromgadflySenatorRandPaulofKentucky.Democrats,saveafewmaverickssuchasRonWydenofOregon,arenotundulytroubled,eithereventotheextentofpermittingseeminglyperjuredcongressionaltestimonyunderoathbyexecutivebranchofficialsonthesubjectofillegalsurveillance.

Thesearenotisolatedinstancesofacontradictiontheyhavebeensopervasivethattheytendtobedisregardedasbackgroundnoise.Duringthetimein2011whenpoliticalwarfareoverthedebtceilingwasbeginningtoparalyzethebusinessofgovernanceinWashington,theUnitedStatesgovernmentsomehowsummonedtheresourcestooverthrowMuammarGhaddafisregimeinLibya,and,whentheinstabilitycreatedbythatcoupspilledoverintoMali,provideovertandcovertassistancetoFrenchinterventionthere.Atatimewhentherewasheateddebateaboutcontinuingmeatinspectionsandcivilianairtrafficcontrolbecauseofthebudgetcrisis,ourgovernmentwassomehowabletocommit$115milliontokeepingacivilwargoinginSyriaandtopayatleast100mtotheUnitedKingdomsGovernmentCommunicationsHeadquarterstobuyinfluenceoverandaccesstothatcountrysintelligence.Since2007,twobridgescarryinginterstatehighwayshavecollapsedduetoinadequatemaintenanceofinfrastructure,onekilling13people.Duringthatsameperiodoftime,thegovernmentspent$1.7billionconstructingabuildinginUtahthatisthesizeof17footballfields.ThismammothstructureisintendedtoallowtheNationalSecurityAgencytostoreayottabyteofinformation,thelargestnumericaldesignatorcomputerscientistshavecoined.Ayottabyteisequalto500quintillionpagesoftext.Theyneedthatmuchstoragetoarchiveeverysingletraceofyourelectroniclife.

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Yes,thereisanothergovernmentconcealedbehindtheonethatisvisibleateitherendofPennsylvaniaAvenue,ahybridentityofpublicandprivateinstitutionsrulingthecountryaccordingtoconsistentpatternsinseasonandout,connectedto,butonlyintermittentlycontrolledby,thevisiblestatewhoseleaderswechoose.Myanalysisofthisphenomenonisnotanexposofasecret,conspiratorialcabalthestatewithinastateishidingmostlyinplainsight,anditsoperatorsmainlyactinthelightofday.Norcanthisothergovernmentbeaccuratelytermedanestablishment.Allcomplexsocietieshaveanestablishment,asocialnetworkcommittedtoitsownenrichmentandperpetuation.Intermsofitsscope,financialresourcesandsheerglobalreach,theAmericanhybridstate,theDeepState,isinaclassbyitself.Thatsaid,itisneitheromniscientnorinvincible.Theinstitutionisnotsomuchsinister(althoughithashighlysinisteraspects)asitisrelentlesslywellentrenched.Farfrombeinginvincible,itsfailures,suchasthoseinIraq,AfghanistanandLibya,areroutineenoughthatitisonlytheDeepStatesprotectivenesstowardsitshigherrankingpersonnelthatallowsthemtoescapetheconsequencesoftheirfrequentineptitude.[2]

HowdidIcometowriteananalysisoftheDeepState,andwhyamIequippedtowriteit?Asacongressionalstaffmemberfor28yearsspecializinginnationalsecurityandpossessingatopsecretsecurityclearance,IwasatleastonthefringesoftheworldIamdescribing,ifneithertotallyinitbyvirtueoffullmembershipnorofitbypsychologicaldisposition.But,likevirtuallyeveryemployedperson,Ibecame,tosomeextent,assimilatedintothecultureoftheinstitutionIworkedfor,andonlybyslowdegrees,startingbeforetheinvasionofIraq,didIbeginfundamentallytoquestionthereasonsofstatethatmotivatethepeoplewhoare,toquoteGeorgeW.Bush,thedeciders.

CulturalassimilationispartlyamatterofwhatpsychologistIrvingL.Janiscalledgroupthink,thechameleonlikeabilityofpeopletoadopttheviewsoftheirsuperiorsandpeers.ThissyndromeisendemictoWashington:Thetownischaracterizedbysuddenfads,beitnegotiatingbiennialbudgeting,makinggrandbargainsorinvadingcountries.Then,afterawhile,allthetownscoolkidsdropthoseideasasiftheywereradioactive.Asinthemilitary,everybodyhastogetonboardwiththemission,andquestioningitisnotacareerenhancingmove.Theuniverse

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ofpeoplewhowillcriticallyexaminethegoingsonattheinstitutionstheyworkforisalwaysgoingtobeasmallone.AsUptonSinclairsaid,Itisdifficulttogetamantounderstandsomethingwhenhissalarydependsuponhisnotunderstandingit.

Amoreelusiveaspectofculturalassimilationisthesheerdeadweightoftheordinarinessofitallonceyouhaveplantedyourselfinyourofficechairforthe10,000thtime.GovernmentlifeistypicallynotsomevignettefromanAllenDrurynovelaboutintrigueundertheCapitoldome.Sittingandstaringattheclockontheoffwhiteofficewallwhenits11:00intheeveningandyouarevowingnever,evertoeatanotherpieceoftakeoutpizzainyourlifeisnotanexperiencethatsummonsthehigherliteraryinstinctsofawouldbememoirist.Afterawhile,afunctionaryofthestatebeginstohearthingsthat,inanothercontext,wouldbequiteremarkable,oratleastnoteworthy,andyetthatsimplybounceoffonesconsciousnesslikepebblesoffsteelplate:Youmeanthenumberofterroristgroupswearefightingisclassified?Nowondersofewpeoplearewhistleblowers,quiteapartfromtheviciousretaliationwhistleblowingoftenprovokes:Unlessoneisblessedwithimaginationandafinesenseofirony,growingimmunetothecuriousnessofonessurroundingsiseasy.ToparaphrasetheinimitableDonaldRumsfeld,IdidntknowallthatIknew,atleastuntilIhadhadacoupleofyearsawayfromthegovernmenttoreflectuponit.

TheDeepStatedoesnotconsistoftheentiregovernment.Itisahybridofnationalsecurityandlawenforcementagencies:theDepartmentofDefense,theDepartmentofState,theDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,theCentralIntelligenceAgencyandtheJusticeDepartment.IalsoincludetheDepartmentoftheTreasurybecauseofitsjurisdictionoverfinancialflows,itsenforcementofinternationalsanctionsanditsorganicsymbiosiswithWallStreet.AlltheseagenciesarecoordinatedbytheExecutiveOfficeofthePresidentviatheNationalSecurityCouncil.CertainkeyareasofthejudiciarybelongtotheDeepState,suchastheForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceCourt,whoseactionsaremysteriouseventomostmembersofCongress.Alsoincludedareahandfulofvitalfederaltrialcourts,suchastheEasternDistrictofVirginiaandtheSouthernDistrictofManhattan,wheresensitiveproceedingsinnationalsecuritycasesareconducted.Thefinalgovernmentcomponent(andpossiblylastinprecedenceamongtheformalbranchesofgovernmentestablishedbytheConstitution)isakindof

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rumpCongressconsistingofthecongressionalleadershipandsome(butnotall)ofthemembersofthedefenseandintelligencecommittees.TherestofCongress,normallysofractiousandpartisan,ismostlyonlyintermittentlyawareoftheDeepStateandwhenrequiredusuallysubmitstoafewwellchosenwordsfromtheStatesemissaries.

Isawthissubmissivenessonmanyoccasions.OnememorableincidentwaspassageoftheForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceAmendmentsActof2008.ThislegislationretroactivelylegalizedtheBushadministrationsillegalandunconstitutionalsurveillancefirstrevealedbyTheNewYorkTimesin2005andindemnifiedthetelecommunicationscompaniesfortheircooperationintheseacts.Thebillpassedeasily:AllthatwasrequiredwastheinvocationofthewordterrorismandmostmembersofCongressrespondedlikeironfilingsobeyingamagnet.OnewhorespondedinthatfashionwasSenatorBarackObama,soontobecoronatedasthepresidentialnomineeattheDemocraticNationalConventioninDenver.Hehadalreadywonthemostdelegatesbycampaigningtotheleftofhismainopponent,HillaryClinton,ontheexcessesoftheglobalwaronterrorandtheerosionofconstitutionalliberties.

Astheindemnificationvoteshowed,theDeepStatedoesnotconsistonlyofgovernmentagencies.Whatiseuphemisticallycalledprivateenterpriseisanintegralpartofitsoperations.InaspecialseriesinTheWashingtonPostcalledTopSecretAmerica,DanaPriestandWilliamK.ArkindescribedthescopeoftheprivatizedDeepStateandthedegreetowhichithasmetastasizedaftertheSeptember11attacks.Therearenow854,000contractpersonnelwithtopsecretclearancesanumbergreaterthanthatoftopsecretclearedcivilianemployeesofthegovernment.Whiletheyworkthroughoutthecountryandtheworld,theirheavyconcentrationinandaroundtheWashingtonsuburbsisunmistakable:Since9/11,33facilitiesfortopsecretintelligencehavebeenbuiltorareunderconstruction.Combined,theyoccupythefloorspaceofalmostthreePentagonsabout17millionsquarefeet.Seventypercentoftheintelligencecommunitysbudgetgoestopayingcontracts.Andthemembranebetweengovernmentandindustryishighlypermeable:TheDirectorofNationalIntelligence,JamesR.Clapper,isaformerexecutiveofBoozAllenHamilton,oneofthegovernmentslargestintelligencecontractors.Hispredecessorasdirector,AdmiralMikeMcConnell,isthecurrentvicechairmanofthesamecompanyBoozAllenis99

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percentdependentongovernmentbusiness.ThesecontractorsnowsetthepoliticalandsocialtoneofWashington,justastheyareincreasinglysettingthedirectionofthecountry,buttheyaredoingitquietly,theirdoingsunrecordedintheCongressionalRecordortheFederalRegister,andarerarelysubjecttocongressionalhearings.

WashingtonisthemostimportantnodeoftheDeepStatethathastakenoverAmerica,butitisnottheonlyone.Invisiblethreadsofmoneyandambitionconnectthetowntoothernodes.OneisWallStreet,whichsuppliesthecashthatkeepsthepoliticalmachinequiescentandoperatingasadiversionarymarionettetheater.Shouldthepoliticiansforgettheirlinesandthreatenthestatusquo,WallStreetfloodsthetownwithcashandlawyerstohelpthehiredhandsremembertheirownbestinterests.Theexecutivesofthefinancialgiantsevenhavedefactocriminalimmunity.OnMarch6,2013,testifyingbeforetheSenateJudiciaryCommittee,AttorneyGeneralEricHolderstatedthefollowing:Iamconcernedthatthesizeofsomeoftheseinstitutionsbecomessolargethatitdoesbecomedifficultforustoprosecutethemwhenwearehitwithindicationsthatifyoudoprosecute,ifyoudobringacriminalcharge,itwillhaveanegativeimpactonthenationaleconomy,perhapseventheworldeconomy.This,fromthechieflawenforcementofficerofajusticesystemthathaspracticallyabolishedtheconstitutionalrighttotrialforpoorerdefendantschargedwithcertaincrimes.ItisnottoomuchtosaythatWallStreetmaybetheultimateowneroftheDeepStateanditsstrategies,iffornootherreasonthanthatithasthemoneytorewardgovernmentoperativeswithasecondcareerthatislucrativebeyondthedreamsofavaricecertainlybeyondthedreamsofasalariedgovernmentemployee.[3]

ThecorridorbetweenManhattanandWashingtonisawelltroddenhighwayforthepersonalitieswehaveallgottentoknowintheperiodsincethemassivederegulationofWallStreet:RobertRubin,LawrenceSummers,HenryPaulson,TimothyGeithnerandmanyothers.Notallthetrafficinvolvespersonsconnectedwiththepurelyfinancialoperationsofthegovernment:In2013,GeneralDavidPetraeusjoinedKKR(formerlyKohlbergKravisRoberts)of9West57thStreet,NewYork,aprivateequityfirmwith$62.3billioninassets.KKRspecializesinmanagementbuyoutsandleveragedfinance.

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GeneralPetraeusexpertiseintheseareasisunclear.Hisabilitytopeddleinfluence,however,isaknownandvaluedcommodity.UnlikeCincinnatus,themilitarycommandersoftheDeepStatedonottakeuptheplowoncetheylaydownthesword.PetraeusalsoobtainedasinecureasanonresidentseniorfellowattheBelferCenterforScienceandInternationalAffairsatHarvard.TheIvyLeagueis,ofcourse,thepreferredbleachingtubandcharmschooloftheAmericanoligarchy.[4]

PetraeusandmostoftheavatarsoftheDeepStatetheWhiteHouseadviserswhourgedObamanottoimposecompensationlimitsonWallStreetCEOs,thecontractorconnectedthinktankexpertswhobesoughtustostaythecourseinIraq,theeconomicguruswhoperpetuallydemonstratethatglobalizationandderegulationareablessingthatmakesusallbetteroffinthelongrunarecarefultopretendthattheyhavenoideology.Theirpreferredposeisthatofthepoliticallyneutraltechnocratofferingwellconsideredadvicebasedonprofoundexpertise.Thatisnonsense.Theyaredeeplydyedinthehueoftheofficialideologyofthegoverningclass,anideologythatisneitherspecificallyDemocratnorRepublican.Domestically,whatevertheymightprivatelybelieveaboutessentiallydiversionarysocialissuessuchasabortionorgaymarriage,theyalmostinvariablybelieveintheWashingtonConsensus:financialization,outsourcing,privatization,deregulationandthecommodifyingoflabor.Internationally,theyespouse21stcenturyAmericanExceptionalism:therightanddutyoftheUnitedStatestomeddleineveryregionoftheworldwithcoercivediplomacyandbootsonthegroundandtoignorepainfullywoninternationalnormsofcivilizedbehavior.ToparaphrasewhatSirJohnHarringtonsaidmorethan400yearsagoabouttreason,nowthattheideologyoftheDeepStatehasprospered,nonedarecallitideology.[5]ThatiswhydescribingtorturewiththewordtortureonbroadcasttelevisionistreatedlessaspoliticalheresythanasaninexcusablelapseofWashingtonetiquette:Likesmokingacigaretteoncamera,thesedaysitissimplynotdone.

AfterEdwardSnowdensrevelationsabouttheextentanddepthofsurveillancebytheNationalSecurityAgency,ithasbecomepubliclyevidentthatSiliconValleyisavitalnodeoftheDeepStateaswell.Unlikemilitaryandintelligencecontractors,SiliconValleyoverwhelminglysellstotheprivatemarket,butitsbusinessissoimportanttothegovernmentthatastrange

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relationshiphasemerged.WhilethegovernmentcouldsimplydragoonthehightechnologycompaniestodotheNSAsbidding,itwouldprefercooperationwithsoimportantanengineofthenationseconomy,perhapswithanimpliedquid

proquo.PerhapsthisexplainstheextraordinaryindulgencethegovernmentshowstheValleyinintellectualpropertymatters.IfanAmericanjailbreakshissmartphone(i.e.,modifiesitsothatitcanuseaserviceproviderotherthantheonedictatedbythemanufacturer),hecouldreceiveafineofupto$500,000andseveralyearsinprisonsomuchforacitizensvauntedpropertyrightstowhathepurchases.ThelibertarianposeoftheSiliconValleymoguls,socarefullycultivatedintheirpublicrelations,hasalwaysbeenasham.SiliconValleyhaslongbeentrackingforcommercialpurposestheactivitiesofeverypersonwhousesanelectronicdevice,soitishardlysurprisingthattheDeepStateshouldemulatetheValleyanddothesameforitsownpurposes.NorisitsurprisingthatitshouldconscripttheValleysassistance.

Still,despitetheessentialrolesoflowerManhattanandSiliconValley,thecenterofgravityoftheDeepStateisfirmlysituatedinandaroundtheBeltway.TheDeepStatesphysicalexpansionandconsolidationaroundtheBeltwaywouldseemtomakeamockeryofthefrequentpronouncementthatgovernanceinWashingtonisdysfunctionalandbroken.ThatthesecretandunaccountableDeepStatefloatsfreelyabovethegridlockbetweenbothendsofPennsylvaniaAvenueistheparadoxofAmericangovernmentinthe21stcentury:dronestrikes,datamining,secretprisonsandPanopticonlikecontrolontheonehandandontheother,theordinary,visibleparliamentaryinstitutionsofselfgovernmentdecliningtothestatusofabananarepublicamidthegradualcollapseofpublicinfrastructure.

Theresultsofthiscontradictionarenotabstract,asatouroftherotting,decaying,bankruptcitiesoftheAmericanMidwestwillattest.ItisnotevenconfinedtothosepartsofthecountryleftbehindbyaWashingtonConsensusthatdecreedthefinancializationanddeindustrializationoftheeconomyintheinterestsofefficiencyandshareholdervalue.ThisparadoxisevidentevenwithintheBeltwayitself,therichestmetropolitanareainthenation.AlthoughdemographersandurbanresearchersinvariablycountWashingtonasaworldcity,thatisnotalwaysevidenttothosewholivethere.Virtuallyeverytimethereisaseveresummerthunderstorm,tensoreven

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hundredsofthousandsofresidentslosepower,oftenformanydays.Thereareoccasionalwaterrestrictionsoverwideareasbecausewatermains,poorlyconstructedandinadequatelymaintained,haveburst.[6]TheWashingtonmetropolitanareaconsidersitaHerculeantaskjusttobuildaraillinktoitsinternationalairportwithluckitmaybecompletedby2018.

ItisasifHadriansWallwasstillfullymannedandthefortificationsalongtheborderwithGermaniawereneverstronger,evenasthecityofRomedisintegratesfromwithinandthelifesustainingaqueductsleadingdownfromthehillsbegintocrumble.ThegoverningclassesoftheDeepStatemaycontinuetodeceivethemselveswiththeirdreamsofZeuslikeomnipotence,butothersdonot.A2013PewPollthatinterviewed38,000peoplearoundtheworldfoundthatin23of39countriessurveyed,apluralityofrespondentssaidtheybelievedChinaalreadyhadorwouldinthefuturereplacetheUnitedStatesastheworldstopeconomicpower.

TheDeepStateisthebigstoryofourtime.Itistheredthreadthatrunsthroughthewaronterrorism,thefinancializationanddeindustrializationoftheAmericaneconomy,theriseofaplutocraticsocialstructureandpoliticaldysfunction.WashingtonistheheadquartersoftheDeepState,anditstimeinthesunasarivaltoRome,ConstantinopleorLondonmaybetermlimitedbyitsoverweeningsenseofselfimportanceanditshabit,asWinwoodReadesaidofRome,toliveuponitsprincipaltillruinstareditintheface.Livinguponitsprincipal,inthiscase,meansthattheDeepStatehasbeenextractingvaluefromtheAmericanpeopleinvampirelikefashion.

Wearefacedwithtwodisagreeableimplications.First,thattheDeepStateissoheavilyentrenched,sowellprotectedbysurveillance,firepower,moneyanditsabilitytocooptresistancethatitisalmostimpervioustochange.Second,thatjustasinsomanypreviousempires,theDeepStateispopulatedwiththosewhoseinstinctivereactiontothefailureoftheirpoliciesistodoubledownonthoseverypoliciesinthefuture.IraqwasafailurebrieflycamouflagedbythewhollypropagandisticsuccessofthesocalledsurgethislegerdemainallowedforthesurgeinAfghanistan,whichequallycametonaught.Undeterredbythatfailure,thefunctionariesoftheDeepStateplungedintoLibyathesmokingrubbleoftheBenghaziconsulate,ratherthandiscouragingfurther

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misadventure,seemedmerelytoincitetheitchtobombSyria.WilltheDeepStaterideonthebackoftheAmericanpeoplefromfailuretofailureuntilthecountryitself,despiteitshugereservesofhumanandmaterialcapital,isslowlyexhausted?Thedustyroadofempireisstrewnwiththebonesofformergreatpowersthatexhaustedthemselvesinlikemanner.

But,therearesignsofresistancetotheDeepStateanditsdemands.IntheaftermathoftheSnowdenrevelations,theHousenarrowlyfailedtopassanamendmentthatwouldhavedefundedtheNSAswarrantlesscollectionofdatafromUSpersons.Shortlythereafter,thepresident,advocatingyetanothermilitaryinterventionintheMiddleEast,thistimeinSyria,metwithsuchoverwhelmingcongressionalskepticismthathechangedthesubjectbygraspingatadiplomaticlifelinethrowntohimbyVladimirPutin.[7]

Hasthevisible,constitutionalstate,theoneenvisagedbyMadisonandtheotherFounders,finallybeguntoreassertitselfagainsttheclaimsandusurpationsoftheDeepState?Tosomeextent,perhaps.TheunfoldingrevelationsofthescopeoftheNSAswarrantlesssurveillancehavebecomesoegregiousthateveninstitutionalapologistssuchasSenatorDianneFeinsteinhavebeguntobackpedalifonlyrhetoricallyfromtheirkneejerkdefenseoftheagency.Asmorepeoplebegintowakenfromthefearfulandsuggestiblestatethat9/11createdintheirminds,itispossiblethattheDeepStatesdecadeoldtacticofcryingterrorism!everytimeitfacesresistanceisnolongerelicitingthesamePavlovianresponseofmeekobedience.AndtheAmericanpeople,possiblyeventheirlegislators,aregrowingtiredofendlessquagmiresintheMiddleEast.

ButthereisanothermorestructuralreasontheDeepStatemayhavepeakedintheextentofitsdominance.Whileitseemstofloatabovetheconstitutionalstate,itsessentiallyparasitic,extractivenaturemeansthatitisstilltetheredtotheformalproceedingsofgovernance.TheDeepStatethriveswhenthereistolerablefunctionalityinthedaytodayoperationsofthefederalgovernment.Aslongasappropriationsbillsgetpassedontime,promotionlistsgetconfirmed,black(i.e.,secret)budgetsget

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rubberstamped,specialtaxsubsidiesforcertaincorporationsareapprovedwithoutcontroversy,aslongastoomanyawkwardquestionsarenotasked,thegearsofthehybridstatewillmeshnoiselessly.ButwhenonehouseofCongressistakenoverbyteapartyWahhabites,lifefortherulingclassbecomesmoretrying.

IfthereisanythingtheDeepStaterequiresitissilent,uninterruptedcashflowandtheconfidencethatthingswillgoonastheyhaveinthepast.Itisevenwillingtotolerateadegreeofgridlock:Partisanmudwrestlingoverculturalissuesmaybeausefuldistractionfromitsagenda.Butrecentcongressionalanticsinvolvingsequestration,thegovernmentshutdownandthethreatofdefaultoverthedebtceilingextensionhavebeendisruptingthatequilibrium.Andanextremegridlockdynamichasdevelopedbetweenthetwopartiessuchthatcontinuingsomelevelofsequestrationispoliticallytheleastbadoptionforbothparties,albeitfordifferentreasons.AsmuchasmanyRepublicansmightwanttogivebudgetrelieftotheorgansofnationalsecurity,theycannotfullyreversesequestrationwithouttheDemocratsdemandingrevenueincreases.AndDemocratswantingtospendmoreondomesticdiscretionaryprogramscannotvoidsequestrationoneitherdomesticordefenseprogramswithoutRepublicansinsistingonentitlementcuts.

So,fortheforeseeablefuture,theDeepStatemustrestrainitsappetitefortaxpayerdollars.Limiteddealsmaysoftensequestration,butagencyrequestswillnotlikelybefullyfundedanytimesoon.EvenWallStreetsrentieroperationshavebeenaffected:Afterhelpingfinancetheteapartytoadvanceitsownplutocraticambitions,AmericasBigMoneyisnowregrettingtheFrankensteinsmonsterithascreated.Likechildrenplayingwithdynamite,theteapartyanditscompulsiontodrivethenationintocreditdefaulthasalarmedthegrownupscommandingtheheightsofcapitalthelatterarenowtellingthepoliticianstheythoughttheyhadhiredtoknockitoff.

TheHousevotetodefundtheNSAsillegalsurveillanceprogramswasequallyillustrativeofthedisruptivenatureoftheteapartyinsurgency.CivillibertiesDemocratsalonewouldneverhavecomesoclosetovictoryteapartystalwartJustinAmash(RMI),whohasalsoupsetthebusinesscommunityforhisdebtlimitfundamentalism,wastheleadRepublicansponsoroftheNSAamendment,andmostoftheRepublicanswhovotedwithhimwerealignedwiththeteaparty.

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ThefinalfactorisSiliconValley.Owingtosecrecyandobfuscation,itishardtoknowhowmuchoftheNSAsrelationshipwiththeValleyisbasedonvoluntarycooperation,howmuchislegalcompulsionthroughFISAwarrantsandhowmuchisamatteroftheNSAsurreptitiouslybreakingintotechnologycompaniessystems.GiventheValleyspublicrelationsrequirementtomollifyitscustomerswhohaveprivacyconcerns,itisdifficulttotakethetechfirmslibertarian

protestationsaboutgovernmentcompromiseoftheirsystemsatfacevalue,especiallysincetheyengageinsimilaractivityagainsttheirowncustomersforcommercialpurposes.Thatsaid,evidenceisaccumulatingthatSiliconValleyislosingbillionsinoverseasbusinessfromcompanies,individualsandgovernmentsthatwanttomaintainprivacy.Forhightechentrepreneurs,thecashnexusisultimatelymorecompellingthantheDeepStatesdemandforpatrioticcooperation.Evenlegalcompulsioncanbecombatted:Unliketheindividualcitizen,techfirmshavedeeppocketsandbatteriesoflawyerswithwhichtofightgovernmentdiktat.

ThispushbackhasgonesofarthatonJanuary17,PresidentObamaannouncedrevisionstotheNSAsdatacollectionprograms,includingwithdrawingtheagencyscustodyofadomestictelephonerecorddatabase,expandingrequirementsforjudicialwarrantsandceasingtospyon(undefined)friendlyforeignleaders.Criticshavedenouncedthechangesasacosmeticpublicrelationsmove,buttheyarestillsignificantinthattheclamorhasgottensoloudthatthepresidentfeelsthepoliticalneedtoaddressit.

Whenthecontradictionswithinarulingideologyarepushedtoofar,factionalismappearsandthatideologybeginsslowlytocrumble.CorporateoligarchssuchastheKochbrothersarenolongerentirelyhappywiththefauxpopulistpoliticalfrontgrouptheyhelpedfundandgroom.SiliconValley,foralltheAynRandliketendenciesofitsmajorplayers,itsoffshoringstrategiesanditsfurtherexacerbationofincomeinequality,isnowlobbyingCongresstorestraintheNSA,acorecomponentoftheDeepState.Sometechfirmsaremovingtoencrypttheirdata.Hightechcorporationsandgovernmentsalikeseekdominanceoverpeoplethoughcollectionofpersonaldata,butthecorporationsarejumpingshipnowthatadversepublicreactiontotheNSA

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Reactions:JuanColeontheVulnerabilityoftheNetwork

scandalsthreatenstheirprofits.

Theoutcomeofallthesedevelopmentsisuncertain.TheDeepState,basedonthetwinpillarsofnationalsecurityimperativeandcorporatehegemony,hasuntilrecentlyseemedunshakableandthelatesteventsmayonlybeatemporaryperturbationinitstrajectory.Buthistoryhasawayoftopplingthealtarsofthemighty.Whilethetwogreatmaterialistanddeterministideologiesofthetwentiethcentury,MarxismandtheWashingtonConsensus,successivelydecreedthatthedictatorshipoftheproletariatandthedictatorshipofthemarketwereinevitable,thefutureisactuallyindeterminate.Itmaybethatdeepeconomicandsocialcurrentscreatetheframeworkofhistory,butthosecurrentscanbechanneled,eddied,orevenreversedbycircumstance,chanceandhumanagency.WehaveonlytoreflectupondefunctglacialdespotismssuchastheUSSRorEastGermanytorealizethatnothingisforever.

Throughouthistory,statesystemswithoutsizedpretensionstopowerhavereactedtotheirenvironmentsintwoways.Thefirststrategy,reflectingtheossificationofitsrulingelites,consistsofrepeatingthatnothingiswrong,thatthestatusquoreflectsthenationsuniquegoodfortuneinbeingfavoredbyGodandthatthosecallingforchangearemerelysubversivetroublemakers.AstheFrenchancienrgime,theRomanovdynastyandtheHabsburgemperorsdiscovered,thestrategyworkssplendidlyforawhile,particularlyifonehasatalentfordismissingunpleasantfacts.Thefinalresults,however,arelikelytobethoroughlydisappointing.

Thesecondstrategyisoneembracedtovaryingdegreesandwithdifferinggoals,byfiguresofsuchcontrastingpersonalitiesasMustafaKemalAtatrk,FranklinD.Roosevelt,CharlesdeGaulleandDengXiaoping.Theywerecertainlynotrevolutionariesbytemperamentifanything,theirnatureswereconservative.Buttheyunderstoodthatthepoliticalculturesinwhichtheylivedwerefossilizedandincapableofadaptingtothetimes.Intheirdrivetoreformandmodernizethepoliticalsystemstheyinherited,theirfirstobstaclestoovercomeweretheoutwornmythsthatencrustedthethinkingoftheelitesoftheirtime.

AstheUnitedStatesconfrontsitsfutureafterexperiencingtwofailedwars,a

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MikeLofgrenontheDeepStateHidinginPlainSight

precariouseconomyand$17trillioninaccumulateddebt,thenationalpunditryhassplitintotwocamps.Thefirst,thedeclinists,seesabroken,dysfunctionalpoliticalsystemincapableofreformandaneconomysoontobeovertakenbyChina.Thesecond,thereformers,offersaprofusionofnostrumstoturnthenationaround:publicfinancingofelectionstoseverthearteryofmoneybetweenthecorporatecomponentsoftheDeepStateandfinanciallydependentelectedofficials,governmentinsourcingtoreversethetideofoutsourcingofgovernmentfunctionsandtheconflictsofinterestthatitcreates,ataxpolicythatvalueshumanlaboroverfinancialmanipulationandatradepolicythatfavorsexportingmanufacturedgoodsoverexportinginvestmentcapital.

Allofthatisnecessary,butnotsufficient.TheSnowdenrevelations(theimpactofwhichhavebeensurprisinglystrong),thederaileddriveformilitaryinterventioninSyriaandafractiousCongress,whosedysfunctionhasbeguntobeaseriousinconveniencetotheDeepState,showthatthereisnowadeepbutasyetinchoatehungerforchange.WhatAmericalacksisafigurewiththesereneselfconfidencetotellusthatthetwinidolsofnationalsecurityandcorporatepowerareoutworndogmasthathavenothingmoretoofferus.Thusdisenthralled,thepeoplethemselveswillunraveltheDeepStatewithsurprisingspeed.

[1]ThetermDeepStatewascoinedinTurkeyandissaidtobeasystemcomposedofhighlevelelementswithintheintelligenceservices,military,security,judiciaryandorganizedcrime.InBritishauthorJohnleCarrslatestnovel,ADelicateTruth,acharacterdescribestheDeepStateastheeverexpandingcircleofnongovernmentalinsidersfrombanking,industryandcommercewhowereclearedforhighlyclassifiedinformationdeniedtolargeswathesofWhitehallandWestminster.IusethetermtomeanahybridassociationofelementsofgovernmentandpartsoftoplevelfinanceandindustrythatiseffectivelyabletogoverntheUnitedStateswithoutreferencetotheconsentofthegovernedasexpressedthroughtheformalpolitical

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process.

[2]Twentyfiveyearsago,thesociologistRobertNisbetdescribedthisphenomenonastheattributeofNoFault.Presidents,secretariesandgeneralsandadmiralsinAmericaseeminglysubscribetothedoctrinethatnofaulteverattachestopolicyandoperations.ThisNoFaultconvictionpreventsthemfromtakingtooseriouslysuchnotoriousfoulupsasDesertOne,Grenada,LebanonandnowthePersianGulf.Tohislistwemightadd9/11,Iraq,AfghanistanandLibya.

[3]TheattitudeofmanymembersofCongresstowardsWallStreetwasmemorablyexpressedbyRep.SpencerBachus(RAL),theincomingchairmanoftheHouseFinancialServicesCommittee,in2010:InWashington,theviewisthatthebanksaretoberegulated,andmyviewisthatWashingtonandtheregulatorsaretheretoservethebanks.

[4]Beginningin1988,everyUSpresidenthasbeenagraduateofHarvardorYale.Beginningin2000,everylosingpresidentialcandidatehasbeenaHarvardorYalegraduate,withtheexceptionofJohnMcCainin2008.

[5]Inrecentmonths,theAmericanpublichasseenavividexampleofaDeepStateoperativemarketinghisideologyunderthebannerofpragmatism.FormerSecretaryofDefenseRobertM.GatesaonetimecareerCIAofficeranddeeplypoliticalBushfamilyretainerhascamouflagedhisretrospectivedefenseofmilitaryescalationsthathavebroughtusnothingbutcasualtiesandfiscalgriefasthestraightfromtheshouldermemoirfromaplainspokensonofKansaswhodisdainsWashingtonanditspoliticians.

[6]Meanwhile,theUSgovernmenttooktheleadinrestoringBaghdadssewersystematacostof$7billion.

[7]ObamasabruptaboutfacesuggestshemayhavebeenskepticalofmilitaryinterventioninSyriaallalong,butonlydroppedthatpolicyonceCongressandPutingavehimtherunningroomtodoso.In2009,hewentaheadwiththeAfghanistan

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MikeLofgrenisaformercongressionalstaffmemberwhoservedonboththeHouseandSenatebudgetcommittees.HisbookaboutCongress,ThePartyisOver:HowRepublicansWentCrazy,DemocratsBecameUseless,andtheMiddleClassGotShafted,appearedinpaperbackonAugust27,2013.

2015PublicAffairsTelevision,Inc.Allrightsreserved.||

surgepartlybecauseGeneralPetraeuspublicrelationscampaignandbackchannellobbyingontheHillforimplementationofhispetmilitarystrategypreemptedotheroptions.Theseincidentsraisethedisturbingquestionofhowmuchthedemocraticallyelectedpresidentoranypresidentsetsthepolicyofthenationalsecuritystateandhowmuchthepolicyissetforhimbytheprofessionaloperativesofthatstatewhoengineerfaitsaccomplisthatforcehishand.

TOPICS:Activism,CivilLiberties,Democracy&Government,History,Justice,Money&Politics,War&PeaceTAGS:abortion,darkmoney,deepstate,economicinequality,economy,incomeinequality,inequality,mikelofgren,moneyandpolitics,nsa,obama,wallstreet,widget,women'shealth