AIUI the CIA is not supposed to operate domestically, so the comparison between the two is not exact (I don&#x27;t believe the CIA would operate domestically the same way as the KGB did anyway, though, but the KGB was basically just helping to prop up an openly tyrannical state), but even if the KGB has the CIA beat on home turf, I think the CIA &#x27;wins&#x27; abroad.<p>Even just taking the example in this thread, a monstrous program of &#x27;black sites&#x27; set up around the world specifically to torture innocent people indefinitely, where is the KGB version?<p>Leaving aside any comparisons, if they&#x27;re a distraction, why is an organization that does the terrible things the CIA has done throughout its history not only tolerated in a civilized democracy, but actually still viewed generally positively?