While the politicians hem and haw, they took responsibility and the consequences. Almost unheard of today. Still, the times make the man, and in the case of the CIA, the agency. The CIA doesn't seem needed these days, and may go the way of the dinosaur. If we, as a nation, are threatened another phoenix will arise from the ashes, be it a CIA or a LeMay to be there in our hour of need.
Time marches on.