> The difference in our argument is that I think it's important for good people to be involved in their government in order to support these western ideals and work to do the right thing.

In principle maybe, but not under the what's being played out in the US. Given you have these principles I should put more faith in you and hope that you don't murder me when it's convenient? An intelligence agency is not the government and vice-versa. It only reflects the people's mandate in just its core function, intelligence among other things.