(V):

The CIA is PART of the government. They do whatever it takes to destroy the enemy. It means supporting fascist dictators, drug dealers, weapons dealers, mercenaries, terrorists, etc. It is well known both by the American government and the American public. Not only is the CIA part of the government, but it is BIG government. It is possibly the best funded of all government agencies. The NSA is not very different, as is the Office for Homeland Security and the FBI.

The general excuse is that this is what it takes to protect freedom and democracy. However, under the Patriot Act anybody suspected of terrorist activity can be detained. In essence the USA has turned itself into a quasi police state. People are free to consume, to say anything they want, to do anything they want, except do anything that leads to political change or a change in the Capitalist economic system. The function of the police state is to ensure that the rich stay rich and the working class stay working for the benefit of the rich. It is a form of police state socialism. The state has a monopoly of judiciary and military power. All that is missing is children ratting on their parents, and you will have full fascism.

In fairness, it is not just the USA. Almost every western country has become that way. "Big government" means programs that help the working class and the poor, but it will never mean a bloated police and military.