this was the best essay I have ever read on the failures and miseries of the #British secret services: beautifully written by #AdamCurtis for the #BBC.
Unclear why it is no longer available:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https:/www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/entries/3662a707-0af9-3149-963f-47bea720b460