Intelligence Services and Covert Action

COVERT ACTION

Covert actions are still necessary, even in the information age when it is possible to "hack" foreign computer systems, steal their passwords, and learn their plans. To put it simply, the advantages of covert intelligence actions are: there are people already trained, and others easy to train; covert actions are often necessary, and they get results.

The major disadvantages are the fact that there are risks, and personal lives at stake, and, many Americans now feel that covert actions by the intelligence community are "un-American".

So, what about these advantages. "Covert action has historically had an influence on the intelligence community's culture far beyond what mere budget or staffing levels might suggest" (Berkowitz, 2000, p. 125). The fact remains that there are still a considerable number of people (albeit they are getting older) trained for covert operations during the Cold War. It must be realized that "covert action" does not imply the Hollywood version, of Green Beret types, faces all blackened, sidling onto some beach or into a drug lord's hacienda. For example, "During the Cold War, U.S. covert operations included (1) political advice and counsel, (2) subsidies to individuals, (3) financial support and technical assistance to political parties or groups, (4) support to private groups, such as labor unions and business firms, (5) covert

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arts of Indonesia, the attempt at some sort of reconciliation between the two Koreas -- all these cry out for covert activities to keep the U.S. informed, and its friends prepared equipped, and, when necessary, financed. At this point, in discussing the advantages of using intelligence services for covert action, it would be fair to ask: "are there any alternatives?" "If overt means of producing a similar outcome are available, then these alternatives will almost certainly be preferable to a covert actionà.the overt means should be tried first" (Lowenthal, 2000, p 199). Simple as that sounds, this is not always the case, especially with wary politicians who would give instructions to the intelligence community to get the job done, "but don't tell me how you did idàjust tally your expenses." This, of course, brings up one of the disadvantages of intelligence covert activities: The American public and its political officials often not wanting to be associated with "spying". Unfair as the comparison may be to some, covert intelligence activities are much like abortions: sometimes they are necessary, but it's best not to make a public announcement about the event. Many critics point out that the separation between policy and th
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Approximate Word count = 1486
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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