ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING INTELLIGENCE SERVICES FOR
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 propaganda, (6) training of individuals, (7) economic operations, and (8) paramilitary àaction designed to overthrow or support a regime" (Richelson, 1999, 349). One should also mention that covert actions by the YU.S. sometimes meant attempts to assassinate "threats".
While the cold war is over, of course, most of the people and organizations- even the covert funding- for these and other techniques are either still in place or can be summoned in...