WITHOUT CLOAK OR DAGGER: The Truth About the New Espionage

A former CIA officer reveals the organization's modus operandi. Copeland carefully distinguishes between functionaries such as officers, agents, principals, residents, and cutouts; he enumerates types of espionage activities and the kinds of operations that the agency regularly conducts. He insists that ""dirty tricks"" are a small part of the CIA's repertoire: most of its energies are devoted to intelligence research from accessible, legal sources. But especially in Third World countries the organization does engage in election rigging, assassination and terrorism ""which might further some national objective"" (as defined by whom?). The author argues that such actions, while regrettable, are absolutely necessary to national survival. But the basic questions -- secrecy and control -- are barely touched on. If operations are hidden from Congress. except for members in whom the CIA wishes to confide, how can the agency be monitored? Copeland with unintentional poignancy underscores the problem by suggesting that the Watergate-exposed requests by the White House for CIA aid are just the tip of an iceberg. Copeland provides a valuable service, but he lacks perspective, and he fails to see the frightening potential for abuse. (A season for scrutinizing the CIA; see also The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence by Marchetti and Marks, below.)