Government Agencies and Ethics

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer analyzes the following statement on two grounds: "Any agency which works in secret can behave in a scandalous manner, and the CIA is no exception to this rule". The writer first discusses whether it is true that agencies which act in secret behave in a scandalous manner and then if so, whether the CIA is an exception or a demonstration of this rule. The writer then makes the argument that all agencies, throughout history and in whatever country, region or empire, that act in secret are inherently prone to dishonesty and unethical acts. Next, the writer maintains that the CIA must act, to some degree, in secret with some of its operations. Finally, the paper argues that the CIA will always be prone to dishonesty and unethical actions, which requires more regular oversight.

Outline:
Introduction
First Hypothesis: There has been an ethical agency in history
Second Hypothesis: The creeping moves toward professionalism have reduced ethical inhibitions
Ethics, the CIA and Recent History
Politics by Innuendo: Contributing to Unethical Conduct?
Conclusion: Is the CIA Inherently Untrustworthy?

From the Paper:

"All agencies throughout history and across nations are prone to act in a dishonest and unethical manner. The proof to this hypothesis is the null hypothesis: that is, if the author has been unable to find a government agency which acts in secret, which over time has not acted in an unethical manner. A second null hypothesis would be to find a spying operation which has operated in an ethical and honest manner over a long period of time, therefore disproving the above statement.
"One can argue that any government agency requires power in order to be effective. Power comes through the purse--ability to fund, through coercion--ability to force, or through persuasion--ability to convince. None of these methods is, in and of itself, inherently unethical. One can persuade, coerce or bankroll activities in an open and above-board way."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adams, G. B. (1993). Ethics and the Chimera of Professionalism: The Historical Context of an Oxymoronic Relationship. The American Review of Public Administration , 117-139.
• Anechiarico, F. (1994). Visions of Corruption Control and the Evolution of American Public Administration. Journal of Public Administration , 465-473.
• David, S. R. (2003). Israel's Policy of Targeted Killing. Ethics & International Affairs , 111-123.
• Ginsberg, G. a. (2002). Politics by Other Means: Politicians, Prosecutors, and the Press from Watergate to Whitewater . New York: W. W. Norton.
• Jefferson, T. (1776). Declaration of Independence. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from Indiana U School of Law: http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html

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