The CIA as Middle East Peace Broker?

摘要

The primary role of intelligence services is of course to obtain information, and they have a secondary and more controversial role in initiating covert action. But intelligence agencies also have long been associated with diplomacy and conflict-resolution - not merely as passive providers of information but also as an inherent part of the policymaking process. Three unique characteristics make them suitable for this task. First, intelligence work is by nature secret, making it less susceptible to adverse media and public interference. Second, because of their security functions and the crucial practical support that intelligence agencies can provide for government decision-makers, intelligence officials often make direct top-level contacts in the countries that they assess. These unique contacts can be mobilised for peacemaking efforts, bypassing traditional and often cumbersome diplomatic channels. Third, by providing security technology, training and facilities to counterparts in other governments, intelligence services can create strong incentives for cooperation.