The basics of ethics and espionage

In my trend of chiming in on totally unrelated topics, I submit the following: My thoughts on the how ethics and espionage can coexist. I'm only covering the ethics surrounding human intelligence (HUMINT) here.

It may be difficult to believe that ethics plays a role in espionage. Popular culture has enforced an image of espionage as an underworld network full of betrayals, lies, and shadowy dealings. Espionage is the act of spying. One could argue that spying is inherently unethical. That argument is universally true at the most basic level. For example, eavesdropping on a neighbor is not exactly a neighborly thing to do. However, when espionage is used as a function of national defense, the line between what is ethical and what is not becomes blurred. How does the intelligence community successfully navigate ethical waters?

The intelligence community uses a less absolute code of ethics than the general population. It can be thought of as different rules for a different game. Foreign nationals are recruited to commit treason. It may seem unethical for an intelligence officer to aid a foreign national to betray his own country, however, the relationship between handler and spy is built on trust and cooperation. The officer protects the spy's identity. He teaches the spy skills in information gathering, clandestine communication, how to avoid detection. The exchange of knowledge/information benefit both the spy and the foreign intelligence agency for which he is spying.

The subject becomes complicated when we step back and consider what is unethical when done in the name of national security. This can lead to a moral dilemma. Blackmail, bribery, the threat of exposure, and sometimes sex are employed to keep a spy gathering information. However, these tactics are used to protect the lives of Americans. The sacrifice of an individual’s freedom saves the lives of thousands. It must also be noted that most spies are recruited and (most) willingly participate. Their motives to spy against their own country can be self-serving. Many foreign spies receive money, special favors, or to keep their own skeletons in the closet.

Counterintelligence further clouds ethics in espionage. When an enemy spy is discovered within an agency, the agency may allow the individual to continue spying. The spy will be allowed to continue instead of blowing the enemy’s operation. Some could argue that it is unethical to permit an enemy intelligence agent to move about freely without facing any recourse. However, the information flow is now our control. Providing the spy with misleading information can drain an enemy’s resources, ultimately saving American lives. An intelligence agency may try to convince the discovered enemy agent to change sides, to become doubled. This can also become a sticky ethical situation. Can it be considered ethical to convince an individual who had spied on the United States for a foreign power, to now deceive his own government without facing justice?

The rules that dictate societal ethics, at times, must be bent to serve the greater good. People will continue to call into question the ethical integrity of the intelligence community, but it we must remember that the enemy is doing what we are doing to them. The only difference is that if we stop spying for ethic’s sake, the enemy will take full advantage.

Want to read learn more on the subject? Visit http://intelligence-ethics.org/ethics1.html to review a number of publications on ethics in intelligence.